0 comments/ 79178 views/ 60 favorites Una Nuova Famiglia Ch. 01 By: MercuryLove31 Raegan glanced at the clock on the far wall across from her chipped wooden desk. Was it 2:40pm already? The bell would ring in about five minutes and none of the students were done with the exam. That wasn't a good sign. But then she was sure none of the 7th graders in her honors math class had studied, as she'd suggested, all week. They were probably stunned by the difficulty of the test. She smiled. They would be better prepared next time, she was certain of it. When the bell rang, there was a collective groan from the group as they put their pencils down and began passing their papers forward. She was glad it was Friday. They wouldn't want to see her again for a few days. "Okay, don't forget to complete chapter six over the weekend! Have a good one!" They barely glanced at her as they filed out, mumbling "have a good weekend" on their way. It's a good thing she knew they adored her otherwise she might take their behavior personally. When the classroom was empty, she collected her belongings, taking her time as she waited for Reese. He taught a group of 8th graders on the floor above. She glanced at the clock on the wall again, realizing she probably had a moment to run down the hall to the ladies room. Reese wouldn't mind waiting for her. Minutes later she was standing before the sink, washing her hands. She glanced into the mirror, taking in the dark chocolate of her skin and her bright eyes with pupils so dark they looked black. She had full, round cheeks that dimpled when she smiled. Her ex-lovers swore her dimples were one of her best attributes. Thin, perfectly arched brows, full lips, dark hair that surrounded her face in a cloud of soft, short curls. She sighed as she dried her hands. She normally didn't spend so much time looking at herself in the mirror, but Reese was forcing her to go out tonight to celebrate her ten year anniversary as a middle school teacher. She couldn't believe she had been teaching for ten years. She couldn't believe she was already 33 years old! She quickly took in the rest of her appearance in the full-length mirror on the back of the bathroom door. She liked the ankle-length skirt with its swirls of red, brown and cream and her cream colored long sleeved blouse. She looked good in the ensemble and it hid the fact that she needed to lose a little weight. Her breasts were a little too full and her hips a little too curvaceous for her liking. But none of her lovers had complained. In fact most of them loved snuggling up against her soft, full-figure. Of course that didn't mean she was content with her own body. But then she had complaining about her weight for years. She sighed, she should probably just learn to love herself unconditionally. That was a battle she could win. She smiled at herself, winking at the image in the mirror before opening the door and hurrying back to her classroom. "Reg, I've told you before not to leave your purse in here! You know these kids are fucking thieves!" She laughed, sizing up her best friend. Reese Campbell was relatively short for a man, standing only five-feet-seven inches tall. He was slim, smartly dressed in khaki pants, an oversized black shirt and black casual shoes. He was also very attractive, with light brown skin and amber eyes. He was bald, his scalp perfectly shaped, and wore a diamond stud in one ear. What she loved about him was his humor, his intelligence, his generosity, and his sexual orientation. She never had to worry about him hitting on her considering he was gay. "Stop talking about our kids like that," she chastised jokingly. "Hey, I waited for them to leave the building before ragging on the little bastards, that's the best I can do! Anyway, you're not backing out tonight, right? I made these fucking reservations a month ago." "I'm not backing out. What time is the reservation?" "Six. We can go to a movie first if you want, or we can go shopping." She smiled, knowing which one he preferred. "That's not enough time for a movie and you know it. Where are we going shopping?" She sighed when she saw the smile light up his face. Shopping in New York City on a Friday afternoon with Reese was never a good idea. Una Nuova Famiglia Ch. 01 They worked in their workbooks for another 20 minutes and then she asked a few students to work out problems on the board. This way she could make corrections before the entire class. When the bell rang, the kids quickly gathered up their belongings. "Don't forget, we're doing pages 29-35 tomorrow so please take a stab at them tonight! Have a good one!" Most filed out without saying goodbye and she smiled. They were pissed. Even though none of them had failed the exam, she had snatched the victory from them with the curve. She didn't mind if they were upset, they would work harder next time. She straightened up the desks a little, biding time as she waited for Reese. She hadn't seen him since Saturday morning and she wondered how the rest of the weekend had gone. Considering he had not called again, she assumed everything was fine. She was hoisting her overstuffed leather satchel onto her shoulder when Reese tapped on the door and then let himself in. He was beaming. "Hmmm…I take it you made up with him?"She stated the obvious. "Hell yes, and it was damn sweeeeeeet!" "Thanks for sharing," she shook her head ruefully. "And are you in a monogamous relationship now?" Reese shrugged his shoulders, "no, but I told him just because I agreed doesn't mean I have to like it. Besides, I mentioned I might find someone else to fuck one day too. He didn't seem to like that idea." "I thought you said you didn't want to do that anymore?" "I don't know," Reese shrugged. "Look, how about a drink before we go home?" "No way. I spent the entire weekend grading papers and recovering from a hangover. I finally have a night to myself and I'm going to enjoy it." "Oh, I forgot to ask. Did the thug call?" Raegan raised a brow, confused for just a moment. Then it dawned on her, he was talking about Shane Miller. She hadn't thought about her all weekend. Well, almost all weekend. "She's not a thug." "Right. And I love pussy. Come on, she's a thug