Chapter 7:

 

 It had been three weeks since Antonio had spoken to his father about Marco. He'd warned his brother to lay low for awhile just to keep their dad from getting even angrier. Antonio still hadn't found a solution to keep his last living brother alive. Losing Gregorio was hard enough on his mother and his sisters but if Marco was lost to them too he didn't know what would happen. Protecting Marco was all he cared about.

He thought his brother should maybe get away for awhile. Away from Franco Luciano anyway. It would help matters if Marco and Bridget were out of sight. He pondered on this idea and thought it would be best to run it by his brother. As he walked the two blocks to Marco's apartment, he thought of his brother's situation. From what he'd seen, Bridget was a nice enough girl and he seemed to please Marco. He didn't want to ruin that for his brother which is why he thought getting away was the best solution to the problem.

“Tony. What a surprise. How's my little brother?” Marco said as he opened the door.

Antonio smiled. Only Marco called him Tony. He would miss that if Franco did something murderous. The thought made him physically sick. “Can't complain. How are you?” he asked.

As Antonio came in he saw Bridget cooking something in the kitchen wearing Marco's shirt and what looked like leggings. Antonio didn't even need to venture a guess as to how his brother was. And that was all Antonio needed to know. If Marco was happy, he would do everything in his power to make sure that Franco didn't ruin it. Gregorio's death was hard on everyone but especially Marco. He'd been so melancholy since, Antonio didn't think he would ever recover. From the looks of things Antonio saw that Bridget was the cure for his depression. He knew right then and there that Marco could never lose Bridget or his world would be destroyed even worse than it was when they'd lost Gregorio.

“As you can see, life is pretty good,” Marco replied beaming as he motioned to Bridget.

Bridget smiled. She was so delicate. So beautiful. Antonio could see the appeal in the Irish girl. Bianca Tucci paled in comparison to Bridget's light beauty. She was a beauty that was for sure. His brother was a lucky man.

“I bet you are. That's kinda why I came here,” he said sitting himself down at Marco's kitchen table.

Marco furrowed his brow. “Alright. What's goin' on?” Marco asked his brother afraid to hear what Antonio had to say. He sat down in the chair opposite his brother.

“Well, you know how I told you to lay low because Dad was pretty peeved at you?” Marco nodded. “I've been doing some major thinking about a solution to the Bridget issue...” Antonio hesitated before continuing. He wasn't sure how to phrase this with Bridget standing in the room.

“I don't care what your father thinks of me. He doesn't even know me,” Bridget cut in waving a wooden spoon in the air. It was admirable to both Marco and Antonio that she had no fear when it came to their mob boss father. Even Bianca Tucci would be afraid of Franco Luciano. Antonio saw how fond his brother was of her confidence in the situation.

“That may be, but -”

“If you're here to get me to break up with Bridget, you can forget it Tony. I love her,” Marco said pounding his fist into the table.

“Marco, man, I know. I completely understand how you feel about her. I know you two are in love. I'm not here to break that up. I'm here to offer you a suggestion.”

“Which is?” Marco asked intrigued.

“What if you went away like on a trip or vacation or something?” Antonio suggested hoping his brother would agree.

“Run away like some coward?” Bridget cut in, not liking the idea. Antonio could really get along with this girl. She was a no-nonsense type like one of his sisters.

“Bridget's right. I'm not running away. That's what got Tommy Malone popped off. Remember that, Tony? Do you want me to end up like Tommy Malone?” Marco said reminding Antonio of their father's former associate who got greedy and ran only to be found floating lifeless in the East River a week later.

“No. It's not like Tommy Malone. I'm saying hide out for awhile. You know 'outta sight, outta mind?'”

Marco thought more about his brother's idea. Spending some quality time with Bridget away somewhere didn't seem like a bad thing. Any time with Bridget was good time. Like Antonio had put it, being out of his dad's sight for awhile could help put the Bridget situation out of his dad's mind. It could be for the best.

“That is true,” Marco said seriously considering the idea.

“Maybe it would be better this way. And once you get back, you can continue doing Dad's dirty work, making him proud and he'll be more at ease with Bridget.” Antonio knew it was a long shot but he hoped it was worth a try.

“What'd ya say, Bridget?” Marco turned to his lady love, glowing at the sight of her.

As much as Bridget wanted peace between father and son, she knew that keeping out of Franco Luciano's way was the best alternative. It might not fix everything but it could be a temporary solution for now. Being away from Franco might give him time to get used to the idea of Marco and Bridget. She looked at Antonio then to Marco, her godlike Adonis. She didn't care where she was. All she wanted to do was be with Marco. This was the most exciting thing that had happened in her life. Nothing like this would ever happen in Dayton. Marco was the touch of excitement she'd been missing. She didn't want to lose what had been a hole in her heart for so long.

“I'd go anywhere with you, Marco,” she replied touching her palm to his cheek. He smiled while Antonio rolled his eyes at the sight of such affection.

 

Marco chose Atlantic City as his destination of choice. It was far away enough to let his dad cool off but it was close enough that he could hop on a plane and be back in New York in case his father needed more dirty work done for him. Marco hoped not. He only did illegal duties for his father so he could keep an eye on him and make sure he's not accidentally killing anymore innocent people like Gregorio. But he didn't want to think about his issues with his father right now. He was away with his girlfriend and he was damn well going to enjoy their sojourn in Atlantic City.

Once settled in the room, Marco would take Bridget out to dinner, maybe let her shop around a little bit and spend a romantic evening in their hotel room... alone. He made a mischievous smile at the thought of being alone with Bridget. He looked forward to making love to Bridget in another hotel room. She looked up at him right then and smiled as if she could read his mind.

“So are romantic getaways on your list of adventures not yet had?” Marco teasingly asked knowing how Bridget left Dayton for adventure.

Bridget smiled but didn't respond. She didn't know how to. Somehow her first trip to Atlantic City didn't seem as romantic as it should be given the reason they were here: to hideout from Franco Luciano. Bridget still didn't totally understand why Franco had a problem with her. Marco was still his son and still willing and able to do Franco's bidding. But somehow Bridget being an outsider to the whole mafiosi thing meant she wasn't good enough for Marco Luciano, son of the mob. Marco noticed her almost sullen expression.

“Something wrong?” Marco asked concerned.

Bridget shook her head, trying to avoid having this discussion. Like Marco had said, this was supposed to be a romantic getaway. “No. No. Nothing's wrong.”

Marco looked at her unconvinced. “Come on, Bridget. I know you. I know when something's on your mind,” he said coming up behind her and sliding his arms around her waist kissing her shoulder, “Tell me.”

Bridget sighed. She positioned herself so she was face to face with Marco. He put his forehead to hers wordlessly asking her to open up to him. She knew she couldn't keep anything from him. In the short time they'd been together, they'd learned that their connection ran so deep they could read each others' thoughts before they were spoken. She had to just tell him. “It's just. This whole thing with your dad is really bothering me. What if he never accepts the fact that we love each other? What if he decides he's had enough of both of us and -” Marco stopped her from finishing that sentence.

He placed an index finger over her lips. “Sweetheart, that's not going to happen. I won't allow it. Don't even think that. I love you. My dad is just going to have to get over the fact that I'm not marrying the daughter of one of his 'associates.'”

She touched her hand to his cheek still unsure. She kissed him softly on the mouth savoring the taste of him. “Maybe I should just go back to Dayton and stop causing problems with you and your family,” she muttered before she thought it through completely. Immediately she regretted saying it.

Marco was stupefied. He expected Bridget to be concerned but he didn't expect her to want to leave him. He couldn't let that happen. He loved her too much. He'd already lost someone close to him because of his father, he wasn't about to lose someone else, especially Bridget. Before Bridget all he did was tasks for his father, day in and day out. He had no love. No reason to get up in the morning. No life. Ever since Bridget walked into his life with her bubbly personality, her ocean-blue eyes, her innocent smile, he hadn't been the same. He felt revitalized with her around. She meant too much to him. He would be a dead man before he'd let Bridget go. He refused to let her go.

“No!” He objected holding her closer to him, so tight it was as if they were one. “I won't let you go! Not even my dad could push me away from you!” He kissed her passionately showing her just how much he felt permanently attached to her.

She broke the kiss but stayed close to his face pressing her forehead to his. “Marco, I love you, so much.”

With those words said Marco knew exactly what he wanted. “Marry me,” he said unmoving holding her close. As soon as he spoke his request, it all made sense. He knew from the moment he laid eyes on Bridget that she was the one. The words just flew out of his mouth. He knew it in his heart. He loved her more than life itself.

“What?” she asked a little frazzled, pulling away from his embrace. Did he just ask me what I think he asked me?, she thought to herself. She was not expecting that.

“Marry me Bridget McBride. My father wouldn't be able to get in the way if we were married, Bridget. I love you,” he enthusiastically stated kissing her.

“Marco, that would make it much worse! Wouldn't it?”

“Bridget, look. I love you. You love me. If we're married, it will make it harder for my dad to intervene.”

He had all the right reasons. Part of Bridget said it was absolutely insane. That he would just be marrying her to stick it to his dad. But the other part of her was saying she loved this man more than anything. She gave up the only life she'd known to be with him. He was her taste of excitement. He was the missing piece she'd been devoid of for so long. Bridget's heart skipped a beat at the thought of being Mrs. Marco Luciano. Marco's lifestyle as a mafia prince was so dynamic to Bridget's simple upbringing. It could be dangerous. But in all reality, Bridget was madly in love with Marco and ultimately wanted to be with him forever no matter how much danger come about. She loved him.

“Let's do it,” she said hugging him tightly in disbelief that she was hugging the man she would soon call her husband. She was so sure of herself. She looked deep into Marco's hazel eyes and said, “I wanna marry you, Marco Luciano. I love you.”

He gleefully smiled. His already golden complexion glowed even more at her answer. She'd never seen his smile so bright. He was positively giddy with happiness. His hands clutched her shoulders. Marco pulled Bridget closer and closer to his face until their foreheads touched again. “I love you so much, you know that, Bridget?” he kissed her lips in one fluid movement.

“I know, babe. I know,” she assured him.

They stood in their hotel room, lips inching toward the kiss that would seal their engagement. Their lips grazed, teasing each other for that final moment before sinking into ultimate passion. She crept her fingers along his neck to the nape, tingling his senses. Marco slid his fingers through her sunshine blond hair and down her shoulders, arms to eventually caress the small of her back.

“I love you so much, Bridget,” he whispered against her lips. “I promise you forever.” She knew he meant it.

 

After a celebratory dinner, Marco and Bridget found a 24-hour chapel on the strip. It was a short, informal ceremony. But it didn't matter to them. Marco and Bridget were officially husband and wife. Bridget couldn't believe how vastly her life had changed in the past four weeks. Just four weeks ago she was a high school grad with nothing to look forward to except a future in Dayton at McBride's hardware store. One innocent meeting at Dino's with Marco Luciano and he was now her husband, til death do they part. Marco had turned her world upside down. She would spend the rest of her life reminding him of that.

As they strolled out of the chapel, holding hands, Bridget abruptly stopped.

“Something wrong?” Marco asked with a tinge of concern and dread hoping she had no regrets.

Bridget's only response was an ear-to-ear smile. She wrapped her arms around Marco's neck kissing him with all the passion in the world. She could feel him smile back against her lips. He picked her up and twirled her around as she shrieked with joy.

“So I take it nothing's wrong?”

