The Submission of a Mafia Princess (5 page)

“I just want you to be happy and safe. We’ll talk about school soon. I have a lot of business going on now but when everything calms down, we’ll visit those colleges you mentioned. Your safety is my first concern, you know that don’t you? If anything happens to you, Toni, I don’t know what I’d do.” There were tears in her father’s eyes and she knew it wasn’t the right time to push.

Doorbell chimes echoed through the cavernous first floor of the Azzari mansion and she hugged her father again. Toni recognized two of the three men entering the kitchen as her father’s employees. She cringed at the third, Angelo “The Chin” Manzanno. His eyes lit up like he’d entered the all-you-can-eat Chinese buffet when he spotted Toni. Pulling a handkerchief from his pocket, he mopped his brow. He couldn’t even walk from his car to her kitchen without breaking a sweat. Gross. Eight years and about two hundred pounds separated Angelo from Toni and she couldn’t stand the sight of him.

“Hello, Toni. You look beautiful tonight,” he said licking his lips. He leaned over to kiss her cheek but she was too quick. Her dinner almost made a reappearance with the thought of kissing him, let alone marrying the pig. Toni maneuvered quickly to ensure his sweaty lips didn’t touch her face and ended up kissing the air. “Good night, Dad. I’m turning in early.”

The Chief looked from Angelo to Toni with disappointment in his eyes. “Good night, my girl.” My Girl. It’s what he used to call her mother. Toni smiled and climbed the stairs to her room.

Chapte
r Six

New York City - Present Day

Knocking lightly at the door, Toni peeked inside as Mia looked up from her desk. The dark haired woman’s face brightened as she stood.

“Toni! What a surprise, come in.” Mia gracefully strode to the door and hugged Toni. “What are you doing in the city?”

“I came to talk,” Toni said tentatively.

“Sweetheart, you could’ve called me. I always have time for you.”

Mia guided Toni to a sofa in the cozy seating area of her office.

Toni shook her head. “I couldn’t risk it. Since my father died, Angelo thinks he’s my keeper. I think he’s having his men follow me. Wouldn’t doubt it if he’s monitoring my phone calls, too. I don’t have much time until my window of opportunity is closed. He wants to move up the wedding,” Toni said, taking a seat. Her hands trembled in her lap.

Mia sat next to her and held the younger woman’s hands. “You don’t have to marry that man, Toni. We can help you. Asher has many friends and resources in the city.”

“I don’t have a choice. It’s my place in the family; I have to go through with it. Angelo’s taken over, and the marriage of Tony Azzari’s daughter will seal his rank. If I refuse or go into hiding, he'll find me and then he'll kill me.”

Mia took a deep breath and looked at Toni with tears in her eyes. “You’re so young. I can’t imagine being forced into a life I didn’t want.”

Toni stood and walked to the window. “Look. I didn’t come to talk about this and I’ve probably said too much already. I want to set up my scene for tonight.”

“With which Dom?” Mia asked.

Toni swung her head to meet Mia’s stare. “Mick, of course.”

“You’re sure about that?” Mia asked and raised her eyebrows.

“I take it you know about my past with Brax Malone.”

Mia nodded her head. “Asher spoke to him when he returned the lounge last night. Want to talk about it?”

Toni blinked away tears and took her seat next to Mia. Leaning back, she squeezed her eyes closed. Inhaling a deep breath, she let it out slowly in an attempt to keep her emotions under control.

“Brax is the reason I came to SRE but I had no idea he was here. You see, ever since I met him three years ago, I’ve craved to feel the way I did when we were together. I was a different person with him, yet, I’d never felt so secure and happy in my own skin. Brax made me feel sexy and alive. He took control and I never had to worry or second-guess myself. Only feel. I haven’t been able to recreate that with anyone else after him and I need to feel it one more time before I marry Angelo.”

Mia studied her face for a moment before responding. “You know what my next question will be.”