and you know it. In fact, I think you like that about her. So, did she call?" "No. And that's probably for the best." "Hmmm, best for whom?" "Okay, that's enough, just shut up." She stepped through the door, waiting for him to follow her before turning to close and lock it. He continued to tease her on their way out of the building. They stopped to chat briefly with a few colleagues smoking in front of the building before making their way to the subway station. There they parted ways. Raegan waved as Reese jogged down the steps. Then she turned to cross the street and wait for the city bus that would drop her off a block from her apartment building. She was reading over her lesson plans for the next morning when a car door across the street opened, catching her eye. It resembled the silver gray limousine from the restaurant. A familiar looking chauffeur stood from the driver's seat, straightened his finely tailored gray jacket and then opened the rear door. She already knew who would emerge and yet her breath still caught in her chest. She watched as the striking form made her way across the street, ignoring the blare of a car horn as it was forced to screech to a halt. Most of the people standing around, or hurrying about at the typical break neck New York City pace, took a second to watch Shane, with her broad shoulders, slim hips and long legs, make her way to the bus stop. This time she was dressed in a pair of black jeans, a burgundy leather jacket and a pair of hiking boots dyed the same rich burgundy color. Her hair was braided into thick cornrows again. A fresh cigar dangled from between her lips. Raegan could feel Shane's eyes traveling over her full-figure. She ran a mental picture of herself through her mind, content with her choice of a long black skirt and royal blue sweater. She licked her lips nervously, meeting those intense hazel-green eyes. "Can I offer you a ride?" Shane's husky voice sent a jolt of electricity through her. She mentally chastised herself, trying to get her emotions in check. She tried to distract herself by taking a quick look over Shane's shoulder at the limousine. She was a bit reluctant to accept anything from this woman, even a ride home. Something, other than her annoying best friend, warned her that Shane Miller would be hazardous to her health. "Actually, my bus is turning the corner right now. I wouldn't want to put you out." "It's no problem." Raegan watched as Shane picked up her satchel and turned to cross the street with it. She hesitated for a moment before following suit. The chauffeur had already opened the door by the time they arrived at the softly purring vehicle. Shane slid in, sitting with her back to the driver, allowing Raegan to occupy the seat across from her alone. Raegan appreciated the gesture. She was afraid Shane would hear the erratic beat of her heart if she sat too close. The door shut once they were settled, the hustle and bustle of New York City traffic abruptly silenced. Raegan took in her surroundings as the large, sleek car pulled away from the curb. She ran her fingers over the plush seats, taking in the wood paneling, the glass refrigerated bar stocked with miniature liquor bottles, and the small color television tuned to a news program. Shane unzipped her leather jacket to reveal a black silk tee. She reached for the remote control and turned off the television. "142nd and Riverside, right?" She asked with a raised brow. "Uh, yea. Thank you." Raegan refused to ask how she knew her address. Shane pressed a button and gave the location to the driver. "Drink?" "Water, please." She watched Shane's broad form as she reached into the bar and extracted a chilled bottle of water. Raegan could not help but notice a dark rectangular object settled into a black leather pocket-like contraption beneath Shane's jacket. In the moment it took Raegan to figure out the black leather contraption was a shoulder holster, and the black metal object a gun, she had already averted her eyes. She forced herself to concentrate on accepting the bottle of water from her host. She wondered if Shane could see her hands shaking as she quickly gulped some down. Una Nuova Famiglia Ch. 01 Shane drank some of her wine before answering, "public high school in mid-town. Small college upstate. MBA right after that." "Is this the only restaurant you own?" "My father left me a few others." Raegan sipped at her wine, enjoying the fruity blush. "Ummm, it's good." "I knew you would like it." Raegan raised a brow, smiling "really? Do you presume to know something about me Shane Miller?" Shane smirked, "everything." "Really?" Raegan laughed, she was really beginning to like that smirk. "What's my favorite color?" She challenged. Shane sat back and stared at her for a moment before giving her an answer, "earth tones." Raegan was taken aback. She was right. "Fine, but you could probably tell that from my clothes. How about a harder question?" She thought for a moment about a question Shane would never be able to answer. Suddenly she smiled, "do I believe in God?" "No, but you believe in a higher power." Raegan's mouth fell open. "How did you know that?" Shane shrugged, the smirk still tugging at her lips, "I double-majored in marketing and psych. It's a common trend today." Raegan smiled, "really? You've completed my psychological profile then?" "In my line of work, I need to be able to read people quickly. Bottom line." "So, am I a safe investment for you Shane?" Raegan asked, surprised at her own forwardness. She watched as Shane refilled both wine glasses, that smirk still tugging at her lips. She still had not answered the question when the waiter arrived with the appetizers. Una Nuova Famiglia Ch. 02 Reese packed up his belongings and grabbed the text he wanted to review before class tomorrow. After a long chat with Billy at lunch he'd decided not to call the police…yet. He and Billy were going to the movies tonight and he planned to invite Raegan. In fact, if he had any say, he would keep her so occupied she would not have time to see that murdering thug ever again. He shook his head, enjoying the weight of the new diamond in his ear. A gift from Billy. He sighed. Why was he worrying