Page 33 of Bite Marks

“Yeah! Let him know he can’t hide from you. Even in a place like that.Especiallyin a place like that. Men think there’s places we won’t go … as if they’re safe from us. We will go wherever we damn well please!”

Vanessa twisted her lips as that fire swirled with the breath of life into an inferno. “Yeah! You’re right. Fuck him for not calling me back. I’m going over there right now. I have that call at two. You’re taking it.”

“Hell, yeah, I will!” Maria shouted. “Oh, shit. What’s the call about?”

The fire held itself at bay as they walked to the back so Vanessa could brief her on the client call, but when she got in her car, she slammed the door as the fire blasted back into her heart.

The drive wasn’t far, and she parked next to his Roma.Good, he’s here.

She walked to the entrance where No Neck sat.

He stood, taking off his shades as if that would help him see her better. “Um, sorry, Miss Ciampa. Uh, Nunzio’s busy. I mean, he ain’t here.” He stood in front of the door handles like a squat tank pulled up to protect the building behind him, ready to take the damage meant for those inside.

“Ti piacciono le tue palle?” she asked with all the rage she’d built for Nunzio.

Sweat beaded at the man’s hairline as he stuttered. “Wh-What? Palle is balls, right?”

“They’re gonna be in your throat if you don’t move out of my way, John.”

He swallowed, but his jaw clenched. “N-No. I’m sorry. I can’t let you in. Boss’s orders. Or, I-I mean, club rules. You’re angry. I can’t let angry people in.”

Vanessa pressed her chest against his, or rather his thick stomach, as if she were in a shoving contest. “Are you going to hit me, John? Huh? Is that what you’re going to do?” She stretched her neck to reach his face. As short as he seemed next to Nunzio, No Neck was still at least six feet tall.

The big tank stepped back up against the door as his face fell in horror. “What? No! I’m … I’d never hit you.”

“Yeah, that’s right! Nunzio would fucking ice you in a fucking second!” They were in a fake relationship, but something about those words sang in her heart as absolute truth. Nunzio would never let a man live if he’d hurt her. Even one of his stooges. “And if you can’t hit me, then you can’t stop me from going inside. Now move your fucking ass! I don’t have time to deal with your shit.”

No Neck ducked his head and stepped to the side.

She threw the door open in a bluster and stomped inside, but her heart pulled her around before the door could close. She poked her head out, leaving the fire inside the club. “I’m so sorry, John. You’re a sweet man. You didn’t deserve that. You just stay out here till I’m done with Nunzio, okay?”

No Neck nodded, wiping a tear from his eye before putting his shades back on. “Yeah, okay,” he squeaked.

She headed into the club and passed by the bar.

“Vanessa?” Caps nearly dropped the glass he was cleaning when he spotted her. “What are you doing here?”

She gave him a dismissive glare as she continued toward the elevator.

“Wait! You can’t go up there! Nunzio isn’t even here.” He struggled to get out from behind the bar, shouting at her.

Vanessa called for the elevator, and the doors opened. She pressed the button as Caps ran, his hand stretched out in a vain attempt to stop the doors. “Saw his car out front, Tony. Don’t fuck with me.” She flipped him the bird while the doors closed.

The lift carried her up with a pleasant little jingle that did nothing to calm her thrashing rage. When the door opened, Caps lumbered in front of her, bent over, huffing air.

She glanced down the hall to the stairs. “You ran all that way?” She patted him on the shoulder.

He nodded, gasping, trying to speak, but nothing came out.

She shook her head and clicked her tongue. “Tsk,tsk.And you’re this out of breath? That’s pathetic, Tony. Women deserve men who can last longer than a fucking flight of stairs.”

“What?” he wheezed as she gave him a light shove out of her way.

The door to Nunzio’s office opened, and there he was, sitting at his desk, reading over some documents with a scotch in hand.God, he looks so fucking good.She shook the thought from her mind as the door shut with Ginger stepping out to stand in her way.

The man stood nearly as tall as Nunzio and had the same arrogant swagger that pulled women to their knees. He was a good second, the obvious choice between the three men. Nobody in their right mind would fuck with him. He pulled out a hand-rolled cig and lit it before tucking one hand in his pocket. This was nothing for him. He was simply on a smoke break.

Yeah, right.

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