The Carrero Contract - Selling Your Soul (Mafia Romance) novel Chapter 170

Vegas is hotter than hell, you could fry a breakfast on the tarmac here and even though we only walked into the hotel minutes ago I’m already sweating and gasping for air like I just ran a marathon. I have never been to this city and I’m already wondering how people can live here. The airport was busy and hazy with heat rising from the ground upon arrival that looked like mysterious, magical dimension aberrations, and I feel like I have literally been turning to a puddle in my clothes since we stepped off the plane. It’s stifling.

Alexi is looking suave in a short-sleeved white shirt, beige chinos and shoes while I’m dripping makeup down my face into my sweater and jeans. I thought it might be a comfortable travelling outfit. It now explains the strange look when I said I was putting a woollen sweater on for the journey. Tosser could have told me it’s three thousand degrees the second you walk off the plane.

Mr Tan never seems to feel the temperature, be it hot or cold, and isn’t remotely affected right now. He also never mentioned that we were hauling Gino and Alessandra on the trip and we are stood waiting for them in the foyer because they came in on another flight from elsewhere and are rendezvousing before we go to our room.

“Lexi, I’m too hot … I need to strip off.” Alexi is dealing with the check-in and I’m holding onto the back of his shirt to stop myself keeling over with dizziness. Holding on because I feel faint, claustrophobic and exhausted from travelling, and using his body as a post to steady myself against. Propped behind him at the huge curved wooden desk of the massive open entrance of this five-star establishment.

“Take your clothes off then.” He smirks and throws me back a cheeky smile that gets an eye roll. All too devilishly handsome and devoid of any effects of this suffocating temperature. He’s been in a happy mood since last night. Obviously chipper about something.

“Sure … I’ll just get naked in the lobby and you won’t have an epic shit-fit over men staring at me.” I point out, sighing moodily, and he shrugs and looks back at me over his shoulder again from his leaning position, on the smooth walnut surface.

“You’re mine now … I ain’t got nothing to worry about.” It’s a cocky little sentence and I just gawp at him, trying to understand the logic in that. I don’t think a jealous, possessive side is an easy thing to switch off.

“Dickhead,” I mumble at him as the desk clerk comes back from doing whatever she was doing at the computer to the side. Bringing all attention back to her small curvy frame and huge bug-like eyes, all glowy and blue with three layers of heavy fake lashes, roaming him a little too greedily. She smiles brightly, swishing her hair back seductively behind an ear, all while staring right at his mouth. Salivating at the thought of what she could do if she had a chance.

“Here are your room cards, Mr Carrero, and the driver and car you requested will be parked out front for you in the morning.” She flutters those long spiders at him and perks her boobs up a little as she hands them over, giving him the full-on ‘fuck me’ act I can spot a mile away. It instantly grates on me and answers my theory … jealousy isn’t cured by being together.

I will rip that bitch’s throat out.

I just glare, seething inside with a dull, tight intensity that makes me want to test the strength of my acrylic nails on her face.

It doesn’t seem random either, judging by the edgy little looks and come-on eyes. It’s not completely unbelievable to assume he has been here before and this one endured a night of being tied to his bed. I can almost taste it on her with this lack of professionalism; while his cold demeanour and ignorant behaviour only confirm the suspicions. He seems a little too starchy and closed off, and to me, that screams the loudest. I know him well enough to read how he behaves with past conquests. They mean nothing more to him than an irritating fly buzzing around his head. He’s been there, had what he wanted and lost all interest. He doesn’t waste manners on disposable playthings either.

Alexi takes them from her without really acknowledging her and slides the cards into his shirt pocket. Avoiding eye contact so she backs off, and I literally penetrate the side of his face with an intense unamused stare, knowing full well he has had sex with her on a previous trip to Vegas. He likes to use familiar hotels and circles menus. It’s no shock to come upon old conquests on getaway trips.

“Thanks. Can you book a table for four in the restaurant under my name for eight?” He smiles emptily, not meeting her eyes at all, and instead messes with his watch strap. She almost gushes as she catches his hints of dimples. Over-familiar as hell; definitely fucked him.

MY dimples bitch. Back the fuck off.