about Raegan's love life when he had his own problems? How could he settle for a boyfriend who had no intention of being faithful? He sometimes wondered if he should find a lover just to make Billy jealous. He had met a really cute guy named Pete just a few days ago at the gym. He opened Raegan's classroom door and entered, his eyes scanning the newspaper article he'd shown her earlier. He was sure it was the same woman. "Reg, we're going to the movies tonight. Want to come or are you going out with that murdering butch-thug?" When she didn't answer he looked up and encountered a pair of cold, hazel-green eyes. Dangerous eyes. Shane Miller's eyes. He took a step back, taking in her brick red cardigan, black jeans and red Timberlands. She towered over him at six feet, her honey-brown cheeks red from the cold. She wore the same thick cornrow braids he remembered from the restaurant. One brow was raised and long dark lashes partially shaded those piercing eyes. Reese took another step back. "U-uh–…w-where's Raegan?" He stammered. "Ladies room." Her husky voice was deeper than his. He wanted to take another step back but compelled himself not to. She lowered her eyes to the newspaper article he held and then raised them back to his face. The brow rose just a little higher. "Interesting read?" He straightened to his full five feet seven inches, squaring off his shoulders. "I know this woman was with you that night at the restaurant." She smirked. "You better not fuck over my friend," Reese bit out. He could feel a lump forming in his throat. She was truly intimidating. Shane raised her cigar to her lips and pulled on it. She blew the aromatic smoke in his direction, "or what?" She demanded coolly, waiting for a response that never came. Instead, Reese turned on his heel and left, heading toward the ladies room. He shoved the wooden door open in anger, startling Raegan. "Reese! What the hell are you doing in here?" "That thug's in your classroom!" He spat. She winced, "I know. You didn't say anything to offend her, did you?" "I just accused her of murder and she shrugged it off like it was no big deal!" "Reese! I can't believe you!" She pushed past him to exit the ladies room. Reese caught up to her, grabbing hold of the sleeve of her cranberry blouse. "Reg, I don't want you going out with her!" "She's giving me a ride home Reese, we're not going out. She's on her way out of town and wanted to see me before she left." Raegan pulled her sleeve from his tight grip. She cradled his face in her hands and leaned forward to plant a quick kiss on his lips. "Reese, I appreciate that you worry about me, but you're being ridiculous." "Reg, please, promise me you won't see her again." Raegan laughed, "I'm not going to promise that! I like her. Now, I have to go. Call me later." She turned and walked away. He watched the swish of her charcoal gray ankle length skirt as she made her way down the hall and then disappeared into her classroom. Raegan stepped into the classroom and smiled as she watched Shane reading her kids' work plastered on the walls. She took in Shane's confident stance, the muscular thighs evident beneath the black jeans, the tapered waist and broad shoulders beneath the cardigan, the thick braids. She found the flush of Shane's light-brown skin, the dark, thick brows, the long sooty lashes and high cheekbones tantalizing. And she wondered that she was as mesmerized now as she had been that day in the restaurant. Could this woman be a hardened criminal? She shook her head, Reese was being ridiculous. Shane turned to her, "ready?" She nodded, smiling as Shane collected her satchel and books from the desk. She found herself following Shane from the room instead of taking the lead considering she knew the building. But Shane had no trouble finding an exit. Raegan looked around for the limousine, stopping when she didn't see it. She assumed Damien couldn't find a parking spot and was driving around the block. It took her a moment to realize that Shane had placed her belongings onto the back seat of a silver gray Mercedes Benz and was now holding the passenger door open for her. She slid into the silver gray, baby soft leather seat, allowing the seat belt to slide into place as Shane closed her door. Shane was behind the wheel a moment later. Raegan looked around the interior of the car, mesmerized. The smooth leather, the wood paneling, the lighted displays on the dashboard…she had never been in a luxury vehicle before. She watched people staring at the elegant car as they drove down Broadway and turned left onto 72nd Street. Shane turned right onto Riverside Drive and headed north. "You have interesting friends." Raegan's breath caught as the husky voice warmed over her in the close confines of the car. She realized she'd never been this close to Shane. "Reese worries. He reads the papers. He thinks you're a murderer." Shane put down her cigar and gave Raegan a sidelong glance. "And you?" "I still have some reasonable doubt," she teased. Shane chuckled. Raegan realized she liked the sound of it. "He didn't say anything offensive, did he?" Raegan asked, embarrassed. "Heard it all before." Shane dismissed her concern. Shane stopped the car at a red light and turned to look at her passenger. Raegan was glad her cheeks were dark as she felt the heat of that gaze on her. Finally the light turned green and as the car accelerated Raegan let out the breath she hadn't realized she was holding. "You're a beautiful woman Raegan Vincent." Raegan opted not to respond, smiling to herself as she continued to look out of the window. Before she knew it, they had arrived at her apartment building. She swallowed back disappointment as the car stopped a few feet from the lobby's entrance. Shane stepped from the car, going around to open the passenger side door for Raegan. As she stood, Raegan realized Shane had positioned herself so that there was no option but for her to brush against Shane's muscular form as she stood from the vehicle. Their bodies met and Raegan felt a rush of heat spear through her. She waited, her breathing tight, licking her lips nervously. She couldn't think, not with Shane this close. But when she took a step back, Shane