“Why don’t I want a scene with Brax?” Toni responded flatly. “I wish it could be. Hell, I’d do anything to go back in time and be with him again. I fell in love with him that summer and after last night, I know I’ve never stopped loving him. But my fate is sealed, and if Angelo finds out Brax is back in the picture, he’ll kill him for sure. Not that Brax wants anything to do with me anyway. He’s furious with me.”

Toni turned toward Mia who had tears in her eyes. “I wish there was something I could do for you, sweetheart.”

“You’ve done so much for me, Mia. You’ve given me the chance to live a fantasy I’ve had since a boy on a Harley opened the door of kink to me. I need this one night to let go and give me a memory to tuck away and cherish for the rest of my life. When I submit to Mick tonight, I’ll close my eyes and pretend he’s Brax. But that’s as far as it can go. I can’t feel his hands on me again. It’ll be too hard to let go and I’d never forgive myself if...” She shook her head as she recalled the day Angelo took Brax away.

Mia placed her hand on Toni’s arm. “Okay, I understand and I’ll grant the scene under one condition. I don’t want you leaving the hotel today. If Manzanno finds out what you’re doing, he won’t let you back. Worse, he might hurt you. Call him and let him know you’re spending the night with a couple of friends in the city. I’ll book you a suite here at Rosebud on the private spa floor. Pamper yourself today. You deserve it.”

Toni’s mind raced in a million directions. “My clothes, I need to go home to pack a bag.”

“It’s too risky. We’re in New York City, sweetheart. Anything you can ever want or need is here. We’ll take the private limo out shopping together a little later. There’s a great boutique where you can get something to wear tonight. I just need to take care of some business first.” Mia stood and beckoned Toni to follow her to the concierge desk.

“Courtney, would you please book a room for Miss Azzari on the spa floor and get her a massage appointment?”

“Of course.” Courtney smiled and picked up the phone.

Mia walked Toni to the elevators where Mia gave her a big hug.

“I’ll see you later,” Mia said, pulling away from the embrace.

“Okay, thank you. Really. I can’t believe how much you’ve done for me,” Toni couldn’t stop the tears forming in her eyes.

Mia looked down as though she were deciding what to say next and shook her head. “I’d feel awful if I didn’t tell you this.”

Toni raised her eyebrows. “What is it?”

Mia sighed. “Braxton Malone is not over you.”

“That’s where you’re wrong, Mia. He’s over me. He was so cold last night.”

“I can tell by the look in his eyes. Sometimes there’s a fine line between love, lust and anger here at SRE. Come, I’ll show you,” Mia said and held her hand out.

Toni sighed, took Mia’s hand and walked with her toward the hallway containing SRE’s ten suites. Mia stopped at an unmarked door.

“We normally don’t allow members in here, but I’ll make an exception for you. Just give me a second.”

Using a key secured by a ribbon around her wrist, Mia unlocked the door and slipped inside. A moment later, the door opened again and she gestured to Toni.

“Come on in and meet Nate. He’s the head of our security team.”

Nate stood and extended his hand to Toni. Her hand felt so small in his large but gentle grasp. “Nice to meet you, Toni.”

“Nate queued up a clip of footage from the lounge last night I’d like you see.” Mia pointed toward a bank of monitors. All were turned off except for the large screen in the middle of the wall.

Mia flashed a confident grin at Toni as Nate sat and pressed a couple of buttons on the control panel. It was video footage of SRE’s lounge from the night before. Brax was behind the bar serving a woman a drink.

“How do you have this?” Toni asked, waving her hand at the monitor.

“SRE is under video surveillance twenty-four seven. I wasn’t at the bar last night but Asher told me about Brax’s reaction to seeing you again. I needed to see it for myself so we viewed the recording. Now watch.”

Mia pointed a manicured finger at the screen as Brax came to life. He served shots to the three women at the bar and clinked glasses with each of them. He was about to take a drink when something off camera captured his attention.

“Look at his face here.”

Brax blinked a few times and his eyes narrowed.

“Check out his hands.”

Her gaze focused on the opening and closing of his fists. An action she’d seen him do before when he was stressed.

