Love Those Curves: Sara's Dreams, #3

Dirty Curvy (Mafia Instalove Romance)

Selena

*

I walk across the campus with my books clutched tight against my chest.  Every few minutes I look behind me.  I saw a guy in a black hoodie following me when I first left the student union building.  But he soon turned the other way and left me breathing a sigh of relief.

But I’ll never feel safe in my life.  I was born the daughter of a Mafia boss and a Hollywood starlet.  Even now I’ve been asked if I’m related to my mother — Juliana Farina.  And every single time I’ve been asked I’ve said no and stopped talking to the questioner.  But I know I look like her.  I’ve got the same long smooth black hair flowing all the way down my back.  I’ve got her big brown eyes and dimples.  The main difference is I’m a lot curvier than my mom ever was.  I take more after my father’s side of the family in that regard.  But I’m not self-conscious about it or upset by it in any way.  I’ve accepted my body as much as anyone ever can truly accept themselves. 

What I haven’t accepted are my mother’s looks.  I don’t think her features look particularly great on me.  Maybe I just wish I didn’t look like her, so I could hide better.  And with all these people questioning whether I’m related to her or saying Oh, you look so much like that actress who got killed by the mob... it really starts to get to me.  I wish I had blonde hair, blue eyes, and no damn dimples. 

My mother was murdered ten years ago in revenge for something my father had done.  I never asked my father for the details.  It would have been too hard on me.  What I did instead was ask him if I could leave the world of the mob behind.  After my mother’s murder he agreed with me that it would be for the best and he gave me up to a family in Chicago he had once loaned money to.  He was certain no one would ever find me in Chicago.  He had heard the couple were struggling to have a baby, and when he offered me to them free of charge they took him up on it — much to my surprise.  I was nine at the time – definitely not a baby.  The Mendoza’s took me anyway.  I really wanted to get as far from my father as I could, so I got on that plane to Chicago and became the model daughter to a very nice couple. 

My birth name is Isabella Farina, and changing my name was the first step in erasing my past.  I became Selena Mendoza and said goodbye to Isabella forever.  Once that was done, I committed myself to school.  I hardly talked to anyone all through middle school or high school.  I wanted to be as invisible as possible and I succeeded for the most part.  But my disappearance into books backfired on me in a way.  I ended up as high school valedictorian and had to give an inspiring speech.  I pulled it off and now I’m here — at the University of Chicago on a full scholarship.  I’m studying pre-law, ironically enough. 

Just as I’m about to head into the English building, I turn around and see him again — the guy in the black hoodie.  He’s a very large man and the hoodie looks tight on his muscular frame.  I can’t see his face though, because it’s winter and he’s got a scarf over his mouth.  He’s just standing on the sidewalk looking around as if he’s searching for something or someone.  Or maybe he’s pretending not to look at me.  My heart falls into my stomach and my arms grow weak.  I drop my books and scramble onto the ground to pick them up.  I need a good backpack, but there’s just something about holding my books to my chest that makes me feel good. 

Just as I’m getting back up, someone taps me on the shoulder.  I whirl around and gasp to see that it’s him.

Can I help you out? He says in a gravelly voice.

Um, no, I’m fine.

You’re a new student, huh?

He’s got cold grey eyes and a scar across his forehead.  I’m sure that whoever he is — he is not a student. 

Yeah, I just started this week.  I’ve got to get to class, so if you’ll excuse me...

How come you didn’t start in the Fall? He asks. 

I don’t answer him.  There’s no reason he needs to know that I spent the last few months backpacking across Europe. 

He grabs my arm and looks me over.  I consider screaming.  There are a few other people around.  But I hold my breath.  If this guy is the kind of person I think he is then he’d probably have no issue with killing me in plain sight.  Screaming might only speed up the process. 

I suck in a breath and hold it. 

Say, you look a lot like that actress — Juliana Farina, he growls. 

I don’t even know who that is, I reply. 

Well, you look just like her.  So much that it’s gotta be more than a coincidence.  She did have a daughter...

He draws a single icy finger down my cheek. 

Hmmm, he says.  You look just like her.

He lets go of my arm. 

Well, you’d better get to class, or you’ll be late, Isabella, he says.  But after you get back to your dorm you better give your daddy a call.  I’m sure he misses the sound of your voice.

My name isn’t Isabella, I reply. 

Cut the crap, girl, he growls.  I know exactly who you are.  Consider this your warning.  Tell your daddy to give us what we want or we’ll cut your little college career short.  Have a wonderful day.