followed her, pinning her against the car door as she reached out to bury a hand in Raegan's hair. Raegan stared up into those mesmerizing hazel-green eyes. "Shane," she breathed hesitantly. "Shhhh," Shane silenced her softly, "I just need a taste." As Shane brought her forward, and their lips met, Raegan thought she could feel her heart actually stop beating. She closed her eyes, savoring the sweet taste of cigar as Shane's lips teased, tempted…dominated. She parted her lips, longing for the feel of Shane's tongue, hungry for the feel of Shane's hands on her. But instead, Shane let her go, ending the kiss abruptly. Raegan opened her eyes, her head swimming. Shane's hazel-green eyes were dark now, smoldering. "How long will you be gone?" Raegan asked breathlessly. "Few weeks." Shane answered huskily, running a hand along the silky smoothness of Raegan's cheek. Raegan watched as Shane reached for her personal items on the back seat, handing them to her. She then walked around the car and slid behind the wheel. Reagan sighed with disappointment as the Mercedes pulled off. Una Nuova Famiglia Ch. 02 Raegan rolled her eyes toward the ceiling. She was not in the mood for his theatrics. "Where's Billy?" "Fuck Billy! He's probably out getting laid! This is serious! Should I call the police?" "Wait a minute, let me think. Where was Pete?" "At home." "Do you know where he lives?" "Yes!" "Okay, okay! Calm down. I'll pick you up and we'll go over there." Una Nuova Famiglia Ch. 02 Shane simply smirked, but Raegan's frown deepened. "I'm serious Shane, I don't need you to take care of me like that," she insisted. When Shane remained silent, Raegan hesitated for another moment but then opted to press herself into Shane's arms instead of remaining annoyed. She needed to fill herself with the feel of this woman too desperately to remain angry. Their lips met hungrily as Shane began to undress her. They never made it to the bedroom. It was after 9pm when Shane phoned Damien and asked him to pick up something for them to eat. They sat on the living room floor, Raegan wearing only a throw from the sofa, Shane wearing a wife-beater and boxers, eating Chinese food out of cardboard cartons, when Raegan brought up the subject of her job again. She had to admit she was feeling better knowing she didn't have to worry about her bills for a little while. Although she was still annoyed that Shane paid them without consulting her first. She refused to consider how Shane had done that. "I don't know what I'm going to do. I'm pretty sure the FBI is going to create a problem wherever I apply…I'm just not sure what to do." Shane put down a carton of Singapore noodles and located her jeans to fish a card from the back pocket. She handed the card to Raegan who raised a brow as she read it. "This is the principal of the Madame C. J. Walker School." Shane had gone back to eating her noodles. Raegan continued to stare at the card, "what am I supposed to do with this?" "She's expecting you in her office on Monday." Raegan was still staring at the card. "Shane, I don't have the credentials to teach at this school." Shane shrugged, "Joan's a friend of mine." "The principal is a friend of yours." Raegan repeated. She could not believe that she might have a chance to work at an exclusive private middle school for blacks with unlimited resources. She knew very wealthy blacks sent their children to the Walker school. But she also knew the school had a scholarship program for talented disadvantaged students. And she knew they encouraged input from the faculty regarding the curriculum. This was too much to believe. But the joy was short lived as reality crept in on her. "Shane, I don't even have a car. How would I get out to Long Island everyday?" "If you want the job it's yours. We'll work out the details." Shane assured her. Raegan shook her head, she could not believe it. "Are you serious?" Shane simply continued to eat her noodles. Raegan was trying to repress the smile that was about to overtake her. Then a thought occurred to her. It was one she knew Shane would not have thought of. "What about Reese?" Shane's chopsticks stopped in mid air. She raised a brow at Raegan. "You're kidding, right? That faggot hates me." Raegan simply smiled, "it's only a matter of time before they start harassing him," she insisted. Shane shook her head. "Fine." "Really?!" She didn't care that the Singapore noodles wound up all over the carpet as she threw herself into Shane's arms. Una Nuova Famiglia Ch. 03 Sitting, completely nude and tied to a chair, his mouth covered with silver gray tape, was a man. Raegan guessed he was probably in his late 30s. He had dirty blond hair, pale white skin…tears coursed down his cheeks and blood streamed from various lacerations and bruises. Someone had beaten him…badly. Raegan quickly turned her back to him, her heart slamming against her rib cage. She could feel her stomach churning uneasily. Karin was standing beside her, watching carefully. "Wh-what—?" She didn't understand why she was here and the words wouldn't form in her head. She could feel the bile rising in her throat at the sound of the man's whimpers. "This is the cop that turned Diana, one of our own, against us," Karin offered. "Today, he's going to die." Raegan's head was spinning. Surely she had not heard the words correctly. She closed her eyes. This had to be a mistake. "We thought it was time to see who you really were Raegan Vincent, considering you want to join our little family." The words reverberated in her head. We? Did Shane know about this? Shane wanted her to do this? "Y-you want me to watch you kill a cop?" Raegan choked out, the words barely a whisper. Karin smiled, "almost." She retrieved a small black gun from a nearby table. "We want you to kill him." Raegan took a few steps back and encountered what felt like a wall of muscle. She turned to take in a tall, dark chocolate brown woman with an incredibly large, well-developed, muscular form. The woman stared down at her, her dark eyes impenetrable. Raegan swallowed, turning to look at Karin again and then turning to take in the whimpering man. Raegan shook her head, but Karin spoke before she could. "You see, we