Page 25 of Caged Bliss

“What did he want?”

I stare at him. A thousand thoughts rumble in my brain. What did Angelo want from me? He wanted to make a deal. He wanted information.

“He wanted what all men want.”

Tommy’s eyebrows raise. “Which is what?”

“You really need details?” My cheeks are burning up. Embarrassment threatens to drown me. Fortunately, I don’t need to fake this. “Ask Rodrigo what Angelo wanted in that room.”

“He already told me.” Tommy sits back and looks thoughtful. “You fucked him?”

I cover my face with both hands. “Don’t make me answer that.”

“Or did he watch while you fucked all those machines?” When I glare at him, his smirk is wicked and mocking. “It’s fine, Claudia, I don’t give a shit. I hoped I’d be the first one to get in those panties but hey, Angelo’s a good-looking guy, I totally understand.”

“It’s not like that,” I say but I don’t know how else it could be. Honestly, there’s no other reason for me to have been in that room with Angelo for as long as I was, and if Tommy watched the video then he already knows what happened.

Kissing. Touching. Dry-humping. Orgasm.

Running the heck away.

“This is a good thing,” he says, kicking his legs forward and crossing them at the ankles. He leans back, hands behind his head. “You and me, we have a good relationship, don’t we?”

No, fuck no, we have a terrible relationship. “You’re my sister’s boyfriend,” I say, which is about as good as he’ll get.

“You know me, but you don’t know Angelo. You don’t know him at all. He’s trouble, serious trouble, and I’m worried about you getting involved with a guy like that. With a Bianco, a felon Bianco. You’re in over your head.”

He’s so right about that.

“We’re not doing anything.” My voice is very small and soft.

Which makes him smile. “Sure you’re not. But let’s say you are or that something’s starting up. What if I said I could help you? I could protect you from Angelo’s worst impulses, if you agree to do me some little favors?”

Oh my god. This is absurd. Now Tommy’s doing the same thing Angelo did, and I’m all mixed up beyond recognition, and I don’t know what to do. I nod my stupid head, wondering how much worse this could possibly get.

“Great,” Tommy says, slapping his knees and sitting forward. “Here’s the deal. Fuck Angelo. Give him the best pussy he’s gotten in years. That shouldn’t be hard, since he’s probably been busy fucking ass behind bars, but anyway. Rock his world, Claudia, then get him talking. Make him tell you what he’s up to. Why he’s hanging around Cage and what he wants with me. Ask him about Paulie. Do all that, tell me what he says, and you’re taken care of, no problem.”

I’m just a lamp. It’s so obvious. I’m just a game piece he wants to shift around the room. But what’s the difference between what Angelo’s doing and what Tommy wants me to do?

Serena’s the difference.

Tommy’s got my sister, and he’s not letting her go. There’s no negotiating with him. But with Angelo, he’ll work with me, because he doesn’t give a crap about keeping my sister locked up in a prison of her own addiction.

“You want me to have a relationship with Angelo,” I say, spelling it out so we’re all clear.

“Bingo. And you’ll report to me. Easy, right? You might even have some fun while you’re at it.” He winks, and it’s the most repulsive thing I’ve ever seen.

“I don’t know if I can do that.”

“You’re a smart girl. Figure it the fuck out.” His attention drifts from me as he shuffles papers on his desk. “Bang Angelo’s little brains out. You’re a hot chick. I have all the faith in the world in your abilities.”

That’s my dismissal. Tommy’s such an arrogant prick that he just assumes I’m going to do his bidding all for some vague “protection” promise.

I turn away without another word, not really trusting my stupid mouth to say anything right now, and step out into the hall. I hurry back to the employee locker room, find my phone, take the hundred from between my tits, and add Angelo to my contacts. I’m tempted to swallow the bill just to be on the safe side, but I need the money and tuck it back between my boobs to be safe.

Then I send a text: You got me into some deep shit. Just talked with Tommy. We need to meet up ASAP.

I hit send before hurrying back to my cage.

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