“Absolutely nothing,” she replied kissing him to prove it. “Well, there is one thing.”

Marco's brow furrowed.

“I don't have a ring, Mr. Luciano,” she teased smiling with her tongue between her teeth.

Marco laughed. “Oh, well, don't you worry Mrs. Luciano. I will find you the most beautiful ring for the most beautiful girl.”

Bridget giggled as they made their way back to their hotel room to get a jump start on their wedding night. She and Marco had always found joy in making love with each other but their was something about her wedding night that got more Bridget anxious to get started.

Upon arriving at their hotel, the concierge had instantly upgraded them to the honeymoon suite as a wedding gift from the hotel. Their new room had a living room, a kitchenette and a bedroom. It was rather spacious. It was more like an apartment than a hotel room. Room size wasn't a big deal to the newlyweds as long as they were left alone.

“Pretty nice place,” Marco commented opening the mini-fridge checking out the assorted food and beverage items.

“Yeah.” Bridget had no urgent desire to explore the honeymoon suite at that moment. It irritated her a tad that Marco was exploring the room and not her. She sat on the bed impatiently as he continued perusing the room and its amenities.

“So, what do you want to do?” Marco asked pretty positive he already knew the answer. “We could watch TV. Or if you're hungry there's a chocolate something in the fridge. Or if you're not hungry we could...”

“Oh I'm hungry,” Bridget brazenly responded knowing full well that Marco knew exactly what she was hungry for.

“Oh well, have at it. I know how much girls love chocolate,” he grinned mischievously. She loved it when he played dumb like this.

Bridget shook her head. “No, no, no. Marco, I'm not hungry for food,” he raised his eyebrow with a grin, “I'm hungry for you.”

With that she yanked his lapels, pulling him closer to her. His lips collided with hers, desperate to be touching her.

 

Within seconds they were completely naked, sweaty and totally aroused with each other. Marco's ever so talented hands made heated contact with Bridget's shoulders, breasts, stomach, everywhere. When his tickling fingertips found their way down to her fiery core she lost all reason. She cried out in ecstasy. His luscious lips grazed her neck as he pleasured her with his heated fingers whispering her name. Bridget was in absolute heaven.

She closed her eyes for further enjoyment when Marco's fingers were replaced by him, fully erect. Just before she entangled him within her, they opened their eyes simultaneously. For what seemed like forever to Bridget, she and her new husband stared at each other speaking only with their eyes. His seriously passionate gaze seared every emotion he'd ever felt on to her skin. She was burning for him. She couldn't wait much longer. He knew it too. He pressed his lips to hers in a quick lustful yearning kiss as he entered her smooth and hard.

“Marco!” She shouted arching her body pushing her body into him. She loved the feeling of him inside her but this time seemed more pleasurable than the times before. Bridget saw fireworks and heard applause. This was her bliss.

“I love you, Bridget,” he breathlessly murmured against her inflamed skin.

Bridget was so enthralled in deep passion. She was too lost in her world with Marco to realize what was happening outside their bedroom door in the real world. Anything outside of what she was feeling with him wasn't her immediate reality. She fell asleep with Marco inside her, his arms wrapped around her, her head resting on his shoulder. She experienced the most peaceful sleep in all her eighteen years. She was so happy.

 

The next morning Bridget was awoken by a wonderfully lustful Marco who was still eager to celebrate their nuptials the night before. She didn't even respond with words. Words failed her when it came to making love with Marco. All she wanted was him. And the moment she felt his hardness on her hip, she immediately wanted him again. And again and again.

Marco couldn't believe it when he woke up with Bridget soundlessly sleeping in his arms. Last night hadn't been a wishful dream. It was real. He had married Bridget McBride last night on their weekend in Atlantic City. He'd only known the recent high school graduate for a little over a month. Granted he was only twenty-one, he was still enamored with this beautiful blonde who'd changed his entire world. He'd had a date every now and then but he never felt so emotionally attached to one person like he felt with Bridget. He needed her like he needed the blood in his veins, the air that he breathed, the water he drank.

As he initiated yet another love spell with his new bride, he imagined all the infinite mornings he'd get to wake up like this, entangled in Bridget's arms. The thought just spurred him on. Nothing was more important than being with the new Mrs. Luciano. The world would have to wait. Their minds were so in touch with making love to each other they didn't hear the loud banging in the living room of their suite. They didn't hear the profane Italian phrases. To them it wasn't real. Nothing was real except each other. That notion soon faded away when their bedroom doors burst open and Marco's father was standing right there with crazy blood-shot eyes.

Franco Luciano was in disbelief. His middle son had deliberately disobeyed his orders to dump this Ohio broad. His eyes were shocked to see his son in bed with the chick. He couldn't believe what was in front of him. Another son had fallen under an outsider's spell.

“This is revolting, Marco, really,” Franco said crossing his arms, anger heating up.

The voice of Franco Luciano brought Marco back to his painful reality of being his father's stooge. This was not how he'd imagined the morning after his wedding night. Not only was he disappointed, he was frightened and disgusted. How low does someone have to be to follow their son out of town and storm into his hotel room? But then Marco had a thought. How far does one go to 'protect' the mafiosi pride? Instinctively he turned around covering himself and shielding Bridget with his body as protection. Franco would not be hurting Bridget today or any other day. She was his wife now.

“What the hell are you doing here, Dad?” Marco shouted as Bridget clutched his bare shoulders as if her life depended on it which most likely it did. She could honestly say this was the first time in her life that she was deathly afraid.

“Well, I just came to see if you were the kind of son that would turn against his family name and his father's direction. It's sad I was proven wrong. I didn't think you had it in you, Marco.”

Marco evilly glared at his father sending out his hate through his eyes all the while feeling Bridget's terror radiating through his body. He didn't care what his father said. As long as Franco stayed away from Bridget, Marco was fine.

“What? Love? Care for other human life? 'Cause I sure as hell have that in me unlike my father. I love and care for Bridget, Dad. You can't do anything about it,” for once Marco stood up to his dad.

“Really? I'll have to run that by Greg. Oh. That's right. I can't. He's dead.”

Marco cringed at the mention of his dead brother. Marco knew what that snide remark was supposed to mean. If Marco didn't do what his father wanted, Marco's mother would have to bury another son. Was he really threatening Marco and Bridget in a not-so-subtle way? Now Marco's fear sunk in. His skin drained its normal glow. He was as white as a ghost, closely matching the skin tone of his wife at the moment.

“If you continue to see this girl, Marco, I guarantee you, you won't like the outcome.”

Marco had to reassure himself that he was NOT afraid. He had to think back to his kitchen just a few days before. Bridget was cooking. Antonio expressed his worries to Marco. And no-fear Bridget adamantly refusing to give into his father. He had to use her sexy confidence to stand up to his dad. If he let on that he was afraid, he'd never be rid of Franco the All-Powerful. He had to twist the knife if he wanted to be taken seriously. “Hate to break it to you, Daddy Dearest, but I'll be seeing a lot of Bridget. She is my wife after all,” Marco said taking Bridget's trembling hand and kissing her palm while looking his father straight in the eye.

The look on Franco Luciano's face went from amused disappointment to outright anger. “She's your what? I swear to God, Marco, on your brother's grave if that is indeed the truth, you will regret it for the rest of your life, however short that may be.”

Marco looked his dad straight in the eye. Most everyone who knew the Luciano's knew that Franco had something to do with Gregorio untimely passing. Marco was the only one with the guts to remind his malicious father of that fact. “You wouldn't kill you own son, now, would you Pop?”

Franco could not believe his son would utter such disrespectful words. He'd given Marco a life most sons only wish their father's had given them and this is how he repays him? By marrying some Ohio nobody and inadvertently threatening to let it slip that Gregorio's death was his fault? How dare he! Franco knew this was a battle that would not be easily won. He had to formulate a plan before he went any further. Getting Marco to obey was going to be one of the hardest jobs Franco has ever had to do. But he was after all, Franco Luciano, mafia king, most feared man in the west side. He would let Marco play his little game for now. But he wouldn't let Marco win.

“Alright. If that's how it's gonna be,” Franco said pretending to forfeit the issue.

Marco was taken off-guard. He didn't quite understand. He could feel Bridget's heart beat slower and slower in her own relief. Did his father just say he was alright with having Bridget as a daughter-in-law? 

 

Chapter 6:

 

I sat on my new front porch enjoying a steaming hot cup of coffee on a beautiful late August morning. It had been a few days since my encounter with Marco Luciano. It still plagued my mind. Ever since that day, I couldn't stop thinking about Marco and our mutual tattoos. I wanted to believe that it was just a mere coincidence, maybe we went to the same tattoo parlor. If Marco hadn't been looking at me knowingly that day, I probably would believe that our tattoos are just coincidences. But he seemed to know me; know what my answers were when he asked the questions. Living across the street from Marco Luciano made me even more paranoid than I already was about myself, my past and now my mysterious star tattoo.

I tried to distract myself from my own thoughts by watching Tyler kick around a soccer ball in the front yard. I could here him murmuring to himself calculating every single move he'd make on the soccer field in his mind like an announcer at a game. I smiled. Tyler was my little miracle. He sustained my accident and grew to be a healthy boy with a taste for adventure. It's hard to believe that was twelve years ago. I was more than surprised the day Drake told me I was still pregnant and the baby, Tyler, was just fine. Now Tyler was almost a teenager. My son's growing up, I thought to myself.

Just as I took a sip of my coffee, Tyler kicked the ball hard. It flew into the air across the street into Marco's yard. Instinctively, Tyler made his way to cross the street to retrieve it. He didn't see the truck driving down the street going miles ahead of the speed limit. I panicked. I dropped my coffee mug, running toward the street. Visions of what might happen streamed through my brain. Tyler's life flashed before my eyes.

By the time I reached the sidewalk, the truck and Tyler were gone. I froze. What had happened to my son? “Tyler!” I shrieked afraid for the worst.

I heard groaning and turned around to find Marco Luciano with his arm around my son on the ground. Did Marco jump in front of the truck to pull my son to safety?

“Tyler! Are you alright?” I said rushing to help my son to stand up before pulling him close to me for a hug

“I'm OK. I don't even have a scratch on me, Mom,” he said as if I was worrying too much. Oh yeah, he was fine. “Wow! I almost got hit by a truck!” Tyler sounded almost thrilled to have had a near death experience.

“Yeah. I'm glad I saw the truck when I did,” Marco said brushing the grass of himself.

“Thank you, sir,” Tyler responded with deep gratitude to Marco.

“You're very welcome, kid. Please call me Marco,” Marco replied patting Tyler on the back with a smile. “I'm just glad that you're safe.” Marco looked up and down the streets, I assumed scanning for oncoming traffic. “You're in the clear. Go on. Get your ball.”

Tyler scampered off sprinting to Marco's yard to avoid potential danger. I was still wrapping my head around the fact that Tyler was safe and unharmed all thanks to Marco Luciano and his quick thinking. I didn't know what to say. I owed this man my life for rescuing my son.

“Thank you, Mr. Luciano. You saved his life,” I said softly.

He grinned. “Please. Call me Marco. My father is Mr. Luciano.”

“Thank you, Marco. How can I ever repay you?” I said showing him my gratitude with a hug. I felt him stiffen in my touch. He quickly pulled back with a somber expression on his face.

“Really, it was no trouble. Kids always get themselves into stuff like this. I know I did. A lot actually,” he chuckled almost as if he was trying to shake off my hug.

