The Assassin's Enthrallment:The Confradia Assassins VI

Chapter 5: "Most men would rather deny a hard truth than face it."

Chapter 5: “Most men would rather deny a hard truth than face it.” 

― George R.R. Martin

Logan

Camille Leavenworth is a beautiful woman with long blond hair, large breasts, and a tiny waist. At any time, I’d accept her obvious invitation to bed her. Too bad that suddenly, I prefer long dark hair. I’m definitely f****d when my c**k doesn’t even stir at the thought of bedding a gorgeous woman like Camille. I’ve never turned down a woman’s invitation to bed her. Hell, I’ve even slept with a few of my stepmothers. My dad has been married seven times, and other than my mother, most of the women were either waitresses, strippers, or flight attendants that my father met on his many travels. Most of the women were closer to my age and would offer themselves to me not long after marrying my father.

I graduated from MIT when I was fifteen with a Doctorate in Computer Engineering. At that age, I was six feet tall and in great shape, and the women definitely took notice. The way I see it is if my dad didn’t want me to sleep with his wives, he shouldn’t have married w****s.

I watch intently as Camille leans down on her desk, presenting me with a nice view of her firm ass wrapped in a long pencil skirt. I feign interest by giving her the once-over, but inside I’m rolling my eyes. She smiles seductively before she straightens up and hands me a folder. “Here is a packet of information with my past listings, an assessment of properties near your home, and my commission. I’d love to see your home and get a feel of what it’s like inside.” She whispers breathlessly. I clear my throat when she bites her lip, twirls a blond lock around her finger, and slides her hand across my chest.

I grit my teeth, resisting the urge to slap her hand away. I really need to leave. Unable to take another moment, I back up and give and even smile. “I’d love to show you around my home. I have to work right now, but if you can send me a schedule of times, I can look them over and tell you which ones I’m available for.”

Camille’s smile brightens at my comment. “That’s wonderful, Logan. I’ll do that right away.”

Without another word, I take the folder and walk out the door. I think over my options on the way home. I laid the bait, I just hope I can reel Camille into introducing me to Rockwell Park.

To my surprise, Matilda’s in my home cooking. I watch disbelievingly as she shuffles her way through my kitchen, opening, and closing cabinets. Slipping off my suit jacket, I stroll in and stop in front of her. “What are you doing here, Mati? I thought I told Bella to tell you to take a few days off.”

Matti narrows her eyes and places her hands on her narrow hips. “I’m fine, Logan. There are too many things to take care of here for me to be sitting around my apartment doing nothing.”

I shake my head and forcefully take the cleaning rags from her hands. “I don’t care, Mati. You need to go home and get some rest. I’ll call the car to take you home.”

Mati places her hands on her hips with an affronted scowl. “Logan Blake, you will not talk to me that way! I don’t care how old you are. I will take my belt out and whoop you!” I chuckle in amusement at her belligerent tone. There’s no doubt that she means what she says, but it’s still amusing.

Placing my hands on her shoulder, I look into her eyes. “Listen, Mati, I worry about you. Don’t you care about that?”

She tightens her lips in reply, but I can tell she’s softening. “How about you take a vacation? I can buy you a and Nona a ticket to wherever you want to go.”

Nona is Mati’s best friend. Both women attend church together and sing in the choir. They’ve both been friends since before Mati came to work for my family. Unlike Mati, Nona is a large woman with short curly red hair and a bashful disposition. Mati’s the bold one.

Mati shakes her head. “I can’t leave. You need me, Rafa needs me, and what about my Bella?” I shake my head. “I’ll be fine, Mati, and I’m sure Rafa and Bella will be too.”

Mati obstinately looks away. “I’ll think about it.” Backing down, I kiss her head and take a seat in front of the kitchen’s island. “Okay, but I want an answer soon.”

Mati quirks a brow and snorts. “I will. Have you heard from Jaxon yet? I still can’t believe he’s married.” She says with a happy grin. I shrug my shoulders. “He should be on his way to his honeymoon in a few days.” Matilda smiles widely. “Maleah seemed very sweet when they called. I feel bad that I missed their wedding, but it’s difficult for me to travel. It was nice that you were there for their wedding, though. Who knows when I will see another wedding since you refuse to get married and no woman wants to marry Rafa. Perhaps it will be Bella’s wedding. What did you think of my Bella? She’s beautiful, isn’t she?”