I swear I’m growling at her over Alexi’s shoulder but it’s like she hasn’t even seen me. I’m clearly not in her line of vision and she only has eyes for someone she thinks she might get a second pop at. I’m guessing he had a date last time he bedded this shameless hussy, so I’m no deterrent to her.

“I shall do. Any requirements? Such as near the band or the veranda again?” She flutters some more, twirling her hair in a display of obvious flirtation and leans in suggestively so more cleavage pops out of her tailored jacket. I can’t take anymore. The proof is in one word.

AGAIN!!

“Preferably anywhere you are not,” I snap and push past him to put myself between them aggressively. Alexi just steps back, raising a brow as her face turns scarlet and gives up his prime position at the desk so I can stomp my way to it instead. Straight up, cold glaring, hoity-toity stance, and I tap my nails on the table between us impatiently. She clears her throat instantly and evades my snarling eye contact.

“By a vent with cold air would be exactly where I need to be. So, any air conditioners in the room, I want to be right under it. Comprende? If that isn’t too much trouble!” Camilla’s sarcastic, venom laced tone is oozing out of me and I lock a nasty gaze on her face to make her even more nervous as she stutters and messes with papers in a bid to evade my razor-sharp scowl. Standing tall with one hand on my hip and an aura that screams ‘Not in the mood, bitch’.

“Umm.”

She falters, turns to shuffle over something on the desk, dark hair falling messily from behind her ear over that overly made-up face, and blinks a polite and stunned smile my way.

“Certainly, Miss err … umm. I shall make sure your party of eight is under one of the ceiling units. Our whole dining room is well ventilated.” Her previous husky and flirty tone shrivels like an overcooked tenderloin and just adds to my irritation with her.

Little tramp making moves on a guy when he has a woman right beside him. She needs to learn her place.

“Good … maybe go stand in there for a bit, dahling, and cool the fuck off. I doubt you have time for a cold shower while tending to your little desk, despite obviously needing one.” I snatch the leaflet she has pushed out in front of us, detailing the hotel; venom and ice in play and turn on my heel to slide my arm into Alexi’s as I pass. He’s smirking at me, totally amused and allows me to lead the way as the nearby bellboy grabs our bags. Letting me tug him with me as I cast back another snide look at miniature, perky boobs behind us and catch her glancing away quickly.

“Penthouse suite.” She calls after us, at our luggage escort to inform him where to take them, in a weak voice that highlights I made her uncomfortable.

“Someone’s grumpy from lack of sleep and a long flight … or is it the heat?” Lexi taunts me smugly, walking in step with that confidence of the smart arse he can be, and I just scowl at him.

“Don’t pretend you haven’t screwed her before! It’s written all over you. So, grumpy, yes, as you didn’t let me sleep at all last night, so we almost missed our flight. You then had to make sure I was a member of the mile-high club, so I didn’t even get to nap … remember? I’m blaming you for any mood I may have from here on in because it’s your fault. You need to be neutered.” I snap at him, tightening my hold on his arm while my prickly skin and rattled temperament try at cooling off in sweltering heat.

He has me sulking, well she does, and I pull my sweater off as we walk, so done with sweating like I have run a marathon. Letting go of him to sweep it up off my body in a gush of much-needed relief. Taking it off leaves me in the silky nude coloured vest top underneath and finally, I manage to catch my breath with a little waft of air on damp skin. I have no bra on so obviously the first thing Alexi’s eyes do is home in on them and he frowns.

Maybe a little jealous after all that my ample double Ds are swinging free in a loose and slightly revealing top that at first glance makes me look naked. He says nothing about it though, seeing as he told me to strip off.

“I forget how intuitional you are. If it’s any consolation I don’t rate her as more than a one at the most. Definitely wouldn’t do her again, even without you in my life; besides, you would miss it too much and it wasn’t all one-sided.” He winks, dismissing my attire with another glance at my breasts, another frown and then looks at where we’re walking. I just shake my head at him. Simmering back to a better mood and unable to argue with that. Impressed that he kept his control freak side under wraps despite his obvious disapproval at my undergarment.

Not that I care. Alexi will never dictate what I wear. I dress for me and me alone.