figured a cop wouldn't kill another cop. So, if you kill this piece of shit, you're not a cop, right? Then we can relax." Raegan was shaking her head vehemently, her eyes closed tight. She attempted to back out of the room again but was, once again, blocked by the female wall of muscle. "I-I can't." She whispered, tears filling her eyes. Her entire body began to tremble violently and she felt the beginnings of panic. Karin's smile did not provide any comfort, "you don't have a choice Raegan." Thoughts were racing through Raegan's mind as her stomach continued to churn. Was this a joke? A test? She met Karin's eyes. They did not suggest either. Shane wanted her to kill someone? A police officer? This could not be. Shane, who did not want to sign her death warrant, wanted her to take a life? She shook her head again. She was certain she would pass out. "No. I can't. Where's Shane? I need—" She'd never had anyone cock a gun and point one at her before. The sound echoed through her and brought a cold sweat to her already chilled skin. She closed her eyes again, squeezing them shut tightly, shaking her head from side to side. She could not do this. She would not do this. "Perhaps a visit to your mother could be arranged if you need to know I'm not fucking around. Do it Raegan." Raegan's disbelief transformed into absolute dread. Karin slapped the gun into her hand. Raegan stared down at it. She could no longer comprehend where she was, what she was doing. This was not happening. Her mother? Had she now endangered the lives of her family, her friends? "NOW!" The shrill sound startled her. She dropped the gun. "I can't, I can't, I can't" she repeated numbly, backing away from the gun. Karin turned to Ronnie. She barked an address at her and told her to bring back a souvenir. With an increasing sense of alarm, Raegan listened to the sound of her mother's address as it fell from Karin's lips. Raegan watched as the silent wall of muscle headed toward the exit. "Wait." The sound was barely a whisper. Ronnie kept walking. "Wait!" Raegan didn't know where she found her voice. She thought it had been lost, along with her grip on reality. But the woman stopped. Raegan stared down at the gun still lying on the floor. This had to be a test. The gun was probably empty. Yes, that was it. Nodding her head, comforted by her own rationalizations, she quickly picked up the gun and walked over to the bound man. She ignored his muffled pleas, placing the gun to his forehead and quickly pulling the trigger before she lost the nerve. She squeezed once, twice, and kept squeezing until the chamber clicked empty. Her mind held on to the idea that this was some type of test. Her mind refused to hear the loud pops as the gun discharged. Her nose refused to smell the acrid odor left behind. Her eyes refused to see the blood as it splattered onto the floor and walls. She refused to acknowledge the man's body as it slumped forward. She dropped the gun to the floor, staring at a gaping hole in the man's forehead, watching blood trickle down his nose to his chin. She could not control the bile rising and threw up on his slumped form. She was dizzy, her vision hazy. She wondered if this is what it felt like before someone fainted. Karin grabbed her arm roughly and led her from the room. She threw up again in the elevator. They were in the limousine minutes later. Una Nuova Famiglia Ch. 03 "Marry me." Raegan smiled, her heart hammering in her chest as the words sunk in. "Okay," she offered a watery smile, swallowing past the lump in her throat. Una Nuova Famiglia Ch. 03 Shane's eyes never left hers as Karin simply nodded. Karin knew when to back off. She nodded again, waiting for Shane to straighten up and step back. When she did, Karin slid from the chair and left the office. At the tap on the door, Shane barked for the person to enter. She snarled at Ronnie. "What the fuck are you doing here? I told you to stay with Raegan." "She never left." Shane couldn't help but smirk, "she waited anyway? She'll be dead tired in the morning." Ronnie shrugged. Shane shook her head. "Well then, I guess I better take my ass home." There was laughter coming from the limousine when Shane opened the door. Damien had his hand on his gun in seconds, but Shane raised an angry brow. "Good way to get her killed." "Sorry. Forgot to lock it when Ron left." "Fuck sorry Damien." He nodded, exiting the vehicle and making his way to the driver's seat. Shane slid inside, watching her wife-to-be sitting across from her. "You look like shit." Raegan offered. Shane smirked, "thanks." Raegan knelt on the seat beside Shane and began massaging her shoulders. They heard the locks click into place as the limo pulled away from the curb. Shane sighed and Raegan could feel her tense shoulders relax a little beneath her manipulations. "You have a shitty job Shane." Shane chuckled, "thanks again." Raegan stopped the massage, shifting to straddle Shane. She looked into those hazel-green eyes, watching as they warmed up. "Do we have any privacy in here?" Raegan asked huskily. "As much as we want. Why? You got something in mind?" Raegan smiled, "something had crossed my mind." She quickly removed her oversized sweater, watching Shane's eyes light up at the sight of her bare breasts, the nipples already hard. Shane leaned forward to take one into her mouth and Raegan sighed, closing her eyes. "Don't you ever scare me like that again Shanilla Miller," Raegan whispered, her voice raw with passion. Shane nodded, switching their positions until Raegan lay beneath her. Raegan could do nothing but moan as Shane slid a hand past the waistband of her snug fitting jeans. Una Nuova Famiglia Ch. 03 Reese pulled her to him for a hug. She could feel the tremors beneath his false bravado. Tears came to her eyes. She was the cause of this. She had endangered her friend's life. Even if he was a jackass, had she not fallen in love with Shane he would not be involved in this mess. She sighed, pulling away from Reese but not before he whispered in her ear. "She's either going to get you killed or arrested. Either way, you're fucked." She sighed, "Reese, it's my choice. Let it go for 5 fucking minutes, okay?" She turned