Shock reverberates through my body at Mati’s words. Frowning in question, I swallow hard and consider my answer. I’m not sure why Mati is asking me this. “Um…I guess she’s beautiful for a young woman.” I answer evenly. Mati snorts again. “My Bella is a woman…period. Bella is not like those loose women you meet, she’d make a good wife. She’s intelligent, beautiful, and kind. Did you know she’s going to be a doctor?” She asks gruffly.

I nod my head confused by her conversation. “Yeah, you told me.” Mati nods with a proud smirk. “Well, she is. My Bella is a lot like you. She went to college early and is almost finished with medical school without a handout. She won scholarships and got into Stanford without any help.”

I furrow my brows, trying to come up with a good response. “Why are you telling me this, Mati?” I aks confused.             

Mati shrugs. “I’m a seventy-five-year-old woman, Logan. I want to see my children happy before I leave this earth. And when I say children, I mean you and Bella. Is that a crime?”

I’m humbled by her words. Mati has always been affectionate and loving towards me. She’s never made any bones about how I’m her child even if she didn’t give birth to me. I’ve also avoided thinking about the fact that she is coming close to the end of her life and waiting for me to settle down.

Taking a deep breath, I lean my hands on the counter and softly reply. “You know you’re the only woman that I respect and care for Mati, and I appreciate that you want me to be happy. I’m…I’m just not interested in falling in love. Plus, you’re a tough old bird. You’ll probably outlive us all.”

Mati takes the cleaning cloth and slides it across her fingers with a sad grimace. “There’s nothing sadder than outliving your children, Logan. It’s also difficult to realize you’re alone. I just hope you realize it before it’s too late.”

What the hell is Mati up to.

“Okay, Mati, it’s time for a break,” I mutter with a warning frown. Mati shakes her head but doesn’t argue when I lead her to the patio and push her gently into one of the chairs. Before she can protest, I place a comfortable throw on her lap and a bottle of water on the table next to it. “Don’t argue with me, Mati. You either take a half-hour break, or you go home. Which is it going to be?” I ask with a definite glare.

Mati nods her head and leans back. Seph settles down next to her and wags her tail. “Make sure she stays here, Seph,” I order Seph, who replies with a bark. Mati scoffs affronted by my order. “Are you telling Seph to keep me here?” I nod my head. “You bet your ass. Now, relax.” Mati chuckles and takes a drink of her water bottle. “Fine, but don’t get mad at me if I fall asleep here.”

I roll my eyes at her snarky tone. Just then, my doorbell rings. “Stay here. I’ll get it. It’s probably Phoenix, so don’t worry about getting up.” I mutter with a warning glare.

Once I see that she’s settled, I step back into the house and close the patio doors behind me. My footsteps echo across the wooden floors until I’m standing in front of the door. To my surprise, Bella is standing in front of my doorstep. She looks incredibly beautiful in a short romper that accentuates her long golden legs and firm breasts.

I have to stifle a groan when she bites her lip and hides behind the curtain of her long brown hair. My body instantly hardens. f**k me! Bella shifts uncomfortably in place and looks at me from beneath the fringes of her lashes. “Sorry to bother you, L-Logan…um…is my grandmother here? I need to talk to her.”

I open the door and wave and invite her inside. She looks sad and upset, which makes alarm bells go off in my head. “Come on in. I just made her sit down and relax on the patio. You look upset. Is something wrong?” Bella hesitantly walks into the foyer and glances into the open area of the kitchen and patio. She looks conflicted.

“Okay, what’s going on?” I ask suspiciously. Bella looks at me and straightens her spine. She’s as stubborn as her grandmother. “It’s just…”

She stops talking, takes a deep breath, and closes her eyes as if trying to calm her nerves. “Okay, here’s the deal…” She mutters, opening her eyes. Her small hands tightening into tight fists. “…I went to visit Gran, and when I got there, I found that her apartment was wrecked. I found Rafa pretty beat up on the kitchen floor with a broken finger. When I asked him how it happened, he told me he owed some guys money, and they came to collect. He passed out while I was attending to him and I don’t know what to do. I pretty much left him there.” She mutters brokenly. Tears glimmer in her large brown eyes, and her body trembles with fear.

