Page 50 of Forgetting the Enemy
Chapter 18
Michael
The meeting with the other families yesterday went better than I had expected. Having them see Vince and I stand together unified really helped solidify the Vitali leadership. I’m relieved. I would be lying if I said I hadn’t been concerned about the outcome. When the loyalists to Alberto come for us, we’ll have the other three families standing behind us, and we’ll be ready.
I’m tired, my brain is fried, and I need some solitude. Sitting in my office isn’t doing it for me, so I decide I need a change of scenery. I step out of my office, and as expected, Ricco is standing guard outside my door and greets me. “I’m going down to the pool house,” I say to him.
He begins to follow, and I turn back toward him.
“Ricco, I need to be alone.”
“Not happening, Michael. Things are beginning to brew with Carmine and Armino, and I’m not letting you out of my sight.”
“Fuck, can’t I get an hour to myself?” I ask. I know that’s practically impossible, but I’m just asking for a damn hour. My father never had time to himself either, and I realize it’s the way it has to be. I’ll just have to get used to it, but right now, I want my hour.
“Michael, look. I get it. Really, I do, but look at it from my perspective. It’s my job to protect you. If something happens to you because I let you have an hour to yourself, I would never forgive myself.”
I shake my head. I get what he’s saying, but fuck, I’m just asking for an hour. What could really happen in an hour? “Fuck! Fine, Ricco, but you’re staying outside.”
“Fine, I can live with that,” he replies and continues to follow me through the house and out the patio door.
We get to the pool, and as I cross the deck, I’m stopped dead in my tracks.Holy shit!Zaira is lounging by the pool in a fucking bikini.Where the fuck did she get that?I’m ready to blow my shit. Her damn bikini leaves nothing to the imagination, and holy fuck, she’s got the body of a goddess. Suddenly I’m raging ’cause every man in this house can see everything that’s mine.
I don’t think she sees me as I walk toward her. I assume her eyes are closed, but I can’t really tell ’cause she’s got those huge, Hollywood-movie-star style sunglasses on and a wide-brimmed straw hat. Before I can say a word, she takes her sunglasses and lowers them so I can see her eyes and says in that sultry, sexy voice of hers, “Hello, Michael.”
“What the fuck, Zaira!” My anger gets the best of me. “Why are you out here dressed like this?” I yell.
She looks at me coyly. “Well, Michael, this is a pool, where normal people who aren’t always so engrossed in their work swim and enjoy the sun. So I believe I’m wearing appropriate attire for swimming and sunbathing.” She looks at Ricco and says, “Wouldn’t you agree, Gunner?”
He smirks, and I want to fucking punch him. And why the fuck is she calling him Gunner?
I turn back toward Ricco and say, “If you value your job, you better not say a fucking word.”
He turns from me, and I know he’s getting a good laugh out of my jealousy. Fucker.
“You need to cover up,” I demand.
“I will do nothing of the sort,” she replies.
“Zaira, don’t test me,” I reply. “You keep this up, and I will not think twice about dropping those bikini bottoms and spanking your ass right here in front of everyone.”
“Promise?” she replies.
Her words go straight to my dick, making me harder than I thought I could ever be. I’m about to really lose control, and that is the last thing I want to do. So instead of arguing with her, I bite the bullet and stomp off toward the pool house.Damn woman!She’ll be the death of me yet.
When I get to the pool house, I slam the door behind me, probably right in Ricco’s face. Serves him right. I swear I don’t know why I keep him around. He’s always finding amusement at my expense.
Then I stop and realize I am just jealous. I don’t want anyone looking at Zaira like that, but I really have no say over what she does. I’m keeping her here under false pretenses, and the longer I keep her in the dark, the more pissed off she will be. And as far as Ricco goes, that man would never move in on Zaira, and he would lay down his life for me. I need to cut him some slack.
I open the door again to get his attention. “Ricco, get in here.” When he gets inside, I say, “I’m sorry for being an ass.”
He laughs. “You never need to apologize to me. I know how you feel about Zaira, and I’m telling you, Michael, she’s pushing all your buttons just to get a reaction out of you.”
“But why? I’ve been nothing but kind to her.”
“I swear, when it comes to women, you are dumber than a box of rocks. She’s trying to get a reaction out of you because she feels the same way about you as you feel about her, and you keep fighting it. Eventually, she’s gonna win.”
“And you find it amusing,” I say.
