Part 8 (1/2)
Before I could reply, the doorbell rang. Mia, with a confused expression, tilted her head toward the door. ”Were you expecting anyone?”
”No. I'll be back. Stay here.” I made my way toward the front door. Of course, Mia couldn't wait in the kitchen, and she treaded along behind me.
Without saying a word, I opened the door to find Gio standing on the other end of it. ”What are you doing here?” I asked as Mia gripped my bicep and pushed up on her toes to have a better look.
”We need to talk.” His eyes traced over my shoulder and landed on Mia. Gio's brows rose with a full-blown smile. ”Are you the Mia I've heard so much about?”
Rolling my eyes, I stepped aside so he could enter. Closing the door behind him, I took a quick glance at Mia. ”Mia, this is . . . my friend, Gio.”
Mia roughly ran a hand through her hair then tugged at the t-s.h.i.+rt she wore. ”Sorry for my appearance.” Smiling, she reached her hand out to shake his. ”Nice to meet you, Gio. I've never met any of Marcus's friends.”
Smiling, he continued to ogle her. ”I see nothing wrong with your appearance.” Mia's face flushed. What the f.u.c.k was that about? At that moment, I felt a surge of jealously rush through me.
”Gio, you can go into my office right through there while I grab a s.h.i.+rt.” I pointed toward the door. He nodded, waved at Mia again, and then headed toward my office.
”Mia, come with me.” I gripped her wrist and dragged her toward the stairs. I was angry, even though it wasn't her fault, but the way he was looking at her and the look she gave back to him filled me with a possessive rage. I had just gotten her back, and I was not going to lose her to anything or anyone. Call me an overbearing, over-protective and over-possessive boyfriend. I don't give a f.u.c.k.
The thing that bothered me most about the relations.h.i.+p I had with Mia was the jealousy I felt when someone looked at her. I knew men could stare, but the possibility of Mia taking action on it made my every nerve burn with anger.
Mia trampled behind me and pulled on the grip I held. ”Marcus, can you loosen your hold?” I shook away the thoughts and let go of her wrist. Once I entered my room, I pulled open the drawer, removing a s.h.i.+rt. Tossing it on, I turned and Mia was standing a few feet away with a serious expression.
”Who is he really?” Mia blurted with a demanding tone. Crossing her arms, she dropped a hip. ”If he were a friend, you wouldn't be acting the way you are.”
”And how is that?”
She waved a hand up and down the length of me. ”Your entire demeanor changed, Marcus. The moment he walked through the door. You seem angry or agitated with something . . . with me even.” Her brows pressed together. ”We were fine a few minutes ago. h.e.l.l, we've been fine for a couple of weeks now. I don't know.” Mia shook her head and then let out a deep breath. ”Maybe I'm overthinking it.”
Great. I'm a f.u.c.king a.s.shole. Bending my head back, I let out a heavy sigh and rubbed the palm of my hands over my face. Mia had her arms wrapped around my waist and her head pressed against my chest before I could register that she had moved from where she was. ”Marcus, sometimes I have no clue what goes on in that head of yours. It can be frustrating in so many ways. Either way, I still love you.”
My arms tugged around her as I pressed my lips on top of her head. ”I love you too, Mia.” f.u.c.k, I did. I loved that woman more than she'd ever know. ”There's no need to worry about Gio. He's an old friend. That's all.” I kept the fact that Gio was Lou's nephew hidden because I knew how she felt about Lou, and I truly didn't want to spark another issue. ”Can you go see what Elle wants to eat for dinner, and I'll take care of Gio?” Mia nodded, squeezed me tightly one last time, and then made her way toward Elle's room.
Gio stood by the oversized mirror toward the right side of my office. His head was tilted as he continued to admire it. He turned and faced me at the sound of the door shutting behind me. ”This is an interesting object you have here, Marky. The carving in the frame is quite unique. The mirror stands alone as an art piece.”
”It's an original. I had it designed.” I pointed toward the side bar. ”Would you like a drink?”
With a wave of his hand, he gave the mirror one last quick glance and then sat on a chair by my desk. ”Nah, I'm good. I've cut back on drinking. You should try it. You'll see a huge difference in your mood swings.”