Placing my hands on her shoulders, I push her away from Mati’s view and take a deep breath before I reply. “Listen, Bella, you can’t tell Mati anything about this.” Bella’s eyes widen. “How am I supposed to keep that from her? She’ll know when she gets home. I tried to clean as much as I could, but the whole place was trashed.”

I shake my head. “We’ll figure this out. How about you call Nona and tell her to take Mati shopping or something─on me. While they’re gone, you and I can go over to the apartment and have a conversation with Rafa. I’ll also call a cleaning crew to take care of the apartment.”

Bella nods and takes out her phone. “I’ll call her now,” I observe as she makes the phone call. I can’t stop staring at her. It’s like I’m mesmerized by the way she slides her fingers through her hair and curls it behind her ear. I observe as she rubs her neck wearily. She’s still beautiful, but you can see shadows under her eyes. After a minute, she disconnects the call and turns back to me. “Nona should be here in a few minutes. Thankfully, she was on her way to visit some crafts fair at the pier. She said she’ll take Gran along and keep her busy all day. That should give us time to get her apartment back the way it was.”

I nod my head. “Alright. By the way. Next time you find yourself in a trashed apartment, turn around, and call the police.” Bella crosses her arms in front of her chest with a glare. “I was not going to leave if my grandma was in danger. Is that what you would have done?” I shake my head. “No, but I’m a trained professional. You’re just a medical student.”

 Bella quirks a brow. “Yeah, I guess my medical expertise wouldn’t be needed in case someone was hurt.”  She mutters sarcastically. Snickering, I shake my head and hold my hands up. “Alright. I give. I just want you to be careful.” She rolls her eyes and shifts in place. “Thanks, daddy, but I’ll be fine.”

I know her calling me daddy should be funny, but every part of me ignites at the thought of her calling me that. I’m such a dirty old man because at that moment all I can think about is her riding my c**k while she calls me daddy.  

Bella interrupts my dirty thoughts at that moment, snapping me back to reality. “I don’t understand why Gran came to work, but I’m glad she did after what just happened.”

I shrug my shoulders. “I was just as surprised as you are. I even threatened to send her home, but she refused to leave. I also offered to pay for her and Nona to go on a vacation. She said she couldn’t leave you, Rafa or me. You should convince her to do it.”

Bella’s eyes soften at my words. “That’s very generous of you.” I shake my head and snicker. “It’s not. Mati is like a mother to me, and I want her to get some rest.” Bella’s eyes soften. “Okay, then I’ll talk to her about it. Thanks.”

We both stand there looking at each other awkwardly. Every part of me wants to reach for her and slam my lips against her luscious lips. But somehow, I manage to retain control of my body. Bella licks her lips and sifts her fingers through her hair with a weary sigh. Unable to help myself, I reach for a tendril of her hair and slide it off her shoulder. “You look tired,” I whisper grimly.

Bella rolls her eyes and slides her fingers against her fragile neck. “Yeah, I haven’t slept in over eighteen hours. I just want to get this done and pass out on my bed.” She closes her eyes with a sigh and lowers her chin. I don’t know what it is about this woman that makes me act out of character, but before I can get my brain to reason, I wrap my hands around her waist and pull her close. Bella gives me an unsure expression, but she doesn’t move away. Our eyes meet, and our bodies meld perfectly together. Damn, if she doesn’t fit perfectly in my arms. Our breaths mingle as we silently gaze into each other’s eyes. Her lips open with a gasp, and her body trembles with excitement. The urge to kiss her is very tempting. Our faces linger close, and our hearts beat rapidly. Closing my eyes, I touch my lips to hers tentatively. It’s not a kiss, it’s more like we’re sharing breaths. There’s no tongue, just a gentle caress. Her hands slide up my chest and tighten around my shoulders as she rises to her toes and sighs against my lips. Inhaling her sweet scent of lilies, I nip lightly at her chin and ear. Bella gasps with pleasure and grinds her hips against mine with a mewl. “Logan.” She mumbles hoarsely. Every part of me stills at the sound of her husky moan. My control snaps, and all reason leaves me at that moment. All I want to do is f**k this girl. Sliding my hands down her hips, I grip her firm ass and am about to slam my mouth against hers when the doorbell rings.