I may be as bad as him in terms of giving in to his sexual advances too readily, but I’m blaming him for everything, regardless. He has a high sex drive, and when he wants to go at it, he has too much stamina in the sack. Sometimes you just want a five-minute screw and some sleep. Alexi rarely seems to manage quickies.

“Shut up. I need to cool down and take a nap.” It’s less irritated in tone, but I’m not fully over the blue-eyed slapper making eyes our way. Still tetchy and irritated at everything in general.

“I’ll let you sleep on one condition.”

“Don’t even …” I warn with a scowl turning to face him head-on when we stand to loiter. We now have to await our accompanying duo, they texted minutes ago to say their cab was almost here.

If he is daring to try and tell me what to do in terms of much-needed sleep, I will slap him in the face with his own dick and enjoy doing it.

“No mention of anything about ‘business’ in front of Alessandra. She has never outright asked Gino, even though she must know something, or at least have suspicions. She travels. She likes to pretend I’m nothing more than a businessman, and Gino comes from a virtuous Catholic family with no skeletons in the closet.” He points out with a hushed tone as we catch sight of the pair walking in from outside hand in hand, with the most perfect timing. They look casual and relaxed and more accustomed to this heat than me in matching cream coloured summer wear.

Alessandra has her dark hair swirled on top of her head in a sleek bun and a loose-fitting dress that grazes the floor as she walks, with a peek of sandals below. Gino is in a white tee and cream shorts over flip flops and looks more like a guy on a summer holiday.

“I get it … an extension of how your mother likes to live? Fine by me. The only person I don’t want to have lies hanging over me with is you. A little pre-warning that you fucked the desk clerk in future if you don’t want me moody!” I point out and give him that intense look he gives me when he is trying to put a serious point across. Simmering, jealous, and maybe overreacting because I’m truly shattered from not enough sleep, but it bothered me.

“I never wanted my parents’ relationship of smoke and mirrors and fake lifestyles. I will never lie to you and don’t want you to lie to me. As for her, she wasn’t worth mentioning, and I forgot until we walked over there. She wasn’t memorable.” His tone is barely a whisper as they literally get right up to us and Gino lets go off Alessandra to take a step towards Alexi for a man hug. Our conversation meeting an abrupt end with the arrival of our companions. I swallow down the last of my mood and apply my bright smile, ready to play the part of happy girlfriend. Appeased by the fact the desk girl was not memorable.

“Something we finally agree on … we should celebrate.” I smile sarcastically at him quickly, before moving away to face them and I get one in return from him as he and Gino embrace. Alessandra shocks me with a hug too and I awkwardly embrace her, pulled into her slight body and almost kissed half to death as she attacks my cheeks one after the other.

“You two look … tired.” Gino grins annoyingly, all know-it-all and smug and then turns and gives me a cuddle that just feels weirdly Alexi. It’s odd that they have so much of them that is the same, yet they are nothing alike. I mean I can tell by touch alone it’s not Alexi, but he fits me in the way his brother does, with an alarmingly similar hugging style.

Build, body, height, testosterone. How they squeeze you half to death with a bear grip cuddle. Still eerie.

“You look very cute.” Alessandra steps forward and tweaks Lexi’s cheek before leaning in and giving him a kiss to follow it on one cheek, not overly enthusiastic like she was with me and I get the vibe she’s drawing an appropriate line in the sand. She doesn’t want me to feel jealous by being overly soppy with my newfound boyfriend. I think my respect for her just shot up another ten points and it relaxes me fully, knowing there’s at least one woman in the world who poses no threat to what we have growing. He has definitely never had sex with her either.

I know it’s hypocritical that I’m bothered by that, given I have easily slept with hundreds of men in my lifetime, but it matters, nonetheless. Something I have to work on, I guess.

“So, you finally stopped fucking about and got the girl.” Gino beams, cocky and obvious, and I just eye roll. I should have known this was coming, and I’m not really in the mood for the dissection of ‘Camlexi’ while it’s too hot, and we still have some hoe’s eyes on us. Not to mention, an overwhelming desire to lie down and nap right where I stand.