I smiled. “I appreciate it, though. There must be something I can do for you,” I pleaded.

He waved his hand in the air motioning a no. “Really, don't worry about it,” he said with a smile and a twinkle in his eye.

Our eyes locked for a split second. Suddenly my body temperature rose to what seemed like a hundred degrees. My heart was beating so fast it felt like it would be right out of my chest. I was at a loss for words. I didn't know what to say or if I even knew how to say the words. Marco's hazel-eyed gaze was so familiar, so real I could almost taste it. I just didn't know what it was. Marco was about to break the silence. His mouth opened then closed at the sight of Tyler returning with his soccer ball.

“Got it!” he announced stopping at my side.

With a mother's instinct, I put my arm around him, glad he had crossed the street without any run-ins with motor vehicles. I smiled and thanked God my son was safe. I turned to Marco to thank him one last time when my smile faded at the sight of Marco's face. His normally golden complexion had paled. His intense hazel eyes had dulled in color. His lush lips had begun to frown. He was staring at my son with the saddest look. Like he had just seen a ghost.

“Marco?” I spoke concerned he wasn't feeling well.

Almost instantly he came back to life at the sound of my voice. He looked at me questioningly. “Huh? What? Oh. Sorry. I lost myself there for a minute,” he joked with a forced grin. He turned back to Tyler, lowering himself to get on Tyler's eye level. He put his hand on Tyler's shoulder, “You be careful when you're playing soccer. You never know what the game will throw at you next,” he said with a smile patting Tyler on the shoulder.

His gaze turned to me and lightly grinned as he turned to walk back to his house. I don't know why, but my heart broke at the sight of him walking away, alone and seemingly upset. I wanted to call out to him, run to him, comfort him, do something. Why I didn't exactly know. I was just about to when I heard my name.

“Sabina?” I turned to see Drake leaning up against a pillar on the porch staring at me with wondering eyes.

“Dad!” Tyler shouted running toward Drake. I turned to glance back at Marco before I went to Drake as well. All I saw was a door slamming. I shrugged and headed toward my husband.

“Good morning, Tyler,” Drake said coldly.

“Dad, you're not going to believe it! I just almost died!” Tyler shouted thrilled to divulge his action-packed tale to his father.

“What?” I could tell by the tone of his voice and the look on his face that he was both concerned and appalled.

“Don't get too worked up, honey. He's safe now,” I tried reassuring him.

“What exactly happened, Sabina?” he asked sounding almost accusatory.

“I was playing soccer in the front yard right? And this big truck came speeding down the street. Of course, I didn't see it. Anyway, I kicked my ball really far. As far as the neighbor's yard across the street,” just as Tyler uttered the words 'yard across the street' Drake's nostrils flared and his eyes grew wide in a curious anger. It scared me a tad. “And I ran across the street to get it but I didn't see the truck. Marco across the street snatched me up before I was hit! Isn't that awesome?”

Drake paused before saying anything more. He looked at me with anger. “Marco Luciano saved our son from peril?” Drake asked me irritatedly ignoring Tyler all together.

I looked at him, altogether puzzled. Was he blaming me?

“Yeah. He did save me! I'm gonna go tell Jasmie and Ashlyn! They're gonna think it's so cool!” Tyler said just before he scampered into the house to tell his sisters of his rescuing by the heroic Marco Luciano.

Drake however still stood glaring at me. Beaming rays of disapproval with his dark brown eyes. “Why weren't you watching him?” he asked with a slightly sinister tone.

“I was watching him. Drake it happened so fast I -” he cut me off before I could finish.

“We are perfectly capable of looking after our own children, Sabina.”

“I know that,” I responded utterly confused as to why he was acting like I'd betrayed him.

“I have to go make my rounds. I should be back about eight o'clock. Please keep a closer eye on the children from now on. Alright, darling?”

Why was he treating me like an inattentive babysitter? I knew how to take care of my children. He was starting to weird me out.

“Of course,” I said kissing him on the cheek avoiding getting into an argument about how I tend to the children. “Have a good day at work, Drake.”

He just curtly smiled and stomped off to his car. What was going on? Why was he acting like this? He'd never doubted my mothering skills before. He seemed angry at me for Tyler's incident with the truck. He didn't seem to be until Tyler had mentioned Marco Luciano and the fact that he was the one who saved him from sudden death. Was Marco the reason Drake was acting so weird?

 

Chapter 5:

“This is your apartment?” Bridget asked as she and Marco entered his sizable Greenwich Village apartment.

Bridget couldn't believe her eyes. She'd only read about New York apartments and of course seen some of them on television and in the movies. She'd imagined his apartment a small, cramped one bedroom bachelor pad that she could barely move around in. Nope. Marco's apartment was quite large for a young man. The kitchen was to the left of the door. It had a table and chairs for two, several modern kitchen appliances, and spacious cabinets. The living room adjoined the nice-size living room adorned with a leather couch and two recliners and of course a giant entertainment center. A bay window on one side of the room had an excellent view of the city which was much appreciated by Bridget. Two bedroom doors were on each side of the entertainment center and the bathroom was next to the window. Bridget was in awe. She couldn't believe this was where she was going to be living now.

She hadn't taken Marco seriously at first. She just thought he was a meaningful fling, if such thing existed. But when he handed her that single white jasmine and made passionate love to her just a few nights ago, Bridget knew Marco was the real deal. He'd told her parents that he cared deeply for her. Then he asked her to come back with him to New York. The high school girl inside of her said she shouldn't ride off into the sunset with a guy she barely knows. But the graduate, the new more mature, more free-thinking Bridget thought: why not? Marco had been absolutely right. There was nothing of great importance left for her in Dayton but McBride Hardware. Keegan Daniels had always told her she was destined for something more. Being with Marco in New York was her something more.

“What too small?” Marco joked carrying her bags in.

She shook her head wide-eyed. “Are you kidding? I expected to see a cracker-box apartment. But this is great. And the view! It's amazing!” She felt a little childish and giddy gawking but she'd never been anywhere outside of Dayton, Ohio.

“I'm glad you like it,” he said closing the door and bringing her into his arms. “I hope you're happy here. I know this was kind of decided on a whim.”

That was an understatement. As soon as Bridget knew in her heart that moving to New York was the right thing for her to do, she went straight home to pack her things. By the time she and Marco had to leave for the airport, her parents weren't even up yet. She left them a long detailed note explaining what she had to do. She knew it was gutsy, but when it feels right...

Bridget looked up into Marco's hazel eyes. She could feel his admiration. She was almost in disbelief. She was still shocked she was here, with him, in his arms.

“It may have been in a rush, but I know it's the right thing, Marco. Thank you for bringing me here,” she said resting her hands on his shoulders as she played with the hair on the nape of his neck.

He smiled. “You're very welcome,” he responded kissing her tenderly. “Shouldn't you give your parents a call so they're not too worried? I mean, you did just up and leave with a guy they barely know.”

“Yeah. That would probably be the best thing. This isn't really my normal behavior. The worst thing I did was skip curfew once I the tenth grade.”

“Rebel!” he said jokingly, teasing her.

She playfully swatted his arm in response. He handed her the phone. She hesitantly began to dial the number. It rang and rang and rang and rang and...

“Hello?” her mother, Kelly answered in a seemingly normal tone.

“Mom?”

“Bridget? Oh my God! Are you alright, sweetie? Where are you?” her mother asked going from calm to frantic.

Bridget sighed. “I'm fine, Mom. Really. I'm in New York at Marco's apartment.”

Her mother breathed a sigh of relief into the receiver. “Oh, thank God! Bridget, why did you just run off like that? I can't believe you did this! When you get back here, the three of us are going to have a very long discussion,” Kelly said from frantic to angry.

Bridget rolled her eyes hearing what she didn't want to hear. “Mom, I'm not coming back. I said in my letter. I want to live in New York with Marco,” she said so matter-of-fact.

A long pause. “Bridget Marie McBride, you are most certainly NOT staying in New York alone with a strange man! I forbid it, Bridget! You are still a child! Your life is here! You can't just leave your home like this, Bridget. That's not how the world works. It's not all rainbows and butterflies.” Now Kelly was just being condescending acting like Bridget made a childish decision.

In Bridget's mind, her decision to move to New York was not childish. It was necessary. She wanted something more out of life. She wanted freedom and adventure. She didn't want to be stuck in Dayton for the rest of her life selling hardware to the same old do-it-themself customers. She wanted a life worth living and McBride Hardware in Dayton, Ohio wasn't a life worth living.

“No, Mom. Your life is there. I have no life there. All I have in Dayton is a legacy at the hardware store. Is that what I'm supposed to do now that I'm out of high school? I don't want that life. I want excitement. This is where I know I belong. I told you that in my letter,” Bridget replied, irritatedly.

“Bridget, you are not old enough to decide that for yourself.”

“Excuse me, I am eighteen. I'm not five anymore. Legally and mentally, I am an adult. I want my life here. With Marco. You know how important he is to me.”

“So you left for him? Bridget, I thought you were better than that!”

Bridget grunted frustratingly into the phone. “No, Mom! I left for me! I left my uneventful life for the unknown with Marco here in New York. He respects me and my wishes. He would do anything for me!” she paused to take a breath and calm herself. “Mom, I know this was more than a little rash. I know that this isn't like anything I've ever done before. And I know that you would've preferred I stay in Dayton and be Dad's apprentice at the store. I know you barely know Marco at all. I know all that, OK? But I also know that what I want is not just a want, Mom. It's a need. I need to be here. I need to experience something else. Living in New York with Marco is what I need.”

She hoped after her long diatribe her mother would come to understand or at least attempt to. She so wanted her parents' approval but she certainly wouldn't change her mind either way. It was too right.

After a long pause, Kelly finally spoke. “Bridget, I don't know what to say,” Bridget didn't respond, just held the receiver waiting for her mother's words to come. “I just wish you didn't leave this way. I feel like I'm never going to see you again.”

“Mom, I moved locations. I didn't fall off the face of the earth. I can visit. You can visit. We'll talk on the phone. We'll write. We're not going to lose all contact.”

“You'll understand when you're a mother some day: how it feels when you constantly worry about your child's well-being.”

“I know you're going to worry, but you don't have to. I'm fine. I'm happy. I'm safe. Marco lives in a nice neighborhood. He'd never let anything happen to me. I promise you,” Bridget reassured her mother glancing behind her and Marco intently watching her.

Kelly sighed. “I guess my baby girl is all grown up,” she said tearfully. “Let me talk to Marco now, Bridget.”

“OK. Um...hold on,” Bridget put her hand over the receiver, “Marco, my mom wants to talk to you,” she said worried he would refuse or something.

Marco nodded, stood up and calmly took the phone from her hand. It was quite admirable to agree to speak with her mother. It was very adult of him. Keegan would've made every excuse in the book. Of course, Keegan would've never whisked her off to another state.

“Mrs. McBride?”

“Hello, Marco. I have a few things to say to you,” Kelly said back to an angry voice.

“Of course. I completely understand.”

Not only was his tone and understanding puzzling to Bridget, but it was puzzling to Kelly too. She was speaking to the man who essentially took her only daughter away from her. It was hard to be mad at him when he was being so considerate of a mother's heart.

“Glad to hear it. Seeing as I don't see how I could ever get my Bridget back home where I think she belongs, Marco Luciano you are going to have to make some serious promises to me,” she demanded waiting for an agreement before she continued.

“Absolutely. Your daughter is in a new city, a quite large one at that.”