  We both break apart, chests heaving, and gaze blankly at the door. You’d think we were screwing or even heavily making out by how wound up we both are, but the kiss was chaste at best. Clearing my throat, I adjust my suit jacket and walk over to the door. It’s Nona.

Nona walks into the house carrying her trademark shopping bag and smiles completely unaware of the life-altering moment Bella, and I just experienced. “Bella, Logan. I’m here like you asked. So, what’s going on?”  Bella and I explain the situation to Nona, who agrees to keep what happened at the apartment a secret. Once we update her, we lead her to Mati and let her do her work.

Mati gives us a questioning look. “Nona? Bella? What are you two doing here?” Bella licks her lips and clears her throat. “Hey, Gran. I came by because you were supposed to be resting at home.” Nona nods and sits next to Mati. “I passed by because I wanted to see if you wanted to go to a craft fair on the boardwalk.”

Mati shakes her head, but before she can respond, I answer for her. “Mati would love to go.” Mati glares. “Are you trying to get rid of me, Logan?” I shake my head with a wounded frown. “No, but you promised to relax, and a craft fair sounds like a good time to relax. Now get your purse and go shopping.”

Bella nods her head and helps her grandmother up. “That’s a great idea. Now I don’t have to be worried about you getting some downtime. Go!” Mati begrudgingly agrees and is out the door a few minutes later.

Once she and Nona are gone, I turn back to Bella. “Listen, Bella. About what happened earlier, …it was a mistake.” Bella shakes her head with a wounded grimace. “What?” I nod my head and calmly mutter. “I’m going to be honest with you, Bella. I think you’re beautiful, and at any other time, I’d have probably taken you to bed. But with you, it would be complicated. Not just because you’re Mati’s granddaughter but because it wouldn’t go beyond the s****l encounter. The fact is, I’m not looking to get attached to anyone. I don’t want a relationship, and I don’t do love. That’s why I think it’s best if we forget what happened earlier and take care of this business with Rafa.”

Bella opens her lips to argue but then closes it and nods. “You’re right. Let’s just call this a lapse in judgment. I’m beyond exhausted, and you had a moment of insanity. Can we go now?”

Ouch! I think to myself. I know that I should be happy that she agrees with my suggestion, but it stings, and I don’t know why. At least I’d like to think that I don’t want to know why. 

“Let’s go,” I mutter grimly. Bella nods and follows behind me. She doesn’t say a word the whole way to the apartment, which is very disconcerting. Instead, she leans back on the seat and looks off thoughtfully into the distance.

Throughout the ride, I can’t help but to covertly glance at her. My hands tighten over the steering wheel when I think of touching her. I should have kissed her. Then, at least I would not feel this sense of missing out on something.

Rafa is exactly where Bella left him. He’s lying face down on the couch with a splint and bandage wrapped around one hand, another bandage on his forehead. His short hair is greasy and stained with blood, and his rumpled clothes are wrinkled and soiled. Running my gaze over him, I resist the urge to shoot him on the spot. His cheeks are sallow, and his skin is grayish and paper-thin. He looks like someone who has lived a hard life. If he were anyone else, I would let him die, but it pisses me off that he’s dragging Mati and Bella into his problems.

Bellan squats down beside him and shakes his shoulder, but he doesn’t stir. Sighing impatiently, I step into the kitchen, fill a pitcher with water, and pour the contents all over him. Bella gasps but doesn’t argue my methods. You can tell she’s as angry as I am by the fact that Rafa brought trouble to Mati’s door.

Rafa wakes up instantly, coughing and sputtering. His bloodshot eyes glance wildly around the room until they focus on Bella and me. “Blake, you asshole! What the f**k are you doing here?” He stumbles up from the couch with an outraged cry. Bella takes a step back and gives him a heated glare. “Calm down, Rafa. Logan is here to help you.”