He walks away and I search my jean pocket for my phone.  I don’t care if I’m late for class.  My heart is pounding so fast and I’m hyperventilating.  My phone isn’t in my pocket.  I can’t believe that I left it in my dorm.  I walk back home as fast as I can — taking long strides.  It’s only the second day of class and I’m already taking a sick day.  But I’ve got a phone call to make — a phone call I haven’t made in ten years. 

I have no choice but to call my father and tell him everything.  The very thought makes me sick.  At the end of the day though, I’m still a mob boss’ daughter — no matter how hard I try to forget it. 

Gabriel

*

My daughter needs a bodyguard.  Looks like that’s gonna be you, Gabriel, the boss says as he takes a slow drag from his cigar.  He taps the ashes out and smiles at me.

Anything you need, boss, I reply. 

Of course, I can’t refuse him.  If I refused, I’d end up getting shipped to Chicago in a box.  If he were generous and let me live, then I’d lose a few fingers at the very least. 

You’re the best man I got for this.  Don’t fuck up.

Is she expecting me?

He takes another drag, coughs, and laughs.  His big belly shakes.

The girl is a little sensitive these days, Gabriel.  She wants nothing to do with her old man.  Whatever you do, don’t call her Bella or I think she might have your balls cut off.  It’s Selena now.  And no, she’s not expecting you.  She demanded that I take care of the situation and I promised her I would.  But it’s going to be months before we can take down the Moretti family.  I need them around for a bit longer — business purposes, you understand.

He slides a photo across the desk.  It’s a picture of Bella — er, Selena — looking just like her mother.  She’s got the same soulful brown eyes, small nose, and dimples.  Fuck.  Her smile looks like a damn miracle.  My cock stiffens as I pick the photo up and flip it between my fingers.  I definitely don’t want the boss to catch on to what I’m thinking, so I set it down almost immediately and look away from it.  But looking away does nothing to quell the throbbing of my cock. 

She’s a beautiful girl, I say.  It won’t hurt to compliment the boss’ daughter. 

That’s my girl, he growls.  Don’t let anything happen to her.  And if you get any funny ideas yourself, well, you might be one of my best men, but I won’t hesitate to have you taken out.

Of course, boss.

Go take care of my girl, Gabriel.  She’s gonna be a lawyer someday.  I could always use another one of those on my side.  He laughs.  I can’t help but think that’s all his daughter is to him though — another potential lawyer to help keep him out of jail.  It doesn’t matter though now.  I’ve got a mission and I’m going to do whatever it takes.  Anyone who comes near this girl with any kind of malicious intent is going to wish they hadn’t.  Gabriel the sword Romano is going to protect her no matter the cost.

I GO STRAIGHT UP TO the desk at Bella’s dorm and flash my fake police badge.  The nerdy kid behind the desk trembles as he looks up at me.  He quickly looks away and I stifle my laugh.  I suppose I am an imposing figure and this guy would naturally be afraid of me.  Most people are.  Still, it amuses me to no end. 

I need you to give me the room number for Selena Mendoza, I say. 

Uh, do you have a warrant?

I just need to speak to her, kid.  Give me the room number.

I have orders from Selena not to let anyone up without calling her first, he says. 

I’m a cop, I reply.

I know, sir, but I was told that if even —

Oh, I get it.  You want to be her hero, don’t you? I growl.

Excuse me?

He looks down at his quivering hands.  He grabs a stress ball and gives it a weak squeeze. 

I understand.  You’ve got a crush on her.

I — I don’t, he stutters.  This is just our protocol here, Officer.  Just please let me call her first.  I mean, look, I’m not even sure you’re a real police officer.  You could be pretending.

I’m afraid that if he describes me to her, she won’t let me up.  She wants nothing to do with her father or his men, even though she needs our protection — my protection. 

I need to question Ms. Mendoza about a murder, I say coolly.  I draw out the word murder for as long as I can.  I think she might know something.  And right now, you’re obstructing justice.  I don’t want to arrest you, Colin.

The nerdy kid — whose name tag reads Colin — takes a deep breath.  Ok, it’s room 508.  The elevators are over there.  He points them out to me. 

Thanks, kid.

I BANG ON THE DOOR to room 508. 

Who is it? A soft feminine voice calls out.

The police.  Open up.

I’ve decided that telling her straight up who I am is likely to convince her not to open the door for me, so I keep up my cop act.

I didn’t call the cops.  And you have no reason to be here, she replies.  Do you have a warrant?

Isabella, open the damn door, I reply.  Your father sent me and I’m not leaving you.  I’ll stand out here all night if I have to.

I step back from the door and it creaks open just a sliver.  One brown eye peeks out at me. 

My name is Selena now, Gabriel, she replies.  And you can go back to my father and tell him to forget it.  I don’t need his thugs watching over me.  That’s not why I called him.

Let me in.  I just want to talk.