to watch as Shane and Ronnie continued to talk, their backs turned to them. "What are you going to say to the FBI?" Raegan asked him. He shook his head, "I don't know. I'm sure your thug will have a script for me, seeing as how she allowed me to live and all." Raegan shook her head at the sarcasm in his voice, even more amazed that he seemed to think this was a joke. "Reese—" "We're done here." Shane's sharp voice interrupted her and she stood. Reese stood beside her as Ronnie disappeared behind the closed door again. "Reese, Ron's going to take you home. Tell them it was a joke. No more, no less. Understood?" "That's it?" "Make up the rest as you go along, I don't give a fuck. But if they come after her, I come after you. Got it?" Reese may have taken the situation lightly when sitting on the floor beside his friend, but as he met those cold, hard hazel-green eyes, he knew Shane would kill him without hesitation. He nodded. Raegan squeezed his hand as Shane moved past her to the elevator. "Let's go." "Why can't he come with us?" Raegan asked, a little anxious to leave Reese behind with Ronnie. "Because he can't be seen with me or the FBI will know I got to him first. Let's go." She didn't like it, but she knew Shane was right. Reese made this bed, he would have to lie in it. She quickly kissed Reese on the cheek. "I'll see you soon, okay?" Reese nodded and she hurried to catch up with Shane. When the elevator doors closed behind them, Shane grabbed her and slammed her back against the elevator wall. Shane's lips closed over hers, hungry, demanding…fury simmering beneath the sexual heat. Raegan could feel fear clutch at her, but arousal also swelled in her tummy causing her pulse to trip excitedly. She was breathless when Shane pulled away. The hazel-green eyes looking down at her were filled with both icy anger and hot lust. "I have killed people for less than what you did today," Shane growled. The words were harsh, but Raegan could also hear the frustration beneath them…the hurt. She nodded, afraid to trust her voice. She watched Shane struggle for control. They stood in silence, Shane's body pressed against hers, pinning her to the wall as she tried to swallow more of her anger. Then Shane kissed her again. This time it was gentler, almost coaxing. She melted as she gave herself over to Shane, savoring the faint taste of cigar lingering on Shane's lips, her heart pounding feverishly. Shane pulled away as the elevator doors opened. They walked through the garage silently to the waiting limousine. When Damien closed the door behind them, Shane pulled her close again, kissing her hungrily. Raegan lifted the long skirt she wore and straddled Shane's lap, quickly pulling her sweater over her head and off. Shane tore at Raegan's bra, burying her face between her breasts, licking, nipping, tasting of her flesh. Raegan could feel the rush of blood as it punched through her veins. She didn't resist as Shane lay her down on the plush seat, enjoying the sensations as Shane shifted to lay atop her. Shane feasted on her nipples until they ached, arousing her to a furious state before those lips scorched a path down to her center. It didn't take long before the fire Shane stoked raged uncontrollably and Raegan exploded with satisfying intensity. Una Nuova Famiglia Ch. 04 She never returned to her apartment after that day. Instead, Shane arranged to have her things brought to the Long Island house. Much to her surprise, Shane put her upstairs in a massive bedroom on the third floor, one floor above Shane's bedroom. She was pleased all of her furniture fit into the space. In fact, she realized, the bedroom was bigger than her entire one-bedroom apartment. And the bathroom was twice as large. Needless to say, she was content with her new home, although she was more than a little perturbed that Shane had not asked her to move into the master bedroom. She took that to mean Shane was still furious with her. It had been five days and Shane, other than making sure she was settled in the house, barely spoke to her. Damien drove her to and from work. Ronnie babysat her any other time. And, to be honest, she was feeling quite lonely in the new space. It gave her plenty of time to work on some revisions to the curriculum, but she was certain she would slowly go nuts if Shane didn't forgive her soon. She was reading in the den one evening when the doorbell rang. She loved Shane's den. It was fully equipped with the latest computer equipment. The furniture was dark, lush and leather. The colors were bold, yet warm and inviting. There was a huge flat television against one wall and an excellent oil painting on another. The room smelled of Shane's cigars. So, it was in this room that she spent most of her time, the room that reminded her most of Shane. She stood from her comfortable position to watch one of the relatively invisible servants open the front door. Shane was already in the foyer, a cigar between her lips. Raegan was surprised to see who was on the other side of the door. She remembered the young, attractive, cinnamon colored woman from the restaurant. Her name was Pam. She realized Shane looked a little surprised as well, but invited her in nonetheless. They made their way to the den. Raegan began to gather her things to beat a hasty retreat, but Shane shook her head, indicating she should stay. Reagan cleared her throat. "Hi, I'm Raegan." The woman nodded, shaking the hand Raegan extended. "Can I get you something to drink?" "Whiskey." Her voice was husky, thick with a Spanish accent. Raegan nodded, making her way to the bar. She also fixed Cognac for Shane and vodka for herself. The two women were seated on sofas across from one another. She resumed her spot in an armchair, watching the two women size each other up as they sipped at their tumblers. "Chino was released yesterday. I came to thank you." Shane raised a brow, watching the woman carefully. They both knew a personal visit was hardly necessary since Chino's release also made things easier for Shane. So Shane simply waited. "Of course, that is not why I am here." Shane relit her cigar, puffing at it as she continued to wait, the aroma easing Raegan's nerves a little. "Someone approached me, working with the feds. Chino wanted me to tell you in person. Our phones are tapped." The words hung between them and Raegan almost stopped breathing. 