AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I’m fine,” she replied quickly. She raised her head and rolled her eyes. “You didn’t hurt me, Roman. I can handle a good fucking. I certainly have before.”
His teeth slammed together, and his eye twitched. The thought of her with another man was infuriating. Instead of dragging her back to his cave, he strove for politeness. “I was just checking.”
“No need.” Her voice was clipped. “I think it’s time for you to leave.”
His immediate reaction was hell, no. But that just wouldn’t do. He had that meeting to attend, after all. He pulled his black slacks up, tucking his semi-hard dick in as he carefully zipped. It was uncomfortable with his cock still wet. He buttoned his white dress shirt from the bottom to the top, covering the large tattoo he had on his chest. She had made no mention of the skull nor the colorful flowers, but she stared at it now. When she didn’t ask about it, he knew he had stalled long enough. Finally, he picked up his jacket and folded it over his forearm. Then he stared at her.
Angela gestured to the front door of her one-bedroom loft apartment. “If I find you in my home again without an invitation, I’ll use this.” She waved the gun at him. She met his eyes boldly, all hint of tears vanished. “Consider yourself used, Roman. I never want to see you again.”
It was too bad for her he liked the sound of his name on her pretty lips too much to ever let that happen. He didn’t care about the crap he’d said about using one another.
Striding to the door, he paused before leaving. Though he believed she wouldn’t go to the police, another reminder wouldn’t go astray. “Keep your mouth shut about Luca. I’m warning you. Don’t betray me, Angel. I’ve built my empire on the bodies of traitors. I’d hate to add yours to the pile.”
CHAPTER SIX
“I can’t thank you enough, Dr. Hawthorne.”
Angela turned to the older woman, looking down to accommodate her much shorter stature. “How many times have I told you to call me Angela? And you are very welcome. I only wish I could do more. But with my hours at the hospital...”
Sister Philomena smiled. “Angela. You do more than enough. I wouldn’t be able to keep this place open if it weren’t for you.”
Angela returned the smile, albeit with a hint of sadness because she knew it was true. Lighthouse Resource Center was a not-for-profit charity offering resources to all those in need in the community. It was run by the wonderful nun in front of her with the help of a few of her Sisters, and some volunteers like Angela. The center offered help to the homeless, those running from abusive situations, LGBQT+, employment assistance, and much more. It was more than just a shelter. It was a true beacon of hope for those in need—no matter their age, race, or creed. It was a wonderful establishment and sorely needed in such a large city. In fact, Monash needed at least a dozen more. Unfortunately, the Lighthouse struggled enough to stay afloat as it was. Wishing for more centers was a fruitless dream.
Angela donated her time a few days a week. She saw men and women, teenagers and children, who couldn’t afford formal medical assistance. No matter the time of day or night when she arrived, she always had a line waiting for her. It broke her heart. As far as she was concerned, access to healthcare was a right, not a privilege. But you wouldn’t know it based on the number of people she saw every week. She had just spent one hour giving a sex education talk to some local teenagers, followed by another hour helping Sister Philomena install a new basketball hoop in the recreation hall. Now, she and the nun were standing in the office looking down at the heavy duffle bag filled with money.
Angela cringed a little as she zipped the bag back up. She did her best not to feel like a hypocrite for teaching sex-ed when she herself had unprotected sex with a stranger just a month before. What’s more, she was using the money Roman left on the floor of her apartment—something she had sworn not to do. But over the last month, she decided to use the money for something worthwhile. Just because she wouldn’t so much as burn it if she was freezing to death didn’t mean it couldn’t help others. So, here she was, handing over a hundred thousand dollars to a nun. She trusted the Sister implicitly and knew the funds would be used for the greatest good. But still, she found the act a little cringey.
“Who did you say this was from again?” Sister Philomena asked.
Angela cleared her throat, looking over the woman’s head. “A silent donor.”
“Ah,” Sister Pip nodded, her eyes twinkling. “Well, be sure to thank him or her on behalf of Lighthouse.”