Rafa’s bloody lip curls with derision. “Why would he help me? You hate me. You both hate me, and I don’t need your f*****g help so you can get the f**k out!” Bella opens her lips to respond, but before she can, I grip Rafa by his grimy collar and push him into the couch.             “You’re f*****g right, I hate you.” I grit out enraged. “But I’m not here for you, dickhead. I’m here to help Mati and Bella because they don’t deserve this.” Rafa’s dirty hand wraps around mine as I tighten my fist, nearly choking him. His foul breath hitches, and his face flushes with anger. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He mumbles snarkily.

Bella’s eyes widen with rage as she approaches us. “How can you be so callous, Rafa? Those men who came here could have hurt Gran. Don’t you care about that?” Rafa shrugs, which seems to set off something inside Bella, because she goes on the attack and slaps him hard across the face and begins to pummel him.

“Bella, stop!” I call out, wrapping my arms around her to stop her assault. After a moment her struggles seize, and she falls back into my chest. Her ragged breathing fills the room, and her cheeks are flushed with her exertions.

Rafa sneers, spittle spilling from his bloody lips. His eyes scan us, moving back and forth between us as if seeing something. “Is that how it is? Are you two f*****g? Geez, Bella, you know you can do better. Does my mother know you’re f*****g her perfect “son” Logan? Huh? How about you, Logan? You like them young don’t you?”

Bella and I both stiffen and pull apart. Unlike me, Bella flushes with embarrassment and whispers with a wounded cry. “You’re such a douche, Rafa.”

If she expected Rafa to express guilt, she was definitely wrong, because Rafa doesn’t apologize.

Not wanting to waste another moment, I pull Bella to the side and ask, “Can you give Rafa and me a moment, Bella. I think that I need to talk to him.”

Bella’s brow furrows in question. “What are you going to do?” I glance at Rafa, who is now sitting up and trying to adjust his shabby clothes, then look back at Bella. “I’m going to be honest with you, Kitten. I’m going to threaten Rafa, and I’m going to have a friend come here and take him to a rehab center. I might aim my gun at him and possibly rough him up, but I promise he’ll be alive when I’m done. Do you understand?”

For a moment, I think she’s going to disagree, but to my surprise, Bella nods. “Okay, just make sure he leaves. I don’t want him here until he’s got his s**t together. Gran doesn’t need the stress or trouble.” I nod my head and wait until she leaves the room before I turn back to Rafa.

I don’t think twice when I slip my gun from the waistband of my pants and aim it at his head. Rafa squeals and slams back against the sofa with a dismayed cry. “What the f**k are you doing, Blake?”   Narrowing my eyes, I move my head from side to side and c***k my neck. “I want you to listen and listen well, Rafa. I’ve given you many opportunities to get your s**t together. I’ve lent you money, and I’ve tried to keep it from Mati, but that ends now. Now, I’m going to give you two choices.”

Rafa’s lips tighten with defiance. “And what choices are those?” My upper lip curls into a jeer. “I have a friend who runs a rehab center in San Bernadino who’s on his way here to meet you. I want you to go with him. He’s going to help you get clean and get your life back together.” Rafa scoffs and sneers at my suggestion recoiling with disgust. “And what if I don’t go?” I snicker in reply. “If you don’t, I’m going to let you go…” Rafa’s smile widens. “Fine, then I’ll take the second choice.” He answers smugly.

I shake my head and give him a sly grin. “I wasn’t finished. As I was saying, I’ll let you go, and I’ll wait until you’re high as a kite before I stab you through the ribs until you bleed out. Of course, I’ll make it look like an accident for Mati’s sake. Maybe a d*******l that went wrong, or just an overdose, but I guarantee you, I’ll end you.” Rafa’s face pales with every word, and his confident smirk slips off his face. I watch confidently as he swallows hard and blinks rapidly as if trying to process the whole situation. This time, his next response is less confident. His voice wobbles, and he stutters nervously. “You-you wouldn’t hurt me. You love my mother too much. And what do you think Bella will say about that?”