“See how his face is getting red?”

Brax said something to the woman in front of him, who stood from her chair and stepped aside, as he placed his palms on the bar and vaulted himself over it.

“Hmm, impressive,” Toni joked.

The camera angle switched and Toni watched Brax approach while she leaned against the bar talking with Mick. Mia tapped the screen and the picture froze.

“Look at those eyes, Toni. He’s taking in every part of you. He’s staking his claim to you with just one look.”

“You know what it looks like to me? Like he’s pissed as hell, that’s about it.”

“Brax does a good job of building walls around himself and allowing people to see what he wants them to see. Trust me on this.” Mia rubbed Toni’s arm. “Go enjoy your day of pampering. I’ll pick you up in a few hours for a little shopping excursion.”

Chapter Seven

Toni glanced at the storefront window from the idling limousine. Lace bras, panties and baby doll negligées taunted her from their proud perches. She glared at the size zero mannequins then to her own healthy thighs.

“You’ll love Mimi deMont’s. Let’s go find something sexy for your evening,” Mia said.

Toni grabbed Mia’s arm. “I’ll wait for you here. There’s nothing for me in there, Mia.”

“What are you talking about? You’d look great in anything. Come, I’ll help you find something perfect.”

“You don’t understand. Those things are for women like you. Beautiful and thin with legs that go one for miles. There’s nothing in there for my size ten ass.”

“Oh, hon. Come with me, please. Give me a chance to show you how stunning you are.”

Toni rolled her eyes and sighed. She didn’t have the heart to turn Mia down. She’d done so much for her.”

“Okay, but you’ll see why I can’t wear things like that.”

A guard let the women into the locked boutique where they were greeted by a well-dressed older woman.

“Francine, thank you for taking us on such short notice,” Mia said and kissed both of the woman’s cheeks.

“It’s good to see you again, Mia. This must be Miss Toni. Follow me to the dressing room. I pulled a few things for you to try already.”

Francine ushered her into a posh dressing area complete with a privacy screen in the corner. “Why don’t you get undressed and slip on the robe hanging on the hook there. I’ll pass you things to try. And don’t look so serious, Miss Toni. We’re here to have dress up fun,” Francine said in a singsong voice.

“I’ve never enjoyed playing dress up but I’ll try on what you have for me,” she said, taking her place behind the screen.

The first hanger contained a black leather corset, G-string and stockings with garters. “Slip this on and come on out so that I can lace the back for you.”

Toni stared at the corset and shook her head. She couldn’t put it on and parade her fat ass around the two women, no matter how well-meaning they were.

“I-I’m sorry. This isn’t right for me,” Toni said and held the hangers out for the woman to take.

“You can’t tell without trying it on. Give it a chance,” Francine pleaded.

“No. I don’t think so. I’m just too heavy to wear it.”

There was a full half minute of silence and Toni was sure the women were staring at each other, unsure of what to do next.

“Give us a moment, will you, Francine?” Mia asked.

Toni heard the woman’s footfalls disappear followed by a soft knock on the screen.

“I’m sorry to embarrass you,” Toni said and looked to the ground.

“Honey, pick your head up.” A soft hand cradled her cheek. “Where did you get the idea that you’re too heavy to wear this?” Mia held up the corset.

“Look at me,” Toni said.

“I am and all I see are sexy curves I would give my eye teeth for.”

Toni blushed. “You’re just being nice.”

“I’m serious and we’re not leaving here unless you see what I do. All I ask is that you try it on.”

“Mia. May I see you for a moment?” Francine called.

“Try it on and I’ll be right back.” Mia arched her eyebrows and smiled.

Toni nodded. “Okay, fine.”

Mia left the dressing room and Toni slid the silky robe from her shoulders and unclipped the lingerie from the hanger. Taking a deep breath, she pulled the corset over her head. Soft leather smoothed over her stomach and a coolness encompassed her full breasts. Leaving the laces loose, she stepped into the G-string panties. Her body heat ticked through the buttery leather that clung to her body’s curves.