Not quite the answer she had expected from a hot-blooded male. She wanted to think he wasn't being sincere, but she knew that he was being completely sincere.

“Very good. Listen carefully, Mr. Luciano. I want you to swear on your brother's grave that you will never EVER let anything happen to my daughter, that you will protect and care for her with your life, that you will not let her alone for one second and you have to promise beyond anything else that you will NEVER break her heart or I will I have your head.”

Marco listened intently to Kelly's demands. They were valid ones. They were promises he knew he could keep beyond the shadow of a doubt. Without hesitation, or second thought he replied: “I swear to you that I will never let anything happen to her. I would jump in front of a bus for her. And I assure you, Mrs. McBride, I could never in my worst moment, ever think about breaking Bridget's heart. You have to understand that she means the world to me.”

All the words a mother ever wanted to hear. All the words that men usually tell their girlfriends' mothers to keep them at ease. All the words that Marco said were 100% authentic. He meant every single word he promised to Kelly McBride.

“I truly mean it,” he repeated trying to assure her his good intentions.

“I'm glad. Put my daughter back on please. And remember, I will hold you to those promises til the day I die!” she said once again.

Marco handed the phone back to Bridget with a reassuring smile noticing her worried blue eyes. “Mom?”

“Hi, Bridget.” Her mom sounded almost relieved. Had talking to Marco Luciano really done some good?

“So? Are you going to be OK with me living here?” Bridget asked eagerly waiting for a response.

After a sigh Kelly finally said, “Marco seems to be genuine. I understand your need to be free. I'm not going to lie. It's going to take some getting used to. I don't like it right now. But knowing that you're safe and happy is what's most important to me. My gut feeling says I can trust Marco will take care of you in New York.”

“He will! Mom, I know he will. He cares for me. I know it's been just a week but we care for each other deeply.”

Kelly smiled, a tear dripped from her eye. “I know, sweetie. And I am so happy for you. You've had a long day. Get some rest. I love you, Bridget. Take care.”

“I love you too, Mom. Thank you for being my mom,” Bridget said tearing up herself.

“You're very welcome. Bye, Bridget.”

“Talk to you soon, Mom. I promise,” Bridget said before hanging up the phone. She paused to compose herself and take in the whole conversation. She couldn't believe it. She was here with Marco and her parents – or at least her mom – wasn't going to put up a fight. Marco had promised her mom that he would be there for her always and she knew he meant every word.

She turned to him smiling. “Thank you, Marco. You put my mom at ease,” she said wrapping her arms around his neck, looking up at him with admiration.

He smiled in return, “Well, I would be a nervous wreck too. You're a beautiful person. It be hard to live without you.” Even though it could have been heard as a joking cliché, Bridget knew he spoke the God's honest truth.

 

It had been three weeks since their first encounter at Dino's. Most couples would've just started to get serious about each other after three weeks. Marco and Bridget were way passed that, considering they were already living together. Bridget spent her first week in New York getting acclimated with Marco's neighborhood and the shops and places in it. He took her site-seeing at the end of the first week to get to know her new city. She enjoyed holding hands with Marco in Central Park, taking a ferry ride around the Statue of Liberty, seeing the views from the top of the Empire State Building. In two weeks of living in New York, she was already thoroughly delighted with her life.

Bridget awoke to the sound of male voices coming from the kitchen. She was coming out of a deep sleep so it took her a while to find her bearings. She blinked several times glancing around the room. Marco wasn't in bed. His side was empty. She looked toward the door. As she hopped out of bed she heard the shattering of glass. Afraid, she put her ear to the door to listen to the conversation going on in the kitchen. One voice was Marco's. Another she'd never heard before. It sounded like an older man. She couldn't be sure. But they were definitely arguing.

“Marco, I thought I'd made it very clear that you were to deal with Malazzo in Dayton and come straight back to New York, not harm no foul, as long as Malazzo paid up. I didn't mention anything about bringing home random girls you meet in bars,” the older voice said.

“Sure, Dad. You can break my glasses. That's totally fine,” Marco said with extreme sarcasm to cover up his obvious anger. So Marco's dad was here. She was a little excited to meet Marco's father but it also unnerved her in hearing this argument.

“It was the only way to get your attention, son. This is serious.”

“Of course it is. It always is serious with you, Dad,” she could feel Marco rolling his eyes. She'd gotten to know him that well these past few weeks.

“Marco, I'm a businessman. How do you think it'll look if my associates find out that my son married an Irish girl outside of la famiglia? Huh?” Marco's dad asked confusing Bridget. Famiglia? Family? She didn't understand.

“Under normal circumstances, I would say that your associates would be happy. But nothing with you is ever normal, Dad. So what if I didn't marry a daughter of one of your enforcers? So what if I brought an Irish girl from Ohio to live with me? I am crazy about her, I'll have you know,” Marco said clearly trying to reason with his father.

“She's not one of us. That's why it's serious, Marco. You married outside the mafiosi. Think of how Bianca Tucci will feel.”

“Bianca? That's who you wanted me to be with? Bernie Tucci's daughter?”

“I still want you to be with her. Now Bianca is one of us. She's apart of the mafiosi famiglia.”

Bridget stood by the door rapidly trying to take the father-son conversation in. Marco's dad was not happy with her being her. He was not happy with the fact that she is not a local girl and that she's Irish. His father was a businessman with a reputation. He had associates and enforcers. Marco's dad was the mafia. The famiglia was his inner circle. Marco was the son of the mob! She gasped, hoping neither of them heard her. She sunk down on the floor, pulled her knees to her chest and rested her back against the door. It must have been open just a crack because it slammed shut. She was sure Marco and his father had clearly heard that.

Marco panicked at the sound of his bedroom door shutting. He knew now, Bridget had most likely heard his most, if not all of his talk with his dad, the elusive Franco Luciano, head of the Gezano Crime Family or il mafiosi famiglia to most Italians. He was sure she was scared and confused. He had to get to her now, but not while his father was still here. He turned to his dad.

“You have to leave now. I have to talk to Bridget,” he said as more of a command than anything else.

“I don't have to do anything. You have to get her out of your life and now.”

“No, Dad. I don't. I'll do your dirty work from time to time but I will not be forced to love someone I don't. This conversation was over before it even started. Please leave.”

“What did you say?” Franco was dumbfounded. Had his son just confessed his love for the Irish girl?

“I said get out,” Marco responded physically urging his dad out the door. He had to get to Bridget immediately. Franco left with little fight. He'd finish with his son later. He still had other business to deal with. He was after all the leader of the mafiosi famiglia.

Marco shut and locked the front door, chaining it as well so his father wouldn't bother him anymore. He made a beeline for his bedroom. He opened the door scanning the room for Bridget. She sat on the bed staring at the floor in disbelief. His hunch was right. She had heard about what his father really does and the real reason he was in Dayton.

“Bridget, are you ok?” he asked edging closer to her.

She put her hand up. “You're...you're a career criminal?” Bridget asked stunned to have discovered all this new information about Marco. She'd thought in the last three weeks she'd known him inside out. Now she felt like she didn't know him at all.

Marco closed his eyes dreading this very moment. He knew once he'd brought her to New York and made her apart of his life he'd have to tell her the truth about his family business. He knew he had to be honest with her. He loved her. He loved Bridget. The woman he loved so very much would soon know his dangerous secret life. The thought of not telling her before now, before she'd left her home and her family to be with him, shamed him.

“Bridget, remember when I said I was in Dayton on business? I was really vague and secretive?” she nodded. “I didn't think I was going to immediately fall for you, have these feelings for you, ask you to come live with me in New York. That's why I couldn't tell you. I couldn't tell you who I really was. I hate it,” he explained very ashamed and apologetically, stressing his rosy embarrassed complexion.

“Well, Marco, who are you? I'm beginning to wonder if I know you at all. I might just regret ever leaving Dayton in the first place. My God, Marco, I gave up everything for you and you can't even tell me the truth?”

He cut her off before she could finish to give her what she wanted...the truth. He owed her that much if not more for what she'd sacrificed. “You're right. I was stupid. I get that you're upset. My lifestyle scares you, maybe? I know you know...I'm a mafia prince, as cliché as that sounds. Franco Luciano is my father. He is the head of the Gezano Crime Family or il mafiosi famiglia. I was in Dayton with my brothers and a few other guys to get some money owed to my dad. This is not something I do by choice. I was born into this mess,” he finished. It was out. He told her. Now she knew the whole truth. He didn't know if she'd want to continue staying here with him after his revelation.

Her eyes became large aqua rings shocked to the core. “What? Oh. My. God. I left with the son of a mafia king? Oh dear God!” She was a tad bit hysterical.

“I know,” he said fully expecting her to freak out. “If you wanna go back to Dayton, I don't blame you. I wouldn't want to get mixed up in this dangerous mob life. I unfortunately have no choice in the matter. I risked your life asking you to come with me,” he said knowing she would leave. He knew she was too good a person to settle for a mafia prince.

Bridget's facial expression changed. Her breathing became more relaxed. “You want me to leave?” She asked calmly.

His eyes grew wide. “No! No! I don't want you to leave at all. I love you.” He didn't realized what he'd said until he said it. Her concerned and worried face met his hazel-eyed gaze. She was relieved. She touched his cheek pulling him a tad bit closer. In a moment her lips grazed his in a soft kiss.

“You wanna stay?” he asked hoping for a yes not at all knowing the answer. His hand clasped hers squeezing it with affection.

“You automatically assume I wanna go? I don't.” She looked down at her feet sliding her arms around his neck, touching her forehead to his. “I just want you to be honest. I'm not totally sure why you didn't just tell me. But I get why you did what you did,” she made a sigh of relief nervously chuckling, “I feel so attached to you, so connected. Marco, I've fallen so hard for you in just three weeks.”

Her admission of love for this man excited her and frightened her at the same time. She pulled herself closer to him his face almost in her bosom. Their connection was not just physical. It was a strong emotional attachment. Marco was relieved that she felt it too.

“A good Irish girl falling for the son of the mob?” he asked jokingly almost in disbelief.

She grinned with glee. “Yeah. Yeah. I guess so. Oh my gosh! I'm in love with a mafia prince!”

His hands slid across her backside gently lifting her up, their heated bodies touching at every part.

“You're in love?” he whispered barely audibly in her ear thrilled that she loved him too.

She smiled against his lips. “Oh. Yes.” She started to kiss him but paused. “You know, every girl dreams of her Prince Charming. You're just a different kinda prince,” she laughed. He enjoyed being referred to as her Prince Charming.

At first she gave him a sweet short soft kiss but their mutual passion for each other was too strong to end this with a short kiss. Their lips met again passionately holding each other still. Marco clung her to him elated that she didn't run away after he revealed his true self to her. Marco held her to him smothering her with heated kisses.

Right then he realized Bridget McBride was the best thing that happened to him. He knew he was the luckiest man in the world to be holding her in his arms. At twenty-one years of age, Marco Luciano had found his true love and soul mate. The bubbly Irish blond with an innocent smile and soft gentle hands had turned his world upside down. He never wanted to be without her. Suddenly, he silently praised God that he let his father talk him into running that errand to Dayton. If he never went on that trip he would've been deprived of Bridget McBride.

“God, I love you, Bridget,” he whispered, “I love you so much.” He held her close taking all of her in. He could feel her smiling against his lips.