A growl escapes my lips as I lean close, take him by the chin, and aim the gun tightly against his temple. “Listen to me, Rafa, because I’m at the end of my f*****g patience with you. First of all, you should stop bringing Bella into this conversation. Second, I want you to cut your whining and man the f**k up. Mati is seventy-five-years-old, and she doesn’t need you bringing this s**t to her home. Don’t you care about your mother, Rafa? What if she would have been here when those men came for you? Because let me tell you..!” I grit out coldly. “If she had been here and she’d been hurt somehow, I would have f*****g blown your goddamn brains out without a thought. Don’t confuse this, Rafa. I don’t give a s**t about you. Bella and Mati are the only reason I’m not killing you where you sit. Now, I will ask you one last time, what is your choice?”

Rafa takes a few deep breaths, then softly nods. I can tell that he’s angry, but I’m beyond caring. Rafa and Mati know that I worked for the CIA. I’m sure they assume that I still do side jobs and I never correct them. It’s a good cover for the fact that I actually am one of the top directors of a government agency that focuses on assassinating powerful people. Mati knows that I own many weapons and that I’m a trained killer, and she’s never judged me. I’m sure she’s told, Bella and Rafa of my past and I’m also sure she’s discrete about what she shares, so I’m not worried. 

“Fine, I’ll go. When will your friend be here?”

“In a couple of minutes,” I mutter. “But before you go, I want you to tell me how much you owe and to whom. I’ll clean up your mess this time because I don’t want this s**t touching Mati or Bella again. But if you do it again, I will kill you before those men can get to you. Do you understand?”

Rafa nods and reluctantly replies. “It’s Nelson Manfield.” My brow quirks at the familiar name. Manfield is a known bookie who sets up shop in races and gambling rooms. “How much do you owe him?” I ask impatiently. Rafa swallows hard and glances down at his gritty hands with a terrified squeak. “Ten grand.” I want to pound him to the ground at the moment. Fortunately, he’s saved by the bell. Pushing him back, I adjust my suit jacket and give him a killing glare. “I’ll take care of Manfield, Rafa. But this is the last time.” I warn.

 Bella steps out of the kitchen with a puzzled frown. “I’ll get it,” I tell Bella. “In the meanwhile, I want you to help Rafa pack his things. He’s going to a rehab clinic, and he needs to be ready to go now.” Bella nods her head and glares at Rafa. “I hope you’ll take this seriously, Rafa, because if you don’t, I’m going to break your other freaking fingers.” She looks so fierce like an sss. She’s gorgeous in her anger, which makes my c**k throb with excitement.

Striding towards the door, I open it and smile. “Vincent, thank you for coming.” I extend my hand in greeting. Vincent, my former training officer, takes my hand congenially and pats my shoulder. “Logan, I was so glad to hear from you. I’m always glad to help a friend.”

Just then, the cleaning crew shows up ready to work. I tell them what to do, then turn to Vincent. Ushering him across the room, I appraise my old friend. Vincent is in his mid-sixties and in great shape. He kind of reminds me of Burt Reynolds with his old school mustache. Vincent was the one that recruited me as a top tech for the CIA as soon as I graduated from MIT. I was a sixteen-year-old tech savant, and the CIA was drooling to take me on. Considering my options, I took the opportunity. I know my father was disappointed by my choice to join the CIA, which made my choice sweeter. Vincent made sure I was trained and was there for me when I needed him most. He, like Drew, was like a father to me. It was only when I moved on to the Confradia that Vincent retired. He said he wanted a more fulfilling life. After he lost his brother to drugs, he decided to open a rehab clinic. He already had a Ph.D. in psychology, so the career shift was natural.

“Listen, Vince. I want you to question Rafa before you sign him in. Some s**t went down here, and I want to make sure it won't affect Mati or her granddaughter.”

Vince nods. “Alright, I’ll take him to my office then send you what I find out.” I give him a grateful nod and glance up when a door in the apartment opens. Bella and Rafa step out of the room, looking grim and distant.

Bella’s wild hair flutters around her shoulders as she approaches us. Her shoulders are tense, and her lips are closed tight. “He’s ready,” Bella mutters gruffly. She looks even more upset, which tells me that Rafa said something. 

