Awakening the Mobster by Amy Rachiele Read Free Book Online Page A

whispers, “I hope someone can beat him soon.” He nuzzles my neck, moving my hair aside. “I want to take you back to the suite to finish what we started.” His words sizzle under my skin. I lean back ever farther into him enjoying his soft caresses.
    I am so caught up in Antonio that I don’t notice that Troy has gone back to Vito, and Erin and Jake are having a quiet conversation.
    “How long are you here for?” Jake asks.
    “I don’t know,” Erin replies.
    “What do you think so far? Is college life all you dreamed of?” Jake chuckles softly.
    Erin, playing with blades of grass, shrugs her shoulders. Then she drops the grass and rubs her arms like she’s cold.
    I’m about to say something when Jake takes off his coat. He gets up on his knees and places his jacket on the front of her. It’s backwards covering her chest and arms. Antonio immediately hardens at Jake’s movements, but doesn’t say anything.
    “Maybe we should wait in the car,” Antonio says. “Or go inside.”
    “Sure,” I say. “I’m getting thirsty.” Antonio unwraps himself from around me and helps me up. He reaches for Erin to help her too, but Jake is already doing that. Hmmmm... Jake takes his coat off Erin and places it on her shoulders.
    Cheers erupt as Vito wins another round. The four of us head into the dorm. It is crowded. We push through, but everyone is close—too close—invading my personal bubble space. I reach for Erin’s hand behind me.
    The hand I reach for is already occupied. Jake has her hand and is maneuvering Erin through the mass of partiers. He is with us, tagging along. Unexpected, but whatever. He seems like a nice guy. We are forced into a single file line, Antonio is leading the way. Plastic cups and beer bottles litter the floor as we enter. The couches in the lounge area are filled with bodies. The music is much louder in here.
    Words that sound on the cusp of a roar echo behind us over the music, “Who the fuck is this?!”
    Antonio swings around shoving me behind him in a defensive move. It’s Vito. Dirt and grass cover his chest that glistens with sweat and alcohol. The crowds of people disperse, and we are all alone in the spacious room, like an island all our own. People are staring at us. Troy comes up behind Vito.
    “That’s Jake. He’s my friend. He lives in my dorm.” Troy slaps Vito on the back congenially. “Come on, some guys from the football team showed up. They want a shot too.”
    But Vito doesn’t move. His eyes are glued to Jake and Erin. His expression is savage and vicious. Antonio moves first. Erin, Jake, and I are rooted to the spot we froze in.
    Jake anxiously glances between Erin and me, his hand fastened around Erin’s. The music continues to thump and pump so loudly that I can feel it through the floor. Vito still faces us, but his eyes have shifted to Antonio. Antonio is saying something to him I can’t hear.
    Vito turns to leave. Antonio comes back sighing. “Don’t touch her dude,” he says to Jake authoritatively.
    Jake reluctantly drops Erin’s hand. Erin runs out of the dorm, Jake’s coat dropping to the floor.
    “Whoa, Erin!” I yell, and chase after her.
    She takes off fast. Antonio passes me, and then yanks me along with him running in the direction she went. Prickles of panic build because I can’t see her.
    Antonio curses under his breath, “What the fuck? How fast can a fourteen-year-old girl run?”
    Erin runs and we chase. Even Jake is with us. The darkness envelopsher. I hear sniffling, and we find Erin crouched behind a car on the street.
    I lean down and squat next to her.
    I’ve had enough, Meg,” Erin sobs. “I hate this.”
    “I don’t know what to say Erin,” I say, frustrated, and wanting to wave a magic wand to change it all.
    “I do,” Antonio says with stern confidence, “Don’t ever fuckin’ run from me again! You’re my responsibility.”
    Erin flinches and Antonio softens, “ Fanabola ... I know you’ve been through