Angela smiled, not telling the older woman that she had no plans to ever see Vincenzo Romano again. She had seen him a handful of times over the past month. It was impossible not to when she had spent so much time at his obnoxious skyscraper in the middle of the city. But she rarely spoke to him. She was civil—as civil as possible given the circumstances of him threatening her life and then screwing her against her kitchen wall. But that was it.
The day after making the biggest mistake of her life with Roman, she put on her big girl panties and marched herself into the foyer of the Omertà complex. There, she demanded to see Luca. Abel was the one to come down, grinning like an idiot and welcoming her as if they were long-lost friends. Then he escorted her up to the medical suite, where she did what she considered was her duty and followed up with Luca’s medical care until she was satisfied he was on the mend. That involved returning to remove the catheter and then the stitches, and of course, making sure he had enough antibiotics and pain medication. And then there was the physical therapy and rehabilitation advice.
All in all, it had taken the better part of the last month. But with Luca up and about, practically back to his old self, she no longer felt obligated to attend to him. However, she did find herself in an unexpected predicament. She liked Luca. Somehow, the young man had wiggled his way into her heart. Roman’s younger brother was a fun, vibrant guy with a quick wit and a playful side that she had discovered she desperately needed in her life.
She didn’t know when it had happened, but she had no friends. None at all. Sure, she had colleagues that she occasionally joined for drinks and with whom she could share how her day went. But a friend she could call in the middle of the night when she was feeling low, or someone to talk to about the latest episode of The Bachelor? She didn’t have that. And the saddest part was, she couldn’t remember the last time she did.
Her past had a lot to answer for. She knew that. It made her reserved and unwilling to trust. It made her want to stay in and live alone—and only venture out for work. And she had been totally fine with that until Roman and his merry band of criminals had kidnapped her. Now, Luca and his partner, Salvatore, were putting her isolated life into stark contrast. And she realized she wanted what they had. Not the illegal stuff, but the family.
The family that had your back, no matter what. And if she was being honest, knowing there was someone who would literally kill for you held a certain appeal. She had been let down—destroyed—by the people who should have cared for her the most. And yet, here was Roman and his organized crime syndicate, showing her what real family was. It was wild. And something she wasn’t ready to admit to anyone, least of all the man himself.
The sex with Roman had been the best and worst of her life. Sure, it was the greatest male-induced orgasm she’d ever had, but it also caused a ton of guilt and shame. What had she been thinking? She hated the man. He and his goons had taken her from safety and flung her into their violent world. After the shitstorm of her younger years, she felt safe and insulated—if a little lonely—in her life. And then Roman had to come along, urging her to use him and his magnificent dick. A dick that had the most erotic piercing she’d ever seen—let alone felt. The whole thing was extremely unfair.
“I’ll see to it that the money is deposited into the Lighthouse’s accounts appropriately,” Sister Philomena said.
“Of that, I have no doubt,” Angela assured her. She helped her pack the money into the safe before walking outside with her. “What do you think you’ll use it on first?”
“Oh, I have no idea,” Sister Pip said, hands going to her cheeks. “There’s the roof that needs repairing in the men’s sleeping quarters, a new stove needed in the kitchen, not to mention the walls that need to be replaced because of rot. And food is always needed.”
“Sounds like you have plenty of ideas,” Angela said, placing a hand on her arm. “In fact, it doesn’t sound like it will do everything you need.”
“It’s incredible!” the nun enthused. “Truly, Angela, such a large sum of money is a miracle. It will help so many.”
Angela smiled, so happy to see Sister Pip excited. She worked tirelessly for others, even though she was well into her seventies. She was compassionate, patient, and the least judgmental person Angela had ever met. She embraced everybody with open arms. She was also very candid and rather feisty for a nun, with a humorous side and a heart of gold. As far as Angela was concerned, the nun needed to be protected at all costs. “I’m so glad,” Angela finally replied.