Placing my hand on her forearm, I gesture to a silent Vincent. “Vince, this is Bella, Mati’s granddaughter, and this is Rafa, Mati’s son.” Vince quirks a brow in my direction and gives Bella a respectful nod before he looks at Rafa. “I know your mother, Rafa. Mati’s a very kind and giving woman, and that’s why I’m going to help you. However, before we go, you need to let me know if you have any drugs or anything illegal on you.”

Rafa scowls but doesn’t reply. The asshole is hiding something. Without another word, I pull Bella to the side and approach Rafa. “You either give him what you have, or I force it from you. You know, I will.” Rafa gives me an icy glare, then drops his bag and begins to rifle through it. To my shock, he removes a bag of what I’m assuming is cocaine, several rolled up weed cigarettes, and a dime bag.

Bella gasps and covers her mouth with a disgusted glare. Once Rafa is done, he mutters gruffly. “That’s all my s**t. You can check my asshole if you don’t believe me.”

I want to punch him in his stupid face at that moment. The only thing holding me back is Bella’s presence. Rafa seems unfazed by how much he hurts his family, which makes me even angrier. Maintaining a semblance of control, I nod my head at Vince and observe as he and Rafa walk towards the exit.

They're about to step through the door when Rafa opens his stupid mouth and says. “Have fun f*****g you two, because once my mom finds out, she’ll realize that her perfect boy is just another dickwad and her perfect little girl is a─”

His head snaps back with the impact of my fist hitting his face. Before he can fall to the ground, I grab him by the neck, slam him against the wall and grit through clenched teeth. “You’re a real piece of work, Rafa. To talk like that about your own niece is beneath you. You can talk all the s**t you want about me, but next time you make another comment about Bella, I will knock every tooth from your stupid mouth.”

Rafa’s chest heaves as he gazes defiantly into my eyes, but I can tell he’s scared. Slamming his head back one more time, I take a step back and mutter. “Get him the f**k out of my sight Vince.” Vince nods and ushers Rafa out of the door.

All I can do is stand there, fists tight and body rigid. I only unclench when I feel a soft hand slide into mine. Bella gazes into my eyes with a gentle expression on her face. “I’m sorry for dragging you into this, Logan. Rafa was out of line, and you didn’t deserve that after all that you’ve done to help us.”

I look at her fragile hand, sweet doe eyes, and become lost for a moment. Bella blushes and releases my hand with a nervous shudder. “It looks like the cleaning crew knows what to do. I…I should go.” She whispers with a weary sigh.

Before she can turn to the door, I take her hand and follow her. I’m not worried about the crew. They’ve cleaned up messes for me before. “I’ll give you a ride.”

Bella shakes her head. “There’s no need, Logan. I’ll just call an Uber. I only live a few minutes away.”

I ignore her reply and lead her to my car. “Don’t argue with me, Bella. Just get in the car and give me your address.”

She begrudgingly tells me where to go and rests her head back on the seat.

“Don’t worry about Rafa, he’ll be fine,” I mutter. “Once he’s clean, he’ll be back and be able to start a new life. He just needs to get through the hurdle.”

When I’m met with silence, I glance over and chuckle. Bella is asleep. I guess exhaustion has finally caught up with her. Seeing an opportunity, I run my gaze appraisingly over her body. Her long lashes rest across her high cheekbones, and her pouty lips are half-open. She looks like a goddess, and I’m completely taken with her. My eyes roam across her chest as it rises and falls in soft cadence. Her hair is fanned out across her shoulders, and her golden skin gleams beneath the sunlight permeating the windows. My body instantly ignites with need. I have to hold the steering wheel tightly to keep myself from touching her. I don’t understand what it is about this woman that I can’t stop thinking about her. I’ve never been so distracted by a woman. I usually meet a woman, screw her, and carry on with my life. And on the rare occasion where a woman refuses my advances, I simply forget about her and move on. But with Bella, it’s as if she has somehow cast a spell on me. I can’t stop obsessing over thoughts of plunging inside her tight depths or tasting the sweet cream between her legs.

I’m so wound up that it takes all of my control to get to her place without jumping her. Once we reach her apartment, I look back at her and tap her shoulder. “Bella, wake up.” She sighs but doesn’t awaken. It looks like I have a heavy sleeper in my hands.

