Yesterday’s Betrayal, Today’s Scars

Chapter 8 - BELLA DEA

Tony POV

As I stare up at my Bella Dea (beautiful goddess), I feel how uncomfortable my pants are becoming. When her gaze slides over to my brother again, I reach down, adjusting myself. I'm sure she caught the action anyway. The look in her eyes says she doesn't miss anything. A man can hope, right?

“Lightning, I presume?” it comes out of my mouth without conscious thought, which isn't like me. With outsiders, I always weigh my words before speaking. Her eyes snap back to me. Good, that's where I want them. Her friend's mouth tilts up in amusement.

“You're very perceptive, Mr. Marino,” she says in a smooth melodic tone. “Call me Tony Bella Dea,” my voice deep but sincere. A slight tint of pink adorn her cheeks, but she tilts her head to the side as if assessing me. “Very well, Tony.” She is short and very direct. I want her to talk more to loosen up with me. “What should I call you?” I ask. She gives me a slow perusal again as if admiring my physic.

“Lightning is fine,” is her reply. The woman next to her choked on a laugh, but my Bella Dea shoots her a look that would stop most men in their tracks. However, the woman shakes her head, smiling.

I look to the man who brought us in, and he says one word, “Alex,” then nods. Our traitors keep getting louder and are becoming hard to ignore. Lightning leans forward, gripping the railing tighter.

Alex picks up on the motion, grabs the guard, and releases him. Putting a gun to his head, he states in a calm, deadly voice. “I have 11 rounds I can put in your extremities while keeping you alive. I can then lower you inch by inch down to our jewels, letting them slowly feed on you a little each day while you wish you were dead. Or… you can strip, and this will be quick.” He starts counting down from ten. Our guard strips instantly. Alex then grabs him, hooking him to a lift. Alex then looks to Johnny, “You're next.” Using a remote, it hoists him up and then over the water. Johnny starts yelling and pleading frantically. The crocodiles make weird, loud noises, and then each descends into the water. Coming from different directions as if a practiced move.

The larger one, probably a male, dives under out of sight. Then you know the moment he latches on his lower half beneath the water from his screams. Utter pain is on his face. The smaller of the two crocodiles comes up, latching on his head and shoulders.

It's almost like a dance as they each twist and roll. Ripping him apart and dragging him down. I didn't notice that Alex had Johnny stripped and hoisted over. I look back down, watching in awe at the two powerful beasts below. Johnny is dropped, and one immediately has him in a death roll.

I look up to Lightning, and she is captivated by the sight. Stroking her hand on the railing in a slow movement, her breathing has picked up, and her chest is flushed. Is she aroused?

I look at Max, and he is watching her closely also. He reaches down with a hand putting pressure on his c**k. Yup, he noticed her reaction, too, and it's exciting him.

When I look back to my Bella Dea, she starts speaking but not taking her eyes off the scene below as if she's talking to no one in particular.

“So beautiful in their most primal state. No pretenses, no holding back, just raw basic urges to fulfill a need,” she says as if in a trance. I notice Max has come up and is shoulder-to-shoulder with me.

My breathing has picked up, and I'm more than hard. Every fiber of my being wants this woman. Not just her delicious body, but I want her. Her mind with all its secrets and desires. I want to hear her dreams and fears, to see her laugh. I want it all.

Max looks at me, no doubt guessing my thoughts. I nod to him, and he returns it. s**t, we both want the same woman. How the hell do we work this out?

I look back to the platform, and both women are now watching us with intrigue. Max speaks first. “Lightning, we would like to meet with you over dinner sometime to discuss taking advantage of more of the services you offer and how they could benefit us both.” Damn, Max isn't usually a talker or so quick on his feet. Smooth, I think to myself.

She c***s an eyebrow. “What do you have in mind, Max?” “One of our restaurants, “ he replies. “Sounds more like a date than a business meeting,” she retorts. Her friend laughs. “Many business negotiations take place over a meal, Lightning.” My Bella’s head snaps to her. They stare at each other for a few minutes, and then she concedes with a sigh.

Turning back to Max and me, she looks at us intently. “6 pm tomorrow at Lucia’s,” she pauses, then says, “but don't make me regret this.” She turns and leaves.

I look at Alex, who has been watching the show. “We have done business with you and your family for years, even if you didn't know us. Don't make Alice or me regret helping you with her.” His voice is not playful. It's calm and deadly. No doubt he means the implied threat.

Once we arrive back at the steel door at the end of the tunnel, Alex pauses, looking at us with a firm, assessing gaze.

Max surprises me when he speaks again. “You care about her a lot. What is your relationship with Lightning?” That is bold even for him. Alex starts chuckling. “We were raised together, so that makes me her brother. Besides, I doubt she has enough hair on her ass for my taste,” he says while looking Max up and down. When Max’s mouth drops open with the revelation, I let out a deep belly laugh.

Then his face goes serious. “You were smart asking her out without really asking her out. She'll push you away, both of you. If you are boys looking for a good time, walk away now. You'll never get past her walls. If you're men in it for the long haul, be ready to fight her for that right. She's worth it, but it won't be easy.” he says.

“Aren't you worried she will find out you're talking to us about her?” I question. He points behind him at a camera without ever looking at it. “She knows, but even if the camera didn't catch it, we have three rules in our family, and they are sacred.” he pauses, and I'm anxiously waiting. “No secrets, no lies, loyalty is everything.” He finishes in a firm tone that leaves no room for further questions. The door buzzes open, and we exit.

We are halfway through our drive home before Max or I speak. “Are we going to talk about all the problems arising from this? Max asks.

I sigh, looking out of the windshield. “We both want her,” I say. “Yes,” he confirms. “I'm serious about making her mine, are you?” He snaps his head to me, pissed. “I had to ask, brother. This won't be easy,” I state.

“I want her not for now but forever. It's crazy, but I know she is ours,” he says confidently. “How I look at it, we're adding more to our family. Because they will be a package deal. Did you see their interactions? They're as close as we are,” I explain. “Yes, I noticed that. I also saw pain deep in her eyes when her guard was down. That's why I approached our meeting over dinner the way I did,” Max says.

“Someone has hurt her,” I breathe out, getting pissed at the thought of anyone upsetting my Bella. “So we agree, pursue her, and don't give up,” I say, looking at Max. He grips the steering wheel tighter, then says, “Chase and capture if we need to.” I have to laugh at that. Does he realize the fight we’re in for with her? I wonder.

“There’s also the issue of how we combine our two worlds after we get her,” Max states, glancing over to me. “Semantics,” is my reply. We’ll figure it out. We have to, I think to myself.