'Please God, don't let it be Reese,' she prayed silently. "Who?" Shane asked calmly, but Raegan saw the steel in her eyes. Pam sipped at the golden brown liquid in her glass again. "The woman in our meeting. Your second." Raegan was amazed that Shane's face did not register the shock she must have felt, but she could see the subtle sign of Shane's fingers tightening around the glass just a little. Karin? Karin was working with the FBI? The two women faced one another for a moment longer before Pam finished her drink and stood. "We are even now. You returned Chino to me and I shared this information with you." She left the den abruptly and Raegan stood to follow her to the front door. After watching Pam disappear into a waiting Town Car, she made her way back to the den. Shane was still sitting where Raegan had left her, her eyes closed, her breathing seemingly relaxed. She brought the glass to her lips, finished the rich, smooth liquid, and then threw the glass across the room. It smashed into the large, flat television, cracking the screen. Raegan remained frozen until Shane turned to her. "Upstairs." She wanted to ask questions, wanted to know what Shane planned to do, but she thought it wiser to wait. She turned, making her way upstairs without saying a word. * She was pacing frantically. She wanted to call Ronnie, wanted to find out if it was true…but something told her to just wait. How much of a threat was Karin to Shane? If Pam was telling the truth, Karin could probably bury Shane. She wished she had allowed Shane to kill her before, then winced at the thought. She was only a little startled by a knock on her door an hour later. She hurried to open it, relieved to see Shane on the other side. She wasn't happy at the tension she noticed around Shane's mouth. She stepped back to let Shane in, but Shane shook her head. "I'm headed out. Take a few days off from work." "Shane—" She recognized the ice in those hazel-green eyes. And considering she had already caused enough trouble, she wouldn't push Shane to confide in her at the moment. So she swallowed what she really wanted to say and mumbled, "be careful." Shane simply turned and left. Raegan followed her into the corridor and watched her depart. She shook her head. Maybe Karin's betrayal would provide Shane with the incentive she needed to get out of this life. Either that or it would get Shane caught…or killed. It was this final thought she absolutely could not live with. * She waited another hour, deliberating, hesitating, pondering. She had to do something about this situation before it was too late. Maybe she could reason with Shane? Help her strategize? Give her options? No matter what, she decided, she had to get to Shane before Shane found Karin. She'd changed into a pair of jeans and a sweater and was making her way to the front door when Ronnie's deep voice stopped her. "Where—" "What are you doing here?" She cut Ronnie off, "why aren't you with Shane?" "Why would I be?" Raegan's pulse quickened just a beat, "she didn't tell you?" "Tell me what?" "Fuck. Let's go, I'll tell you on the way." It was a jumbled, incoherent mess, filled with mixed emotions and intense fear, but she filled Ronnie in as they drove toward the city. "Would this woman from the Crips lie to Shane?" It was Raegan's final hope. "No." Ronnie assured her. Raegan closed her eyes. That's what she'd feared. "Okay, so where do we find Karin?" "Karin's not a fucking idiot. She's underground by now. Or with the Feds." "How would Shane find her?" Ronnie was silent for a moment, dodging cars on the LIE. "She'd go to her office, start making calls from the secure line there." Raegan nodded, "okay, let's head there." "Where the fuck do you think I'm going?" Raegan didn't respond, shaking off the nerves that threatened to overtake her. She had to be calm about this if she wanted to talk some sense into Shane. Perhaps there was a way to placate Karin, set her up in another city with some start money, allow her to tap into Shane's resources if need be? But she needed to get to Shane before Shane found Karin. Karin had betrayed Shane and Raegan couldn't trust Shane to be reasonable about that. How much had she told the FBI? How close were they to Shane? Was it enough to put her behind bars or did they want her on death row? Raegan shuddered at the thought. Of course, all of this could be a set up and Shane could be walking into a trap. That thought frightened her more. She was amazed that they didn't get pulled over for speeding, releasing a breath when Ronnie finally pulled up to what looked like a deserted warehouse in downtown Manhattan. Ronnie parked illegally and hurried to open Raegan's door, looking around with her hand on the butt of her weapon. Raegan followed her into the building, wondering if Shane was really in this run-down, darkened place. She hoped they weren't wasting time, but if anyone knew where Shane was, it was Ronnie. The office door was locked and Raegan noticed the look of surprise on Ronnie's face before Ronnie pulled a small kit from her jacket pocket and knelt down to work on the lock. It only took a few seconds but it felt like hours. Then, suddenly, as the door swung open, Raegan was afraid to follow Ronnie inside, terrified of what she might find. But she took a deep breath and walked in, plowing directly into Ronnie's back as the tall, muscled woman stopped short. She stepped to the side and actually felt her heart stop. She saw Damien first, inches from Shane, sprawled out on the floor, a crimson puddle beneath his head. His eyes were wide, staring blankly up at the ceiling. There was a gaping hole in his forehead. It was only the second time she'd seen death, but she knew its face now. Shane's body was beside his, face down, a much larger crimson puddle beneath her. It took a moment for Raegan to compel her legs to move. Ronnie was already beside her boss, checking for a pulse. "It's there but it's weak." "Jesus. Jesus Christ. My God." She could feel panic rising and swallowed it down. "We need to