“And we are very happy about it too.” Alessandra cuts in with that heavy accent, a hint of scorn in her tone and nudges her man in the ribs, casting him a warning look. I’m guessing they’ve had a conversation about not bringing this up.

“When’s the wedding?” Gino launches in and I give him the filthy look of ‘shut up’ this time. Alexi doesn’t even blink.

“When she has slept, cos damn this woman is cranky as hell today.” Alexi shoves me in the shoulder to stop the way I’m making dagger eyes at his brother and then hauls me against him and drapes his arm loosely around my shoulders. Pulling me tightly to him possessively, yet affectionate. I just curl up and lean into that warm mass and exhale heavily to try and stop the weary mood I’m in. Instantly calm when in his arms though. Surrounded by that heady scent that is uniquely his.

“Ha ha.” It’s a completely sarcastic response from me, lacking tone and emotion with a deadpan face and it gets me a laugh from Gino.

“When in Vegas, baby …” That cheeky look, as he reaches to tug a strand of my hair, so like his brother, and I shove him away. Slapping at his hand as it makes a grabby motion and I just cower under Alexi’s arm. Moulding into him for some protection from his annoying as shit brother.

“What? Hit a strip club and get an STD? Fuck a busty desk clerk?” I snap with less attitude this time, deflecting the hint away as my heart rate ups a level at his weird suggestion. I give him a short look and he turns around and pulls his woman into him mirroring our pose. Amused with himself, and I’m left scowling at how much of an annoying prick he can be.

“Ouch, I sense that last one is loaded. I find it interesting that my brother has made no rejection though. Can’t miss an opportunity to get hitched in a rush … no big white wedding, no fuss. Might even talk this one into it.” That smirk and wink, as his own cuddle buddy slaps him in the abdomen with a look of ‘not a chance’. Gino flinches and rubs his stomach then grins like a goofy teen at her reaction.

“I want big and white and showy. So, you can get that thought out of your head, right now.” She chastises him, pointing at his face like a schoolmarm, unamused at the suggestion. She shoves him when he whispers something else in her ear and points him towards tits and eyelashes over at the check-in desk, motioning they still need to.

Meanwhile, I’m here swirling his observation about Alexi around in my overly suspicious brain and turn accusingly to him and scowl. A little hint of panic seeping into my bones and restricting the oxygen from filtering to my lungs.

“I thought you were allergic to marriage?” I ask haughtily, knowing that the man I met over a year ago most definitely wasn’t one for settling down. Gino is right. His silence is at odds with who he is and suggests that there is zero opposition on the matter. The Alexi I know would have shut him down in a nanosecond and yet, this version let it slide with nothing to weigh in.

“Allergic to saddling myself with the wrong women sure; not allergic to marriage with the right one.” He leans in and kisses me swiftly, knocking me silent with a quick peck of lips on lips. Last thing I ever expected from his mouth and despite my knee-jerk need to reply with something sarcastic to knock this topic on the head, my insides do something weird and fluttery.

“Don’t be picking out your dress just yet. White isn’t your colour. Not sure it will ever be mine.” I half mock him, half seriously shitting a brick and try to turn this conversation into something else. The thought of a shotgun Vegas wedding scares the bejesus out of me. That’s a very permanent tying of yourself to someone and not easy to undo.

Especially tying yourself to a man you’ve only just started to want, trust and relax with. My head is nowhere near anything beyond that. We have barely grazed the surface of co-existing in a relationship. I mean it’s only been a week since he turned me on my head and told me he loves me. A lot has happened that makes it seem like weeks, but the reality is, we have been doing this for all of five minutes, and I only just came to terms with the fact we are in a relationship with a possible future last night.

Marriage is a NO, for a million reasons.

“I hear you can get married in black here, wearing a gun and carrying your wench kicking and screaming over your shoulder. I do, is merely a suggestion.” It’s said in the deadpan, emotionless manner he excels at, but I can tell it’s his version of humour. I don’t find him funny at all, looking at me in that straight-faced, cool way of his with those pale greys eating my soul to death. I raise a brow and just stare right back. An unamused look in return as if to say, ‘you even try it and I will maim you’.