Fine.

The door creeks further open and she waves me inside.  She slams the door behind me and bolts it shut.  She spins around to face me, and I find myself totally breathless in her presence.  As I look her up and down, I can feel my heart slamming against my chest and heat swimming down my body.  My cock grows to full length and hardness in my tight pants.

I was there on the day she left for Chicago.  But that was ten years ago.  She’s always been what some might call a big girl, but she wears it like perfection now.  Her pronounced curves and wide hips look perfect for grabbing onto.  I have the deep desire to slam myself against her and feel my cock sinking into her soft sex. 

She looks at me with an intense fiery gaze. 

Bella, I whisper.  If the Moretti family are after you then you need my protection.

Is this my father’s idea of a cruel joke?  My father would have to send one of my favorite people from my childhood to look after me, wouldn’t he?

Selena

*

Bella, he says.  It’s good to see you.  I wish it was under better circumstances.

I haven’t seen Gabriel since I was nine.  He was my assigned guard back then.  He always seemed so big to me in those days, but now I swear he’s grown.  He towers over my small 5’2" frame like a giant.  I swear he must be over six and a half feet.  And his muscles have certainly been, um, developed over time.  His tight black t-shirt can barely contain them.  The tattoos running up both arms still tell the same tale of fire and blood and I must remind myself who this man is. 

Please don’t call me Bella anymore, I say.  I gave that name up a long time ago.

Ok, Selena.  That’s a pretty name too, but it’s gonna take some getting used to.

He was a young man last time I saw him — just getting his start in my father’s organization.  That’s why he was assigned to watch over me.  Now his tousled black hair is starting to show signs of grey.  But his dark eyes are still as intent as ever, and they are fixed in an unwavering gaze on me right now. 

I sit down on my small bed and take a deep breath.  Wetness pools between my thighs and my panties feel soaked.  It seems strange that Gabriel could be causing this reaction, but as I look at him — I don’t see how it could be any different. 

You really need to go, I say. 

Not gonna happen, gorgeous, he growls. 

You can’t stay in my dorm.  There are rules.

The guy downstairs thinks I’m a cop interrogating you about a murder.  We’ve got plenty of time.

Murder? I ask. 

And then my eyes wander to the gun at his side.  Oh, yeah.  How many people has Gabriel killed in the time he’s worked for my father?

He wasn’t gonna let me up.  I had to scare him a bit.

Well, you’re scaring me too, I reply.

I get up and move towards him.  When I get right up against him, I stand on the tops of my toes.  I still can’t stretch much higher than his massive chest. 

Go home, Gabriel.  I’ll be fine.

The Moretti family will kill you.  I’ll never let that happen.

I wish I could stretch farther right now.  I have this desire to kiss him for some reason. 

I step back and shake my head.  I don’t know what I’m doing anymore.  His presence here is bad for me.  I wanted away from this life and now it’s come crashing right back into me.  Gabriel is nothing but bad news.

I told you to leave, Gabe.  I mean it.

Well, I’m starving, he says.

Me too, I whisper.  I don’t know why I tell him.  I can get a sense for where this is going.  My stomach rumbles loudly as if to remind me that I haven’t eaten since yesterday morning. 

Is there any good pasta around this place? He asks.  I could use the carbs.

We can go to one of my favorite restaurants — Leona’s.  It’s not too far and it’s pretty cheap too.  I can’t believe I’m suggesting restaurants to one of my father’s men now. 

Leona’s it is, he replies.  He grabs my hand and pulls me towards the door.  I’ll drive.

I manage to break free of his grasp.  I can walk on my own.  I don’t need you pulling me around.  But I already miss his warm strong hand pressed against my palm. 

Suit yourself, Bella, he replies.

How many times do I have to tell you that I’ve changed my name?  I’m in hiding, damnit!

Oh, I just meant bella as in beautiful, he says. 

Well, I’m not that either, so I don’t want to hear it from you again.

I’m going to tell you that you’re beautiful if I want to, he replies.  You’ve changed quite a bit, but you’re still just as stubborn as ever.  You’re the same girl I adored back then.

No, I’m not, I insist.  And things were very different then, so whatever ideas or preconceived notions you have about me, Gabriel — I need you to forget about them now.

As you wish, beautiful, he says. 

I sigh and follow him out my door.  I should have never asked for my father’s help.  This feels like the worst thing he could have done, even though I know fully well what he’s capable of...

WE SLIDE INTO A BOOTH at Leona’s and since neither one of us seems to know what to say to the other at this point, we bury our faces in the menu.  We order our food and continue to find other distractions — anything to keep us from looking at each other.  I choose the ceiling fan as my focal point.  Watching it spin around