“You might have to show me,” she smiled wryly as he picked her up and tossed her on their bed. Once again they made love intensely, willfully with ultimate passion. Once sated, the fell asleep in each others' arms, savoring the feel of one another.

 

Franco Luciano was not happy. He felt almost betrayed by his own son. Gregorio would never have disobeyed his wishes like Marco had. Greg would've done anything for la famiglia. Ever since Greg's accident, Franco had relied on Marco to fulfill the duties of the oldest son. He'd hoped Marco would be ready and willing to be his right hand man in dealing with his associates. But Marco was not only hesitant but could be downright defiant. Franco was growing frustrated with Marco's rebelliousness and disobedience.

Franco had just left Marco's apartment bound for his youngest son Antonio's lodgings. Antonio was like Gregorio. He respected his fathers wishes without question. He wanted to live the life within la famiglia. This only gave Franco some solace as he knocked on his youngest son's door.

“Hey, Pop. What's goin' on?” Antonio asked as he opened the door. He knew that if his father paid him a personal visit during the day, he wasn't bearing good news.

“Did I ever tell you that you're my favorite son?” Franco replied leisurely walking into Antonio's apartment.

Oh boy, Antonio thought. He knew when his father was angry at Marco. This was one of those times. His father's eyes were distant with thought. He was gesticulating more than normal. And he had referred to Antonio as his favorite son, which didn't happen until after Gregorio's accident. Antonio had an inkling that his father was angry with Marco about bringing Bridget to New York. The Gezano guidelines are set from birth. Marco's future was already set for him before he was born. Bianca Tucci was hand chosen by Franco to be his daughter-in-law. Antonio knew his older brother very well. He knew that Marco had no intention of settling down with Bianca Tucci. He also knew that Marco had very strong feelings for Bridget. He was highly unlikely to give her up anytime soon, or ever for that matter.

“So I'm guessing you spoke to Marco,” Antonio said presuming the correct.

Franco nodded pursing his lips to keep from swearing. “What is your brother thinking? An Irish girl? How can he possibly love someone like her!” Franco shouted.

Antonio did a double take. “What? He's in love with her?” Antonio wasn't exactly shocked. He knew how his brother felt about her. He just wasn't expecting Marco to confess his love.

“Yeah. He told me when I visited him this morning. He said he wanted no part of the plan I set out for him. He didn't think it was damaging to my reputation that he is in a serious relationship with someone outside la famiglia.” Oh yeah, Antonio thought, he'd ticked off.

“Dad, I know you're upset, but -”

“Upset? Upset doesn't even cover it, Antonio!” Franco shouted cutting his son off.

“What if Marco is really happy with her? Doesn't that count for anything?” Antonio said trying to reason with him.

“Not in my line of work. What if Tucci finds out? He'd never trust me again. He'd make sure I was ruined.”

Antonio wanted to tell his father that not everything revolved around the Gezano Mafiosi but he thought better of it. “It's not the end of the world, Dad.”

Franco rolled his eyes. “I know that, son. I just wish Marco realized the importance of il mafiosi life. This Bridget girl is blinding him from it.”

Uh oh, Antonio thought. Franco was on the verge of holding the world's largest grudge. Antonio knew that if Franco began to blame Bridget for Marco disobeying the Gezano guidelines, it could be dangerous. That's what got his brother Gregorio killed. Greg decided to get a normal job to throw curious people off track; to make them think he was just a normal teenager. His job started to take up the majority of his time and he had difficulty completing Franco's tasks. Franco set up a hit on Gregorio's boss but Greg got caught in the crossfire trying to save his boss from a bullet. Greg's boss is still living while Greg spends eternity six feet under. Antonio couldn't let that happen to his only living brother.

 

Chapter 4:

 

Chessa turned out to be a very friendly neighbor/realtor. She stopped by the next day to make sure we had settled in nicely. We were on the porch chatting about nothing in particular when a black SUV pulled into the driveway across the street. Chessa's gaze immediately went to the three strangers exiting the vehicle.

“Sabina, have you met Marco and Keegan yet? They moved in a week before you did,” she asked.

I shook my head as she led me to the sidewalk calling over to this Marco and Keegan I apparently hadn't met. She said Marco was some businessman from New York. I'm sure I'd heard that name before. She also said that Keegan was his friend from Ohio.

“Marco Luciano, Keegan Daniels meet our new neighbor, Sabina West. Sabina, this is Marco Luciano and Keegan Daniels,” Chessa said making the introductions.

I shook Keegan's hand first. He had brown eyes and golden brown lightly spiked hair. He politely smiled my way. I knew that smile from somewhere. It was stuck in my brain like a memory from a dream. I couldn't quite place him but I knew Keegan Daniels' smile. It made no sense. He was from Ohio. To my knowledge, I had never been there.

I'd heard the name Marco Luciano before in the papers. He was said to be a generous philanthropist and respectable businessman. Some thought he was hiding behind that facade to live a mafia style life. To me, Marco Luciano didn't look like the head of organized crime. He was polished, refined with a golden luster about him. His hazel eyes were mesmerizing. His hair was a tousled brown. When I extended my hand to his, his touch made my heart leap. It was almost as if he knew me. He felt so unbelievably familiar. His eyes glared at me in recognition. But I was sure we'd never met before.

“Nice to meet you Mrs. West,” Keegan said politely. “What brings you to suburbia?”

“My husband wanted to get out of the city. He transferred to the hospital here. He's a neurologist.”

“Really?” Keegan replied acting puzzled and skeptical, yet at the same time his eyes seemed to already know my response. “How long have you two been married?”

I froze. It was already the second day in our new neighborhood and already someone was asking questions I couldn't answer with certainty. I furrowed my brow in nervousness. How was I to answer this question?

“Something wrong?” Marco spoke up noticing my anxiety.

“No. Um. We've been together, uh, twelve years...I think,” I skittishly replied worried about their reaction.

“You think?You mean you don't know?” Chessa exclaimed utterly shocked. “Every woman knows those details.”

I just wanted to get the awkward part over with. I wish I could have just ran in the opposite direction. “Well, I guess right after we got married, I got in a biking accident. I had massive head trauma. I don't really remember those details.”

Chessa's dark eyes were in shock as she gasped at my admission. Marco and Keegan looked the opposite, almost as if they already knew about my head injury and my memory loss. I made eye contact with Marco. His gaze was almost terrifying, in a good way. He had a godlike glow around his complexion. Why did he seem so familiar?

“Marco!” a deep voice sounded. A younger, shorter, sportier version of Marco hollered from their front yard. I knew there had been another person in the car when they pulled up. He wandered over to where we were all talking. He looked at me, looked at Keegan, then looked at Marco in confusion.

“Sabina West, this is my younger brother, Antonio. Antonio, this is Sabina West. She and her husband just moved to Valley View,” Marco said not taking his eyes off me which made me even more nervous.

Antonio hesitated before shaking my hand. He looked to Keegan and Marco again skeptically. I got was getting more and more uneasy with this introduction. I looked down at my feet. I brushed my hair behind my neck with my fingers.

“Suburban housewife's got a tat? That's interesting,” Antonio said noticing my blue outlined star tattoo on my neck.

Marco muttered something under his breath at his brother. He turned his head slightly. That's when I saw it. He had the exact same tattoo in the same spot. My heart skipped a beat. He had the same tattoo! Why? Coincidence. It had to be coincidence. Drake had always said I got it on accident when I was eighteen. It was on a dare or something after I graduated from high school. But looking at Marco, sporting the same tattoo, it didn't add up.

“Hey, you guys have the same tattoo,” Chessa said observing the same thing that I was.

“Yeah, you two do. That's an interesting coincidence,” Antonio said stressing the word 'interesting' again. He was staring down his brother knowingly. Again Marco muttered something under his breath for only Antonio's ears.

“Just a minor coincidence. I got mine when I got married,” Marco replied putting aside whatever Antonio was thinking.

A pang of jealousy shot through me the second he said 'married'. “You're married? Does your wife live here too?” I asked. As I finished asking the question Chessa was motioning me to not ask about his marriage in the first place.

“No, Chessa, really. It's ok. Sabina, I'm actually a widower. My wife disappeared, presumed dead about twelve years ago. She was only twenty-years-old. We got the star tattoos on our wedding night because we spent our first date gazing at the stars,” Marco replied. Suddenly a flash of the night sky and Marco Luciano ran through my brain. I'm sure I was just imagining what his first date was like. I had to be.

“Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know,” I responded because I didn't know what else to say.

He just shrugged his shoulders. Why did he seem so familiar to me?

Honk, honk.

Drake was pulling in the driveway.

“It was nice meeting you all. I'm sure I'll see you around,” I said waving goodbye to Marco, Keegan and Antonio. “See ya, Chessa.”

I greeted Drake just as he stepped out of the car.

“Hello, beautiful,” he said immediately giving me a kiss on the cheek.

Suddenly, I was extremely glad that he was home. My encounter with Marco Luciano had me on edge. I felt alone and apprehensive and a little scared. Until I met Marco, Keegan and Antonio, none of my new neighbors had asked the awkward questions. Something about the tree of them brought an unknown feeling in me. It was almost like they knew exactly what questions to ask to get me to squirm. They knew the answers I didn't. Or that was what I thought. But that couldn't be. Drake never mentioned anything about a potential mafia enforcer, his friend from Ohio and his little brother in my past.

“Hey, Drake. How was your first day at the hospital?” I asked kissing his cheek in return.

“Excellent. And here is your housewarming gift from me to you,” he replied handing me a bouquet of the usual yellow roses. I smiled taking in their scent. “I think we'll be happy here, Sabby. I can feel it,” he said as he put his arm around me and we made our way to the front door.

As we walked by, I noticed Chessa had gone back to her house but Marco, Keegan and Antonio still stood there watching me intently with knowing looks on their faces. Keegan waved and he and Antonio began to saunter back to their house. But Marco lingered never taking his eyes off me. I felt a twinge of fear. What was it about this guy that made me tingle?

Roses in hand, I followed my husband inside. I thought over my first confrontation with Marco. I looked at the bouquet of roses and grazed my hand over my tattoo again. I had a strange feeling about my tattoo.

“Drake, can I ask you something?”

“Always. Is something wrong?” he responded very concerned.

I looked into the bouquet of flowers as I spoke wondering why I didn't like them as much as I thought I should. “How did I get this tattoo?”

He paused. He looked puzzled. “Why do you ask? I've told you about your tattoo before,” he said averting his gaze.

“I met someone today who had the exact same tattoo. In the same spot and everything. It was just very odd. I was just curious if there was anything you may have forgotten about it,” I explained sensing he wasn't telling me everything.

He shook his head. “You got your tattoo on a dare when you were seventeen. Your parents didn't know about it until it was too late. End of story.” He must have noticed the look on my face. I was less than convinced. Almost let down. “May I ask who has the same star tattoo?”

I breathed in a deep breath for no particular reason. “His name's Marco. He lives across the street with his brother and his friend Keegan.” The minute I spoke, silence covered the room. All I could hear was the noises from outside: birds, leaves, cars, etc.

Drake tensed up, swallowing hard.

“Interesting. Funny world isn't it, Sabina?” he said instantly changing his mood and expression. That confused me. “So, Sabina. How do you like your flowers? Aren't they beautiful?”

It took me longer than expected to respond. I was still taking in Drake's peculiar mood change. It was puzzling. I shrugged, smiled and nodded. It seemed like a routine I did after he gave me yellow roses.