“It’s only legal if she says I do.” I point out drily. Heart thundering out of my rib cage even though I know this is only in jest. Clammy palms and trembling limbs follow abruptly, and that breathless feeling adds to my heat-induced dizziness.

Alexi just smiles and shakes his head at me.

“Calm down feisty. No one is kidnapping you to throw you down the aisle with me. We’re here to see a casino and take a break from normal life while Mico does more digging on the events of yesterday. Marriage will be a conversation for another time.” That shuts me up and I continue to blink at him in stunned silence when he turns his attention to his brother and then checks his watch.

“I’ll take you upstairs and you can go to bed while I work out the arrangements for visiting the casino tomorrow and make some calls. I have things to do before we explore. Plenty of time before dinner.” He reaches into his pocket for his vibrating phone and moves me back a little while he swipes the screen. I’m literally mute as my head pulls apart this conversation, summarises a ‘not in hell’ and leaves me feeling oddly surreal and nervous.

“Why do you want a casino all the way out here, anyway?” I ask, still trying to cool myself as I adjust to the heat and pull at my top which is now sticking to me. Alexi’s eyes nestle on my breasts for a second before he goes back to his phone and types on the screen.

Typical man.

“Retirement plan. I thought I told you this. When I’m done in New York, then Vegas is my final destination, to live out my days in a casino I lord over. The one we look at tomorrow.” He continues talking, frowning at his phone and doesn’t even glance at me. Just assumes this is information he has previously divulged and I slide up beside him to prise his attention back on me. Sliding my arm in his very muscular one and press him against my left breast. Needy for his touch when I’m feeling oddly fragile.

“Why are you buying it now if you have no intention of retiring for a long time?” I croon. Distracting myself from anxiety-ridden thoughts of shotgun weddings and determined to return to my normal mode of sexy companion.

“Because I can, and I have the family in Vegas to run it for me and build up a reputation in the right places until I want to come out here.” He just continues typing, and yes, it vexes me that my wiles have zero effect on this man at times. Although he did say something interesting.

“Carreros in Vegas?” My attention piqued to find more of them in existence.

“We’re everywhere. Not all of our relatives settled in New York, some didn’t settle in the USA at all. I have family in Europe.” Finally, he throws me a sideways glance and the second those sexy soulless grey eyes connect with mine I smile, heart all a giddy, satisfied with a morsel of attention and lean against his upper arm possessively. Resting my head on his upper bicep comfortably.

“In London?” My head turns over with his confession about going there, and I wonder if that is how he knew he could freely get away with heading to a new turf and torturing a scumbag to death.

“The very place. Cousins, second cousins … they operate under the name Clarke. “

This time I lift my head in startled recognition and blink at him. A name I had heard when moving in the underworld circles in England, and now it makes sense, they were always big, burly, foreign-looking men. They all have that same bloody DNA.

Carreros … you wouldn’t fucking believe it.

They have been connected to my life since I was born.

Rick avoided them like the plague and kept out of their way because they were ruthless bastards who had reputations for being as cold and sadistic as my very own Lexi. Go figure. They were known for running things, being the heavy hand and taking care of business in the worst ways. It doesn’t even surprise me that they share a bloodline.

I now wonder if he did a little digging to see if any of them knew anything about me when visiting his British family. I wouldn’t put it past him. His whole trip to London, being able to locate Rick and do what he did without worrying about repercussions. It all makes sense now. Alexi had his family over there to assist him.

“Right, we ready to go upstairs?” Gino comes back, manhandling Alessandra from behind with a bellboy in tow to match ours, who is still waiting patiently. He has our bags on a trolley and is standing with his arms folded behind his back. Knowing better than to hurry the big spenders who rent out penthouse suites.

“About time.” Alexi throws him a cheeky look and pulls my body into his arm again as we turn to lead the way, cuddled against him as we walk. He slides his phone back into his pocket and I get that undivided attention I wanted once more.

It’s amazing how quickly this is becoming normal and second nature as my dependency on his affections grow stronger. I rest my head on his shoulder as we move, inhaling him and committing his touch to memory. All nerves and anxious energy fluttering away on the gentle breeze as the air conditioners catch us from above as we get out of the open grand entranceway.