Slipping out of the car, I make my way to the passenger seat and open her door. Bella doesn’t stir. Without another word, I unbuckle her seatbelt and caress her jaw. Her skin is velvety smooth. “Bella,” I whisper again. “Bella, wake up.”

After a moment, her eyes dazedly open and gaze into mine. She blinks a few times slowly as if her lids are too heavy to keep open. “Come on,” I whisper, sliding my hands around her waist to help her up. She clings to my shoulders and stumbles clumsily before she rights herself. “Sorry.” She mumbles imperceptibly. Without comment, I help her up the stairs and into her apartment.

The apartment is smaller than my bedroom but cozy in its own way. There’s a small galley kitchen with white appliances to the left, a large bed to the right, and right in front of it is a futon with a large flatscreen television.

Bella remains silent as she makes her way to the bed and begins to slide off her shoe. She has completely tuned me off, and it’s a bit disconcerting. I watch fascinated as she pushes her hair across her shoulder and rests her hand on her forehead with a tired sigh. Striding towards her, I squat in front of her and help her take off her shoe. Bella gazes at me, her large brown eyes looking soft beneath the fringe of her lashes.

I don’t know who moves first, but suddenly we’re in each other’s arms, and our lips are melded together. Biting Bella’s lip, I suck her tongue into my mouth and nip her lower lip. Bella sighs against my lips and wraps her arms around my neck, deepening the kiss. The sweet taste of her luscious lips is like an aphrodisiac.

Moaning with pleasure, we both fall back on the bed wrapped around each other as the kiss deepens. Straddling Bella’s waist, I grind my covered c**k against Bella’s hot center and moan with the contact. Bella wraps her legs around me and sucks my tongue deeper into her mouth while she rubs her firm breasts against my chest.

Somehow my jacket ends up on the floor, and my shirt is open. Bella’s hands caress the hard planes of my chest and abs as my fingers slip through the straps of her top and lower them until her breasts are revealed. Her mauve-colored n*****s are stiff, and her breasts shudder as she arches her back and places my hand on her breast. “Touch me.” She whispers against my lips.

Enfolding a soft globe between my palm, I pinch her n****e and kiss her chin. Bella gasps and kisses her way down my neck, biting and nipping at the tendon. It feels incredible. Sitting up, I wrap her legs around my waist and take both of her breasts in my hands. Bella swivels her hips and grinds her p***y against my zipper, mewling and crying as pleasure spikes through her body. I continue to grind her against my hard c**k. I’m so stiff that I can feel myself coming closer to the edge. I haven’t come in my pants since I was fifteen and I’m about to do it right now. Bella’s sharp nails dig into my shoulders as she speeds up her pace.

You can hear the sound of Bellas soft mewls, and our heavy breathing as our bodies strain for release. f**k, I can’t believe that I’m about to come with all of my clothes on. Bella comes first, her body stiffening as she lets out an ecstatic cry against my lips. Her body shudders against mine as she slams one last time against me, making fireworks explode behind my lids. Gritting my teeth, I growl as bliss rolls through my body. It’s the best s*x I’ve ever f*****g had, and it’s technically not s*x. We cling together for a few minutes, our breathing ragged as we come down from our euphoric high.

Bella’s arms loosen around me, and her breathing steadies, but she keeps her head on my shoulder. It takes me a moment to realize that she’s asleep. She f*****g fell asleep on me. Bemused, I lay her gently back on the bed, slide her hair from her face, and place a gentle kiss on her temple. I know I should say something before I go, or at least leave a note, but I’m too stunned by my behavior to do anything.

I just dry f****d Mati’s barely legal granddaughter, and I’m elated and pissed at the same time. How the hell did I get into this mess? This is all kinds of messed up, and it can’t go any further.

With those thoughts running through my head, I button my shirt and slip my jacket back on. I have to resist the urge to look at her because I know that if I do, I’ll see her half-naked body and crawl back into bed with her. I know that this time, I won’t stop at heavy petting. Instead, I’ll strip her down and f**k her until we’re both satisfied.

No. I’m not the kind of man Bella needs. She’s sweet and innocent, and all I can offer her is a s****l encounter with no strings attached. I don’t do relationships, and I don’t do love. Bella deserves better than that. That’s why it’s better if I walk away.