 

On my twenty-first birthday Drake asked me what flowers I wanted. I had to say, “You tell me.” I honestly didn't know what my favorite flower could possibly be. When he told me I always preferred yellow roses, something didn't quite add up. Even when he got me yellow roses, I almost got disappointed. They clearly weren't the flowers I really liked but I had a severe case of 'cat got your tongue.' But when I was pregnant with my second child, I woke up one morning and discovered a beautifully arranged vase of jasmine. That got me excited and utterly thrilled.

When I picked them up and took in their individual scent, I felt a surge of remembrance pass through me. When I closed my eyes, I saw a dark tan figure in my mind. Something told me, jasmine were a part of my mysterious identity. The card read, 'I'll love you forever, M.' To my knowledge, I hadn't known any 'M.' And Drake had always made it seem as if he was the only real love in my life. Regardless of what Drake told me, the jasmine that I received that day triggered something that was lost but had yet to be found. I went into labor just short of five hours after getting the flowers. I had a girl. I named her Jasmine.

 

Chapter 3:

 

Marco Luciano stood on Bridget McBride's doorstep with a bad case of the jitters. This was his last night in Ohio. Bridget invited him to her house for dinner with her parents. His heart was beating so fast he thought it would beat right out of his chest. He was so nervous about tonight. He wanted to make a good impression on Bridget's parents.

Marco came to Dayton with the express purpose of tying up loose ends in a business deal for his dad. He didn't expect to meet the most beautiful creature he'd ever seen. This past week with Bridget McBride had been like a dream. Everyday they spent together getting to know each other more and more. Every moment he was without her, Bridget would not leave his mind. He thought about her constantly.

In just a week Marco Luciano and become so connected to Bridget he was beginning to think she was the one. From the moment he laid eyes on her at Dino's his first night in town, her image seared his brain night and day. Her golden locks, her bright blue eyes, her sweet smile, the curve of her lips.

As the door opened, Marco mentally shook himself back to reality. Bridget stood in front of him in a sleeveless baby blue sundress with an ear-to-ear grin on her face. This is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen, Marco thought to himself as he handed her a bouquet of jasmine, her favorite flower.

“Hey! Marco! Thanks for the flowers. Come in. Come in. Dinner's almost ready,” Bridget cheerfully greeted her boyfriend of just a week.

Bridget took his arm and led him into the living room. Marco was too busy looking at her beauty to notice anything, let alone her father, Joe, sitting in a winged-backed chair eying him with extreme curiosity. He didn't have time to say anything to Bridget before her father stepped in.

“So this is the guy my daughter can't stop talking about, huh?” Joe said standing up extending his hand to Marco's.

“Yes! Daddy this is Marco Luciano.”

“Mr. McBride. It's a pleasure to meet you,” Marco said shaking Joe's hand with his nervous clammy hand.

“Uh huh,” Joe responded taking a seat in his chair again giving Marco a once over. “Please, have a seat.”

Marco obliged sitting down across from Joe on a sofa. Bridget, eager to be close to him, sat herself right up next to him sliding her hand under his arm and lacing her fingers with his. Joe's eyes grew wider as he noticed the affection his daughter showed. At Joe's expression, Marco became even more tense. He felt like he wasn't making the best impression already.

“So, Marco. What brings you to Dayton?” Joe asked quizzically.

“Um. My dad asked me and my brother Antonio to check up on one of his clients for him. He runs an import/export business back in New York,” Marco replied feeling like he was choking on his words trying to conceal his father's real occupation.

No emotion or expression was conveyed on Joe's face as he listened to Marco. It worried him. “Uh huh. Uh huh. So what's your family like? Do you have any siblings besides your brother Antonio, was it?”

Family seemed like a safe enough subject, Marco thought. “Yes actually. I have two sisters, Isabella and Gia. I had an older brother Gregorio but he died a few years ago. Car accident.”

“I'm sorry, Marco. You didn't mention that,” Bridget said gently rubbing his hand with her thumb.

“It was a long time ago.”

“What about your parents? You said your dad runs import/export? What about your mom?” Joe asked wanting to know everything.

“She's just a regular housewife. An amazing cook though. I keep telling her to open up a restaurant or write a cookbook or something,” Marco said letting his guard down a little; relaxing.

Joe still didn't look convinced that Marco was a good guy. Good enough for his daughter anyway. He decided to just jump into the tough questions.

“And how do you feel about my daughter, Marco?”

His relaxation was short-lived for Marco tensed up again. This was the question he'd been apprehensive about. He didn't know quite how to answer this question without having told Bridget first.

“Daddy, at least wait until I leave the room before you start that talk,” Bridget said as she started to get up.

Marco stopped her. “No, Bridget. Please. I want you to hear this,” Marco said taking her hand in his.

“Mr. McBride, I may have just met Bridget but I feel like I've known her forever. She and I have a deep connection that was immediate from the first night we met. I haven't had much luck in the relationship department but I have strong feelings for your daughter. Very strong feelings. She means a lot to me.” Marco breathed a sigh of relief after having professed his adoration for Bridget to her and her father. He felt confident that he was now in Joe McBride's good graces.

Joe grinned. “Well, Marco. It seems you have passed the test. Congratulations.”

He smiled and turned to Bridget giving her a peck on the cheek. She blushed with a permanent smile.

“I said I approve, Marco. That doesn't mean I have to see the PDA,” Joe joked as he led his daughter and her new boyfriend into the kitchen for dinner.

 

She knocked on Room 712's door eagerly awaiting an answer clad in her purple lace lingerie she'd cleverly hidden underneath a dark gray trench coat. It was Marco's last night in Dayton. Dinner at her house had been perfect. Her parents had welcomed Marco. They seemed to get along really well with him. When he left she felt heartbroken. She'd introduced him to her family but she didn't get any alone time with him. After her parents departed to their room, Bridget sneaked out through her bedroom window. She had to see Marco again. She had to make tonight count.

She wanted to make him remember her fro the rest of his life. This was the most brazen thing she'd ever done. The door opened. Her glowing Adonis was standing in nothing but a towel, his body covered in moisture from the shower steam. His skin looked like silk. She would miss his golden skin when he left for New York.

“Hey, Bridget. This is a nice surprise,” he said smiling enthused that she was there.

“Hi,” she completely forgot her words and the whole reason she'd come here.

“I'm glad you're here. I got something for you,” he said motioning her to enter as he walked to the desk. “I was gonna give you this tomorrow before I leave, but now that you're here...”

He handed her a delicate white jasmine. She could smell it from where she stood by the door some two feet away. She crept closer to him in awe of his gesture. Again, she was speechless.

“A single white jasmine?”

“Yeah. I know they're your favorite. I'm going to send you one every day that I'm not with you,” he said sliding his arms around her waist smiling with pride.

She felt like crying. She had thought their feelings toward each other were just apart of a lusty fling. She now discovered that Marco was much more to her. He was much more than charm, sweet talk and a high functioning libido. He was attentive. He was caring. He was romantic; the perfect package.

“Oh, wow. Marco, you are...this is so sweet,” the words she wanted to say weren't easy to say. “I'm really gonna miss you,” she replied, her voice cracking in emotion. Her head bowed in embarrassment trying to hide her tears.

He put her chin between his forefinger and his thumb. Her eyes met his lively hazel gems. “Hey, don't cry. We still have tonight. Why don't we make it last?” His last sentence was something of a whisper before his lips found their way to the spot on her neck that made her quiver with desire. In the heat of the moment, she stopped him before he got too far. She began unbuttoning her coat. As she untied the belt, she didn't take her eyes of him as she revealed her lacy surprise.

In all her life Bridget McBride had never done anything like this. When she and Keegan had dated a big, she was afraid to do anything this intimate. Yet here she was with a mysterious out-of-towner who she barely had known more than a week. As her coat dropped to the floor, she stood in fancy, lacy underwear wanting nothing more than to devour this man. Marco Luciano made her feel like a different person, yet she still felt like herself.

“Wow, you are so God damn beautiful,” he said interrupting her thoughts, gazing at her barely clad body.

“Bon voyage,” she replied seductively reaching out for him as he lifted her up and her legs wrapped around his muscled body.

Their lips met in a passionate, heated embrace. His smooth hands ran all over her body before he playfully tossed her on the bed. She caught herself on her elbows impatiently waiting for Marco to join her. In one fluid motion he removed his loose white towel from around his waist. He was even more godlike in his natural gorgeous state than their first together.

His hands grabbed one of her feet to leisurely remove her black strappy heelts. Bridget was going insane waiting for him to finish removing her footwear. She bit her lip in anxious anticipation almost screaming out in a hurried plea. Within seconds he crawled onto the bed covering her with his nakedness. She could feel his throbbing manhood at the base of her abdomen. They were so unbelievably hot for each other.

His burning lips crashed upon her in utter abandon. She could feel his fingertips grazing every inch of her body. His thumb was kneading her breasts, her nipples hardening in pleasure. She made a quiet moan enjoying his gifted hands. She could feel him smiling against her lips as he enjoyed the reaction to his touch. His wandering hands slid down her body slipping off her purple lacy undergarments inch by inch, piece by piece, arousing her with his fingertips. She arched her back to bring her body to his.

She engulfed him inside her welcoming passage, relishing in the feeling of him. Marco breathlessly murmured her name under his breath as he thrust himself in her. He was fully inside her pleasuring her, making them one with each other. His lips smothered her neck with kisses, tingling her senses. She felt pure ecstasy and passion. She couldn't believe what Marco had made her feel in such a short amount of time. She was twelve feet in the air floating on a cloud. She never wanted to come back down to earth. She wanted to be with Marco in this place forever.

Marco rolled over placing her on top. His hands clasped her hips. She understood his wordless suggestion. Her hips ground wantonly into his body sending him soaring. He made a sound, enjoying that little maneuver. Her luscious body led him to the peak of pleasure. He wasn't sure he wanted their joining to be over.

Their bodies continued to mold and move together in erotic, sensual passion. Marco thrust his hips upward sending her into a whirlwind of wild abandon. He made her feel more than satisfied. He knew his way around a bedroom. He was the master at giving Bridget everything she ever wanted. Her mind was racing in all the feelings he set afire in her. She shivered in excitement. Her body collapsed onto his heavily breathing into the crook of his neck, kissing him.

He made a sated, more than satisfied sigh lacing his fingers in her hands. She heard him breathe in the flowery smell of her long blond locks. She made a trail of kisses from his shoulder up to his neck, his jaw all the way up the side of his face. His skin was golden and silky smooth. The sound of his breathless chuckle was divine music to her ears. When her lips met his ear in dawned on her that she would never get this exceedingly passionate lovemaking from anyone else. The thought of him leaving for New York in the morning made her sad. In the emotional state she was in, after such an erotic moment with him, she began to tear up a bit. He heard her began to quietly whimper on his shoulder. He lifted her to his side. He leaned on his elbow to gaze down on her as she literally cried on his shoulder.

“Come on, Bridge. I'm not that bad am I?” he lightly asked.

“No. You're not bad. You are far from bad in bed,” she said as she made circles on his bicep with her middle finger

“Why are you crying, babe?” he asked as he brushed the tangled curls out of her face.

She looked up into his eyes and imagined what this past week would have been like if she had never laid eyes on Marco Luciano. Her heart cringed at the thought of never seeing him. It hurt so much that she would most likely never see her beautiful Italian Adonis. She put her hands on his cheeks, cupping his face. She brought his lips to hers savoring the precious taste of him.