get her out of here." Raegan watched as Ronnie shifted as if to lift her. "No," Raegan stopped her, "don't move her. Call someone. Ah, uh, someone who owes her a favor. There can't be any records." She could see the hesitation on Ronnie's face. "God damnit, do it Ronnie!" The bark got the result she wanted and Ronnie was on her cell phone seconds later. Raegan leaned over Shane's body, turning her head just a bit so that Shane could get some air. She stroked a hand over Shane's cheek and leaned in closer. "Damn you, don't you leave me." She pleaded in a fierce whisper. She listened to Ronnie's voice as she barked commands into the phone, stroking Shane's cheek and rubbing her back lightly. She refused to think Shane was dying. Refused to believe it. The faint pulse was enough to give her hope. Ronnie turned to her when she was off the phone. "Ten minutes." "What's the doctor's name?" "Leila Brown." "Okay, you go. I'll wait." Ronnie raised a brow. Raegan looked up from the slight rise and fall of Shane's back, her dark eyes fierce, her face tight, "find her Ronnie. Go." She refused to think about Karin right now. Not with Shane lying on the floor of her office, dying, and Damien already gone. What happened to Karin was beyond her control. She sat on the floor beside Shane, reaching out to caress her cheek again, just needing to touch her. "God damn you Shane, don't you leave me." * She didn't know how long it took the doctor to arrive, but it seemed like forever. Raegan stood at the sound of approaching footsteps, wiping tears from her cheeks, surprised at the young white woman with red hair and intense green eyes approaching her. There were two men behind her and the typical equipment Emergency Medical Technicians carried. The woman held a traditional black medical bag in her hand as she hurried over to Shane. "What happened?" "I don't know. We found her like this. She's still breathing." Leila Brown nodded. Raegan watched in silence as the woman quickly examined Shane and then looked over at the men waiting behind her. "Help me turn her over. Nice and easy." Her clothes were soaked through with blood, her face pale, her eyes closed. Raegan took a few steps back as her stomach churned, but she kept her eyes on the barely noticeable rise and fall of Shane's chest. She watched as they worked on her, stabilized her, did whatever they were supposed to do for her. Then she was being strapped onto a gurney. "We'll take her to St. Luke's." "No. Out of state. And no records." The woman shook her head, "I can't do it. She won't make it. But I'll register her as Jane Doe. Hopefully no one will recognize her." They were walking quickly, following the EMTs to the exit. Raegan grabbed her arm, forcing her to stop. "Out of state. Make it happen. I don't want her in a New York City hospital. Someone just tried to kill her for God's sake." "She's not strong enough for the ride—" "She'll make it. Just do it." "Now just wait a fucking minute, who the hell—" "Raegan Vincent. And that's my fiancée you're putting in that ambulance, so do what I say." She climbed into the ambulance and made herself as comfortable as possible as the doors slammed shut. Una Nuova Famiglia Ch. 04 * Ronnie did not accompany her into the bank. There was no problem getting access to the safe deposit box and after a bit of fanfare she was seated, alone, at a table, a metal rectangular box before her. She lifted the lid and felt her breath catch. Cash, lots of it. Credit cards, a social security card, a birth certificate, all in the name Rose Donnely. A small black gun, much lighter than anything she'd handled. Two first-class plane tickets to Barbados. A small notebook with the name of a Swiss bank, the phone number, and what she assumed were account numbers. A letter with her real name printed on it. If you're reading this, I'm already gone. We're better off apart right now. Get on the damn plane. I'll see you soon. She read it over and over again. Goddamn her. She shoved the contents of the box into one of the black canvas bags provided and left the bank minutes later. Ronnie was waiting for her. "You knew about this." It wasn't a question. "She put that in there weeks ago and she knows what she's doing. She'll be able to focus once you're out of the country." "I'm not leaving." Ronnie stopped at a red light and looked at her passenger. "Raegan, I have to put you on that plane or Shane will break my fucking neck. Don't make me carry you kicking and screaming." Raegan could do nothing but pout as the car sped off. She wondered if Ronnie would really drag her to the plane. She sighed finally, swallowing her anger. "Fine. But this is absolute bullshit." Una Nuova Famiglia Ch. 04 Raegan nodded, she knew that was true. If only she had some control over weather or not she could eat or sleep. If only she had some control over the nightmares that typically plagued her when she did try to sleep. Una Nuova Famiglia Ch. 04 "I'm sorry about Karin, Shane. I'm sorry she felt so threatened by me that she would do this." Shane nodded and then stood from the bed, standing before a window. "I've ruined your life. Just like my father ruined mine." The words surprised Reagan and she went to join Shane at the window, wrapping her arms around the taller woman's middle. "Don't say that. I love you. I chose to be with you. You didn't do any of this." She waited for a response but Shane was silent, wrapping an arm around Reagan to simply pull her closer. "I wish I could say I would have done it differently…but I wanted you Reagan. From the moment I saw you in that damn restaurant, I wanted you. I didn't really care what happened, as long as I had you. I regret that now." "No. Don't. Please." Reagan hugged her tighter, silencing her. They held onto each other, understanding they were one now. "So what now?" Reagan asked. Shane sighed. "Now, I take about a week to get my shit in order. You and I disappear for awhile and hole up on some remote desert island, and then…we'll see, okay?" Reagan smiled and nodded. They stood, watching the busy street below them, wrapped in each others arms. "I love you Reagan," Shane whispered. Reagan smiled and moved just a little closer to the woman she loved.