The rush of being alive filled me, roared through my ears. I knew she was feeling it too, I could see the passion in her eyes. I kept going, water rolling down my skin, dripping into the tub. Sweat beaded on her breasts and forehead, and I kept fucking her, pinning her against the wall, making her body all mine, making her body feel good.
“This is what you need,” I said. “You need to feel good, you need my cock deep inside you. This is what it’s like to feel alive, Aida.”
“Fuck me,” she moaned. “Keep going, Dante. Oh, god, yes, keep going.”
I took her deeper, harder, growling like an animal. I filled her and fucked her fast, her breasts shaking, and she came, wet growing down along my cock. She came hard along my shaft, and I growled in response, unable to help myself. I filled her with my seed, my orgasm lighting my body up in response to her cries, and we came together, both of us alive, both of us happy to still be breathing together.
Slowly we finished. I lowered her down and she leaned against the wall breathing hard. I kissed her, held her for a long time. After a little while, without saying much, we began to wash each other.
When we were done, I turned off the water and stepped out of the shower. I gave her a towel then wrapped my own around my waist. I stood there, feeling like I was born again.
I helped her out and wrapped my arms around her, hugging her from behind. We stood in front of the mirror. I wiped away the steam and she smiled, tilting her head back toward me.
“We look good,” she said.
“We can beat anything together, you know that?” I said.
She bit her lip. “I hope you’re right.”
“I’ll show you.” I kissed her ear then took her hand and led her back into my bedroom. I took out a spare suit and found a pair of shorts and an old shirt for her. She pulled them on, and although they were too big, she still looked good with her wet hair and her pouty lips.
I got dressed slowly. She sat on the bed and watched me, not speaking. Her legs dangled and she kicked her feet, staring at the hardwood floors. When I finished dressing, a pair of comfortable but stylish black shoes on my feet, I brushed the lapel of my jacket and tilted my head toward her.
“What do you think?” I asked
She stood and smiled. “Perfect,” she said.
“I need to address my soldiers.” I spoke in a low voice, close to her ear. She stood, crossing her arms over her chest.
“Are they all here?” she asked.
“They should be. I need to tell them what happened, and we need to figure out what to do from here.”
She nodded. “Right. Okay. I can just… just stay here.”
“No,” I said. “From now on, you’re staying right by my side. It’s too dangerous for you to be anywhere else. I’m not leaving you alone for a single second until Vlas is dead, do you understand me?”
“I understand,” she said.
“Good.” I reached out and took her hand, drawing her toward me. I kissed her, one hand cupping her ass. “Come on.”
I pulled her along behind me. We descended the steps together and walked to the front door. I unlocked it and opened it up.
My soldiers stood out on the sidewalk. Black SUVs were parked all over the place. I recognized each man, knew their names, their stories, their friends and family and parents. I knew them like I knew Gino, and I wasn’t going to lose another.
Twenty-nine men stood arrayed before me. I used to have thirty, but that wouldn’t matter. I had at least double Vlas’s strength.
I stood up on my stoop, at the top of the steps, with Aida by my side. Her damp hair hung down around her shoulders, but she didn’t seem scared by the men standing before her. They were hard men, most of them killers. They were all men I’d trust with my life if it came to it. Steven lingered in the back, leaning against the hood of his car with his arms crossed, a scowl on his face.
“By now, I think you all heard what happened,” I said.
Every man stood at attention and stared back at me. “We won’t let him get away with this, boss,” Biagio said.
I nodded to him and he clenched his fists. I could see his anger reflected in all their eyes.
“These past weeks have been hard,” I said, speaking slowly and meeting the gaze of every man there. “Vlas has come at me hard over and over again. We tried to avoid all-out war, tried to do this the smart way, but the greedy piece of shit wouldn’t back down. So we hit him hard, killed most of his top guys, and gutted his organization. And he still won’t back down.” I stood there, letting rage flow through me. I looked at Aida, and was surprised at the look on her face.
She seemed confident, like she belonged by my side. She exuded a presence and a strength, even wearing nothing more than an old t-shirt and an old pair of gym shorts. She was a small girl, practically swimming in my old baggy clothes, but she still looked beautiful and in control. I was proud to have her by my side and I looked back at my men with a renewed vigor.
“We’re going