“Don't go, Marco,” she whispered, “I'm not ready for you to leave yet. I don't know if I'll ever be ready.”

He sighed as if knowing that she would say that.

She sat up putting her head in her hands, “Marco, this has been the most amazing week. I just...I don't want it to end.”

He sat up as well, putting his arm around her shoulder, kissing her temple. “I know what you mean.” An idea suddenly popped in his head. “What if...”

“What if what?”

“What if you come with me to New York?”

She was stunned at his offer. “Me? Go to New York with you? Marco we've known each other for a week!”

“I know, I know. But think about it. We haven't stopped thinking about each other since we first made eye contact at Dino's. You said yourself you have nothing waiting for you here except McBride Hardware,” there was so much truth in his words. His offer was appealing immediately.

“Yeah, but, Marco...”

“And you'll love the city. There's more opportunities for you in New York than at home in Dayton. And you'd be with me.”

 

Chapter 2:

I could feel the our new neighbors peeking out their windows to get a good look at the new family on the block. I could just imagine their thoughts. “Oh, she is far too young to be the mother of three!” or, “He's too handsome to be with her!” or even worse, “I wonder what their story is?” That last one, believe me, I know people are going to think regardless if they ask or not.

The truth was, even after twelve years I was still recuperating from my injury. I was always self-conscious about the scar it left on my face. I was always nervous when people would ask me how Drake and I met. I didn't know. Well, Drake eventually told me, but I couldn't ever remember it. The simple questions my new neighbors would ask might not be the easiest for me to answer. Where are you from? What do you like to do for fun? What year did you graduate high school? Do you have any siblings? What's your favorite food? Any of those questions I'd be hesitant to answer without glancing at Drake for the answer to the question like I had forgotten my line in a play and he was the director.

Our new home was nice size for a family of five with three kids under the age of twelve. Tyler was excited about the spacious front yard, big enough to play a decent game of soccer. He loved soccer. Nine-year-old Jasmine and my youngest Ashlyn, who's four, were glad to hear that the house had a finished basement with an entire room dedicated to Barbie and her crew. It had a gigantic front porch good for morning relaxation with the paper and a cup of hot coffee.

And I was actually completely wrong about our neighbors. Our realtor, Chessa Jonston came by after we'd gotten most everything out of the back of the U-haul. “Welcome to Valley View, guys,” she cheerfully said. Chessa had dark raven hair with matching round eyes. She was a burnt orange color with very accentuating curves. She looked very fashion forward. She wasn't model skinny but she wasn't fat either. She had the personality to go perfectly with it to.

Her husband, Braden was the neighborhood lawyer. He came from old money in Boston and disobeying his parents' wishes, he moved out to California for college and married a middle-class girl that he met in the Quad at USC. After their wedding they moved back East to be close to his family. They lived in a two story rose colored house with a wrap-around porch.

They lived next door to Nate Vaughan, a widowed banker with a sixteen year old daughter. Chessa says, since his wife died, his daughter Lynley has been the victim of his grief. His wife was killed by a drunk driver, apparently and he is very protective of Lynley. According to Chessa, he recently found out that she was seeing Rey Louden, her neighbor who lives across the street from them. He's eighteen. Nate's forbidden Lynley from any contact with Rey. Rey's mother, Marin, is also a widowed spouse. She's a teacher at the elementary school. Chessa says she can help get Tyler, Jasmine and Ashlyn set up when school starts next week.

My next door neighbors were the turbulent Mariners. Daphne Mariner, a fiery red-head with a temper, was also a doctor. Daphne fought like hell to earn the title number one doc on the block. Much to her husband's jealousy, Daphne maintains her top spot successfully. Her husband, Dane Mariner is a high-class-trained culinary artist from Seattle. He apparently used to be the head chef at some fancy restaurant in the city before another upscale Japanese cuisine opened up down the street. The fancy chef lost his job and had to settle for sou chef at an Italian restaurant in a strip mall. According to Chessa, they fight like cats and dogs over everything, money, jobs, cars, the weather outside.

Marin swears that the two were arguing over how high over eighty it was during the summer time. And their neighbor on the other side of them, Ana Biegn, says she frequently hears them fight about nothing. Ana is an old timer on this block, Chessa claims. She's been here since it was built in the eighties. She's like everyone's mother in the neighborhood.

On my first full day as a resident of Valley View, Chessa invited me to coffee with her, Marin, Daphne and Ana. I was intrigued by Chessa's stories and couldn't wait to see them in the flesh. It sounded like I had some pretty interesting neighbors, making my life here seem all the more worth while.

“Daphne, Ana, Marin, this is our new neighbor, Sabina West from the city. She and her husband moved into the Garret's old house.” Chessa introduced me.

The three of them had big round eyes excitingly curious to hear my story. This was one of those times I'd clamp up and my pits would sweat like I was in a sauna. Daphne was a stunningly gorgeous red head with ocean blue eyes. Her smile gave off the impression of a sweet, friendly personality, making me wonder if she really did get in meaningless disputes with her husband. Ana was a pleasant figure in her mid fifties. Her hair color was still intact without a single strand of gray. She was trim but not boney. She grinned and extended her hand out to mine. When I glanced at Marin she was a breath of fresh air. Something about the expression on her face put me at ease and I didn't feel as though I was going to fall over any minute if they asked where I met my husband.

“Hi, Sabina it's very nice to meet you,” Ana said.

“What got you to Valley View?” Daphne frankly asked without the formality of introduction.

“My husband wanted to raise our kids outside the city. He's the new doctor at the hospital,” I replied.

“Oh! Of course! I can't believe I didn't put it together. So, your Drake's wife?” Daphne responded obviously having met my husband before.

I nodded afraid to say anything else for some reason. I didn't feel comfortable. Chessa apparently noticed my uneasiness.

“I bet you have a lot of unpacking to do, don't you?” she said.

“Yeah, actually. I do.”

“Well, we won't keep you. We'll let you get settled in,” Ana said with the sweetest smile on her face.

“Yes. And if you need anything, please feel free to ask us,” Marin added as I headed toward the door.

“It was so nice to meet you, Sabina,” Daphne said waving as I walked out shyly waving back

I walked into our new house greeted by my two daughters and my son. Drake emerged from the kitchen with the biggest smile on his face.

“So, Sabby, what do you think of our new neighbors?” he asked in his British accent.

“They seem nice,” I responded being as blasé as possible.

My kids scattered about the house leaving Drake and I in the living room alone. He took my hand and motioned for me to sit down on the couch. His brown eyes looked concerned. He put his arm around me and asked, “Did something happen?”

“Oh no. Nothing happened. I just get so unbelievably nervous when I talk to new people. I never know what to say, considering that I don't know half of my life story.”

Drake frowned gently rubbing my back, “Sabby, everything will be great here. I know it will be. You'll see.”

Somehow I didn't know if I could believe him or not.

That night as I lay my head on my pillow in my new bedroom, I tried to keep my mind focused on the positive things. My son. My daughters. My successful husband. Our stable lifestyle. But my brain kept retreating to the fact that something vital was missing. Something important.

As my eyes drifted off to sleep, a vision of a man with the skin of gold appeared in my dreams. He made a sly half-smile as he extended his hand to me. He pulled me into his arms and kissed me with the ultimate passion of an experienced lover. I wanted to shout his name but nothing came out. I couldn't recall it. As soon as he appeared in my dreams he was gone from my dreams. Leaving me scared and alone. Much like I felt in real life.

 Chapter 1:

Today was the day Bridget McBride had waited for since her first day of high school. Today was the day Bridget graduated from St. Gianna's. The four years she had spent there felt like an eternity yet, they flew by so rapidly. It was finally her time to be free. To Bridget, her time at St. Gianna's couldn't have ended sooner. The strict modest dress code, the longer than normal class periods, the competitive and challenging grading scale. There was so much she wanted to do now. She had so much she wanted to see.

As she sat at her usual table in Dino's Bar and Grill waiting for her best friend Keegan Daniels to show up, she pondered over what her future would be like. Would she be like her parents? The traditional Irish Catholics who married young, stayed together forever, worked hard for everything in their lives. Or would she hop on a plane to nowhere seeing God only knows what. Keegan had always told her since she was ten years old that she was destined for something other than Dayton, Ohio for the rest of her life.

She smiled at the thought. Keegan Daniels used to live across the street from Bridget and her parents when they were small. When his parents divorced he moved across town to another neighborhood and school district. She was so happy freshmen year when she found out Keegan was also attending St. Gianna's. It gave her a chance to reconnect with an old childhood friend. Keegan became her confidant. The two tried dating, but they ultimately decided their friendship was too strong to risk on a romantic relationship.

In thinking of her oldest friend in the world, she glanced at the clock on the cluttered wall. It was 8:35. They were supposed to meet at 8:00 like always, go to a 9:00 movie at the Celestial, take a walk in Rhodes Park and head home. Keegan was never one to be thirty-five minutes late for anything. Where was he? Ronnie the bartender came over to her table to inform her that Keegan's mom planned a big family celebration dinner and wouldn't be able to come. Bridget's Graduation night plans had fallen through.

She made a pout and sighed tilting her head to rest it on her palm. Just as she thought that she would be spending her whole graduation night alone at Dino's, four medium-build, tall, dark and handsome out-of-towners with slick cocoa hair, smooth struts and smiles to kill walked in. One in particular caught Bridget's eye more than the others. His brown hair was loose and casual yet he still looked perfectly quaffed. He had mesmerizing hazel eyes that melted Bridget's core. His dark gray t-shirt did an impeccable job of showing off his taught muscles. His golden complexion seemed to give him a godlike glow.

All thoughts of destroyed plans disappeared. Bridget was enthralled with this mystery man. She had never been so affected by a man in this way. She hadn't even met him yet and she was getting chills down her spine. As he ordered a drink from the bar, he made a quick glance her way. She didn't care that he caught her intently staring at him with peaking interest. She wanted him . Apparently, from the look he was giving her in return, he wanted her too. He sent her a mischievous smile, took a sip of his drink and sauntered toward Bridget's table. He ignored the wondering protests from his group of friends and continued making his way to her table.

“Hi,” his boyish voice said with a stealth undertone breaking the ice as he leaned his arm on the back of her chair hovering over her, inches away from her face. She could feel his body heat.

“Hi,” Bridget seductively replied batting her eyelashes. The new excitement of the evening was thrilling her. Her mother had been telling her to always be open to trying new things. This was her new thing tonight.

He smiled at her. “So, what's your name?”

“Bridget. Yours?”

“Marco. Marco Luciano.”

So he was Italian, she thought. His hazel eyes were even more beautiful up close.

“So what is a pretty girl like you doing all alone on a Saturday night?” he asked using a slightly cliché line.

She giggled at his sweet talk. “Did you really just use that line on me?”

He smiled back. “Is it working?”

As she exchanged yet another giddy smile, Bridget hopped up and casually walked to the bar to get a refill on her soda she'd been drinking. “Maybe,” she nonchalantly muttered as she passed by him.

He eagerly followed behind her wanting to know more about this Ohio blond he had just met. This girl was so gorgeous her golden locks swayed as she walked by. Her flirtations gave off a mystery about her that left him yearning to get to know this girl. He wanted to know her story.

“Just maybe?” he chuckled.

She grinned and looked up at him with aqua blue eyes that made him weak at the knees and ready to fall down at her feet. “You are a little cute, despite your cheesy lines.”

“So I'm cute, huh?” he replied, “You know, you're not so bad yourself.”