I sat behind my desk as I bit down on my tongue before responding, ”I don't have f.u.c.kin' mood swings.” I grew agitated as he laughed at himself. ”What did you need to talk about?”
Gio smiled and leaned into the desk. ”The club, we need it.”
”No. Was that all?”
Raising a brow, his expression grew serious. ”I wasn't asking, Marky. You haven't found a suitable place for exchanges, and the s.h.i.+tty ones we've been going to are starting to look bad for business.” He leaned back in the chair. ”We have an important exchange next month, Marky. We need the s.p.a.ce.”
I folded my hands, leaned into the desk, and stared at him, with all of the possible other places running through my head. Gio was right. None of them were suitable. ”I have people in and out of my club all of the time. What if a deal goes wrong? And where do you expect to do these exchanges?”
”I've visited your club a few times now. There's a separate entrance to the bas.e.m.e.nt. It's f.u.c.kin' huge too. There's nothing down there but a few pieces of unused furniture. The entrance is on the left side of the building away from the front entry and the back parking lot. It's perfect.”
”Gio, it's too f.u.c.kin' public. Lou has always wanted to keep his exchanges low-key. Why is he suddenly pus.h.i.+ng the issue of doing them at my club?
Standing, he adjusted his jacket. ”I never know why my uncle chooses half the s.h.i.+t he does, but he's Lou. He can f.u.c.kin' do anything he d.a.m.n well pleases. With that said, we're using the club.”
It was the worst f.u.c.king idea Lou had thought of yet. Nothing good would come of it.
CHAPTER TEN.
MIA.
”Mia, would you come here, sweetheart? I'd like to introduce you to someone.” Theresa shouted from across the room. I raised a finger at her to give me a second and then turned my attention back to the chef.
”So we're all clear for the menu tonight?” I asked him.
The chef nodded, ”Yes, ma'am, I have it all under control. I began prepping the hors d'oeuvres for the c.o.c.ktail hour. I have here. . .” He looked down at the clipboard he held in his hand. ”No mushrooms due to allergies. Correct?”
”Yes, please, no mushrooms. My boyfriend's niece is highly allergic.”
”Okay, I'm all set. Hors d'oeuvres are to be served at six this evening and dinner will begin at eight.”
”Perfect. Thank you so much.” I patted his shoulder then began making my way down the room.
It was the weekend of Marcus's thirtieth birthday party, and it also marked three weeks since we'd been back together. It felt as if we'd never left each other's side. We'd become closer in a way that was much more than just s.e.xual or even a romantic relations.h.i.+p-we had built a friends.h.i.+p as well. He had confided in me and discussed memories or issues he had been struggling with ever since his father's death. The fact that we had both tragically lost beloved family members had bonded us and allowed us to express feelings that others would not understand.
”Miss Sullivan,” a voice poked through my thoughts. ”Where would you like the equipment set up?” One of the band members asked.
”There's a tent set up on the patio. You can put your equipment down in the far right corner.” He nodded and then brushed past as he held an amp in his arms.
After a few more interruptions, I finally caught up with Theresa. ”Mia, this is Leo, the party planner.”
”Hi, Leo.” I shook his hand. I was happy he had made it and was able to take over from here. We discussed all the plans over the phone the past week, but he was running late today and couldn't make it until the afternoon. Marcus's home had been a h.e.l.lhole the entire day.
”I'm here now, Mia. You and Theresa can run off and get ready. By the time you're back, it will be spectacular.”
”Thank G.o.d!” I let out a heavy sigh.
”Where's the birthday boy and what time is he expected?”
I pulled out my phone from my back pocket and checked the time. ”Well, he's out with his brother. Jimmie took him away for a brotherly bonding day. Jimmie will bring him back around six-thirty. That will give plenty of time for people to arrive.”
”Wonderful. Three hours is plenty of time for me to have it all set up. Everything and everyone is accounted for, so I will take this out of your hands.” He took the clipboard from Theresa.
Theresa and I eyed each other. It was a relief that we were no longer handling it, but it was also somewhat nerve-wracking handing over all the hard work to someone else. Theresa shrugged and pa.s.sed the clipboard over.
”Want a drink? We deserve it.” Theresa said as she wrapped her arm around my shoulder.
Shrugging, I looked at her and smiled. ”Sure, why not?” We both laughed as we headed toward the bar.