Page 9 of Straightened Out

Chapter 3

Rocco Spinelli

The second I gave into temptation and touched Violet, I knew I was fucked beyond measure. Sure it was just a hand to her cheek, but that simple touch burned my fingertips and when I confessed that I thought she looked beautiful on that stage, she gave me a look that seared my black fucking soul. A look that made me forget whose sister she was. A look that made me want to throw her on the bed and explore every inch of her body.

I realized no one had ever looked at me the way Violet did in that moment.

Like I mattered.

Like I was enough.

Like I was wanted and not for my dick, but for whatever was buried deep inside of me. To her I wasn’t the son of man with a tarnished reputation. Nor was I the nephew of the most powerful man in all of New York. I wasn’t a soldier or someone desperate to climb the ranks of the mob. I wasn’t anything but the guy she spent a better part of her youth following around like a bug.

I’m a greedy motherfucker by nature. A selfish bastard who doesn’t think twice about taking what he wants and yet, I somehow found a sliver of self-control and turned my back to Violet. Growling, I ordered her to take a shower.

Beautiful and all, you reek of cheap perfume.

The softness in her features hardened and I felt relief flood through my veins as her guard flew up. I can handle a disgruntled Violet. I can take her smart mouth and roll with every cheap shot she aims my way because that’s what we do. We push each other’s buttons and mercilessly tease one another.

We don’t stare at one another wondering what the other tastes like.

A knock on the door interrupts my thoughts and without a second thought I reach for my gun. The blood rushes to my head as I stand and make my way to the door. Cock-eyed, I peer into the peephole and tuck the gun back into my pants when I realize it’s only room service.

As soon as Violet shut the door to the bathroom and I heard the water begin to run, I envisioned her naked body under the spray of the shower and downed the last of the vodka. I stared at the closed door fighting the urge to open it, knowing I wouldn’t even bother removing my clothes before I joined her in the shower. The water could rain over me, my suit could cling to me, so long as I had her body against the tiles and my mouth on every inch of her skin.

It became clear there was no way I was getting through the rest of this night without a little help from my friend Tito, so I ordered a bottle to my room. I also ordered a few things for Violet. A cheeseburger and a Shirley Temple—that should get her blood boiling. Then we can get back to normal.

Fight it out.

Taunt one another.

With any luck, I’ll pass out from alcohol poisoning and her from a food coma. We’ll wake up and go our separate ways. I’ll go back to Miami and she’ll go back to being the good ballerina. I’ll nod my head and smile when Joaquin mentions her, and I’ll forget all about those perky little tits and the way she looked at me tonight.

The guy parks the rolling cart in the center of the room, and I quickly fish a twenty out of my pocket. Pocketing the tip, he exits the hotel room just as Violet emerges from the bathroom wearing nothing but a towel.

One day a year.

That’s all I ask for.

One day to be the man my mother would’ve been proud to call her son.

But it seems like the odds are stacked against me.

Swiping a hand over my face, I mutter a curse.

“For fuck’s sake, Violet,” I grunt.

Ignoring me, she moseys into the room, dragging her fingers through her long, wet hair.

“Do I smell food?” Her eyes light up at the sight of the tray and she basically prances across the room to lift the silver plate warmer. I pluck the bottle of vodka from the ice bucket just as she moans.

Hand to God, I think she’s trying to kill me.

My fist tightens around the neck of the bottle.

“Where are your clothes?” I sneer as I flip a glass over. Making quick work of the cap, I fill my glass to the rim.

“You said I smelled like cheap perfume, so I figured my sweatsuit must stink too. I can put my blazer back on if that will make you more comfortable, but I don’t carry extra underwear in my back pocket so…”

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