The bartender handed her her drink as she began to respond. “Here,” he offered, “let me get that for you.”

“Cute and generous, Mr. Luciano.” She said as she took a sip of her soda.

He crept closer to her face millimeters away from her lips. “Hm. Call me Marco.”

His alluring nature and mesmerizing hazel eyes made her speechless and dry at the mouth. He made her feel things she had never felt before. Granted, she was just eighteen, but this attractive generous stranger was turning her on in more ways than one. She didn't want to seem to easy or too into him. She had to have him always on the edge of his seat, wanting more, leaving him curious as to what her intentions were. A change of subject was just the thing.

“So where are you from? I haven't seen you in here before.”

“New York.”

That's a plus, she thought. “The Big Apple? How are things in the big city? I've always wanted to go!”

“Pretty good. Can't complain. Same old same old really.”

“What brings you to Dayton, Ohio?”

He grinned and looked down rubbing the back of his neck with his hand almost nervous to give her an answer. “Uh. Just some business stuff that I gotta take care of,” he mistily stated. Hm, she thought, very vague.

She was intrigued. “Mystery man are we?” she joked.

He smiled and nodded thoroughly enjoying her company but not saying another word about his motives for being here. She didn't exactly mind. “Do I get to hear more of your mysteries, Marco?” she flirted.

“If you so desire, you just might. But it's kinda crowded in here. Do you wanna get out of here? Go some place where we could talk?” he suggested dying to be alone with her.

His invitation sparked her senses. Bridget's blasé usual Saturday night with Keegan was turning into the most spontaneous moment of her life. Bridget had always been the good polite Irish girl from Dayton, Ohio who never did anything rash. She had no idea where she would go with this Italian New Yorker or what would happen one she was alone with him. He could be a dangerous criminal for all she knew. But from the vibes she was getting from him, he wouldn't hurt a fly. Being being alone with Marco Luciano sounded more exciting than her recent high school graduation. She wanted to go anywhere with her new acquaintance. All inhibitions lowered.

“So Bridget,” Marco said as the two walked outside to the parking lot of Dino's. “Where's the best place to talk? Alone.”

Bridget thought about it. Dance clubs are even louder than Dino's. Diners are too cheesy and in this town it could literally mean that. Neither are intimate enough to get to know someone. Whenever she and Keegan wanted to be alone, away from their hectic high school lives, they headed to the secluded bank of a pond in Rhodes Park. This place was virtually unknown to anyone especially after dark. It was the perfect place to become better acquainted with Marco Luciano.

The short car ride there was silent but not awkward silence; calming silence in anticipation of being alone together. Bridget was just so shocked with herself that she didn't know what to say. She'd never done anything remotely like this with anyone let alone a total stranger. It was new and exhilarating. She could feel his eyes occasionally glance at her as he drove. She responded with a shy anxious smile wishing the car to get to their destination faster. Without actually speaking Bridget knew Marco could not wait to be alone in a secluded park with her.

Bridget had been to Rhodes Park a thousand times yet tonight she found herself noticing all the natural beauties more intensely than before. The pleasantly overwhelming scent of jasmine coming from the bed of jasmine flowers made her smile. Instinctively she led Marco to the small patch of grass near the bed of jasmine by the pond. It suddenly occurred to her how romantic the setting was.

“This is my favorite spot,” Bridget said sitting down in the grass with her legs extended before her, resting her weight in her hands.

“I can see why. The moonlight. The pond. The flowers. It's pretty beautiful out here.”

“Their jasmine flowers. They're my favorite.”

He grinned. “I'll make sure to keep that in mind for future reference,” he responded sitting himself beside her seemingly confident that they had some type of future after just a half an hour together.

His finger tip edged toward her cheek in surprise, not that she didn't mind. His finger gently swiped her cheek revealing a tiny brown eyelash. “Make a wish,” he lightly whispered into her ear tingling her senses.

As she blew the eyelash into the wind, not removing her gaze from his, she made her wish. She wished for happiness in an uncertain future in Dayton. Sitting next to Marco, however, made her feel like she could make her future anything she wanted.

“What did you wish for?”

“If I tell you that, it won't come true,” she replied giggling a little.

“I bet I know what you wished for,” he said glowing in the darkness of the night, his hazel eyes shining like fireflies. His face inched toward hers.

“What's that?” she whispered backed already knowing the answer.

Just before their lips locked, Marco's lip teasingly grazed hers. When their heated lips made their first encounter, Bridget inadvertently moaned with pleasure. She could feel the sparks fly. He tasted sweet. She could imagine herself kissing him for hours. His hand cupped her cheek pulling her closer. She wrapped her arms around his neck, her hands playing with the loose tendrils of hair an the nape of his neck. She was relishing in the feel of him when their lips parted. He slowly pulled back looking deep into her aqua blue eyes.

He smiled mischievously. “Well, Bridget, did I make your wish come true?”

She giggled. “One of them.”

“Tell me, what are your other wishes. Maybe all make them come true too,” he said as if he confidently knew he could make that happen.

She sighed. “I just don't wanna spend the rest of my life here working in my dad's hardware store.”

“Your dad wants you to forgo your own future for the family business, huh?” She nodded. “I know something about that.”

“It would help if I knew what I wanted to do. Then I could get out of it.”

“I said the same thing myself when I graduated high school. Now it's three years later and what am I doing? Still working for dear old Dad,” he laughed mockingly. He laid on his back to gaze up at the stars.

“I don't want that to happen but I know it will. This is all I know and will ever know,” she said lying back to gaze with him.

“You know,” he said as he rolled over on his elbow, looking down at her, “You can change all that. You can be who they don't expect you to be.” His face inched closer and closer to hers as he spoke.

Well, tonight I think I accomplished that, she thought as his mouth sought hers in a tender kiss. He had only meant it to be a quick kiss but Bridget wanted it to last longer. When she felt him retreating she placed her hand on his face wanting to extend his kiss. She reveled in his kiss.

He melted on top of her in the grass under the stars. His arms slid around her slim figure engulfing her. She wrapped her arms around his neck, running her fingers through his hair. She'd been to Rhodes Park thousands of times but this night would be her favorite memory there. They were so entangled in each other, they didn't notice they had company.

“Bridget?” she heard Keegan utter, not expecting to see her rolling around on the ground with a stranger.

The minute she heard his voice she pushed Marco off of her and jolted up. She turned around coming face to face with her best friend who'd stood her up earlier. She didn't expect to see him here, now.

“Keegan! What are you doing here?”

He furrowed his brow in confusion not knowing what to think of Bridget with this stranger. “Well, since I didn't meet up with you earlier, I figured I'd find you here after you'd left Dino's.” He knew her so well.

“Oh. Yeah.” She was nervous and embarrassed. She didn't exactly know what to tell Keegan about Marco, the man she'd met just short of a few hours ago.

“So. Bridget. What are you doing?” Keegan sarcastically asked curious to know the answer.

“Uh...” Bridget was at a total loss for words. She didn't exactly know how to word it.

“Hi. I'm Marco. I met up with Bridget at Dino's,” Marco said extending his hand for Keegan to shake. He had noticed her nervousness and decided to break the ice himself.

Keegan curiously nodded his head with questions spurring through his mind. “Uh huh. And when did you two decide to roll around in the grass?” Keegan's sense of humor always had a way of coming out in intense situations.

“Yeah, that looks pretty bad, doesn't it?” Bridget said, blushing. Keegan nodded getting ready to respond but Marco intercepted.

“I can see that you have some things to take care of tonight. How about I pick you up at Dino's tomorrow at around three o'clock. We can spend the afternoon getting to know each other,” Marco suggested smiling mischievously.

In all her embarrassment she couldn't help but smile at his invitation. She would love to spend the afternoon with Marco Luciano. “Absolutely,” she responded as he kissed her behind the ear and casually sauntered off to his car.

Bridget watched him drive away thinking about her date with him tomorrow. It was then that Keegan started to really question her.

“Oh. My. God. Hi, can I speak to Bridget McBride please?”

Bridget rolled her eyes at his sarcasm. “Ha. Ha. Very funny, Keegs. He's just a guy that I met at Dino's. He wanted to go somewhere quiet to talk, so -”

“So, you took him to Rhodes Park to make out?” Keegan asked almost making her laugh.

“We were actually having a pretty deep conversation before that, Keegan.”

“Even so, meeting a total stranger and making out with him in the park? Bridget that is so unlike you.” There was truth to what Keegan said. Bridget was always the good, straight-laced, Irish Catholic girl who would never casually trust a stranger, let alone a handsome one.

There was just something about Marco Luciano that set her mind and her heart on fire. She felt like a new person. It was, after all, her graduation night. Not only was she graduating high school but she was moving on from the younger, more naïve Bridget. She could sense that with Marco Luciano she could be whoever she wanted to be wherever she wanted to be. At that moment, all she wanted to be was with him.

 

prologue:

The real true first thing that I ever remembered, my first memory, was waking up in the hospital to a very attractive dark-haired, dark-eyed British guy caressing my hand with both of his. He told me he was my husband, Drake. I didn't know why I was there. I didn't know who I was. I didn't recall this man holding vigil at my bedside. I didn't know basically anything. All I knew was that there was a random guy in my hospital room and I had a splitting headache.

It just so happened that at just twenty-years-old I was the victim of a bicycle accident with a massive head injury causing so much memory loss, I didn't even know my own name. I later discovered my name was Sabina West, I lived in New York with my imported doctor husband, and I was still miraculously pregnant with “our” son.

I thought maybe when Tyler was born, I would finally regain some lost times, like actually remembering getting pregnant or even better, marrying Drake in the first place. But Tyler's birth only created a new memory, instead of reconnecting me with an old one. I thought getting on with my life as Drake West's wife and mother of his children would make me remember, make me ease back into a normal lifestyle. There was still that aching pain in the back of my head. It wasn't the headache I remembered from the hospital that day. It was a longing for something so cryptic it would eat me alive. Like, my mind was trying to push something at me that I couldn't quite wrap my fingers around yet.

The memory became a tad bit clearer when Drake's job as a doctor took him to up state New York. Valley View, New York to me was just another neighborhood I would live in and raise my children. What I wasn't expecting was the antidote to my ache was living right across the street from my new home, holding my past in his heart.

Twelve years. That's all Sabina West could remember. She couldn't recall her childhood, her parents, high school or how she met her husband Drake. She always had doubts about being Mrs. Dr. Drake West and living as the stereotypical housewife. She felt like something was missing. When her husband's job takes the family to the suburbs, she comes across Marco Luciano, a suspected mafia king with hazel eyes and a golden tan. She feels a familiar connection to her new neighbor with no explanation. Marco seemed to know everything about her. When her husband catches on to her wandering eye, he shows a side of himself that scares Sabina to death. In running to the comfort of the mystery-man next door, she beings to remember the real root of her memory loss and if she really is Mrs. Dr. Drake West or if her heart belongs to someone else

That one guy I was dating last September? How he dumped me over a text message? How he bacame a crazy person and drank and drove with pain killers in his system?? Yeah. Now he's referring to me as Psycho.

Hello. My name is Psycho.

He drinks and drives and I'm the psycho one. Ok. Maybe I did use a fake profile on Facebook to mess with his girlfriend. That's only cuz he's an ass hole and pissed me off. Whatever. I want it written that I am officially over him. If he wants me back SCREW HIM! He's an ass. I'll just tell him, your psycho. Nough said.