Taylor's Pov

When Gia walked away, I stepped to the side to let Matty into the bedroom. I knew something was on his mind, but he didn't jump right into it. So I sat down in a chair and started putting on my boots. While I laced them up I saw his eyes flicker around the room, and turn to me with a knowing grin.

Matty stood there with his hands stuffed in his pockets rocking back and forth on his heels. "So I take it you got lucky last night?" he asked. I wanted to tell him, last night and this morning too if you didn't come knockin, but that would have taken this sidetrack ride even further and I wanted to know what so damn important that he had to drag me out of the bed. When Matty finally realized that he wasn't gonna get an answer, he moved on to what he was here for. "So I hear that wasn't the only eventful part of your night either."

"Oh is that right?" I reached in my back pocket for my pack of smokes. Knowing Matty, this was going to be a long conversation. This guy is the king of beating around the bush; he could never just spit something out. I lit my cigarette and took a long drag waiting to hear him out.

Matty shook his head looking at me though the cloud of smoke. "What the hell were you thinking Taylor?" That panicked urgent sound was back in his voice giving me a good idea of exactly what he was talking about.

I shrugged my shoulders, taking another pull of my cancer stick. "Ray's a prick, we both know that. He's lucky I didn't do worse."

"Listen I know he's an asshole, but he works for Moretti and this causes problems between him and my father." Matty did have a point there. Moretti was added muscle, and that was going to be needed with talks of a war going around. He paced the floor long enough to wear holes in it. I stuck my arm out passing him the cigarette, he stopped moving long enough to take it. After he took a couple of puffs, he passed it back to me. "What the hell happened?" he asked with smoke coming through his nose and mouth.

"What the fuck was I suppose to do, stand there with my dick in my hands while he puts his hands all over Gia." I blurted out. Even thinking about it now, and seeing the smug look on Ray's face made my knuckles itch. Yeah it wasn't smart business for me to get into a fight with the guy, but I can't say that I regret it.

Matty's eyes got big and he was smiling the same way he was when he walked into the room. "You're serious about her aren't you? I haven't seen you like this since-"

"Stop right there." I cut him off before the name could pour out his mouth. "So what did Benny say?"

"He said he wants you to meet with Moretti and make this thing right."

"When?"

"You're supposed to meets up with him at his place out in Long Island. I don't know when." He ran his finger through his hair taking a deep breath. "How do you think Moretti's gonna carry this, I mean you did fuck up one of his guys."

"Don't know, what's done is done." I put out my cigarette, trying not to think about Matty's question. The only thing I could do was just be prepared for everything.

Me and Matty left the room and started making our way to the kitchen. When we got closer, I heard laughter coming from the room. That when I saw the biggest smile on Gia's face. She was talkin' to Adrian about whatever the hell they were talkin' about, but it was that moment when I realized that I liked seeing her smile. Matty and I entered the room breakin' up their little girl talk. He sat down at the table with them, and I leaned against the fridge with my arms folded across my chest just watching her. My eyes causally picked her apart remembering every detail of her body. While Gia was in the middle of going over a few things with Matty about the club, her fingers ran through her hair, exposing her neck. My eyes narrowed in on her and smiled, yeah, she was mine, even had the marks to prove it. Gia must have felt my stare on her, because she turned her head slightly in my direction giving me a shy smile. I wanted to drag her back to her room and finish what we started, but our moment was interrupted once again.

Matty lifted his wrist giving a quick glance at his gold watch. "Taylor we should get goin if we're gonna make that appointment." said Matty. I nodded and he stood from his chair, and grabbed his jacket from the back of it.

Adrian got this sad look on her face as if she just lost her puppy. She stood up from her seat, coming face to face with Matty. "You're leaving already? You didn't even have breakfast yet." She said as she helped him fix the buttons on his shirt and jacket.

"I'm sorry, I just have some important business to handle, but what do you say you and I have dinner tonight at Daniel's and then go for a carriage ride through central park?" he asked, and Adrian's face lit up like the Rockefeller center during Christmas.

'Damn.' Whether he knew it or not, Matty had just put me in a tight spot. I was taking Gia out tonight, and now she's probably expecting me to do some romantic shit like him. It would be a cold day in hell before anyone catches me riding in some damn carriage behind a horse's ass. If she was expecting prince charming, she wasn't gonna find it with me.

"That sounds like a plan." Adrian replied with a grin the reached both ears. She leaned forward and kissed him, and this wasn't a regular goodbye granny kiss.

The air got a little thick. I know I was uncomfortable, so I was glad when Gia cleared her throat bringing them back down to earth. Matty and Adrian both looked at us, I just shook my head leaving Gia to talk. "Um… yeah, don't forget about the party tonight. I'm expecting both of you there." She reminded them the same way reminded me earlier.

"We'll still make it to the party. I already have my costume picked out; I'm goin' as Joe DiMaggio." Matty replied with pride. His head was always wrapped up in baseball. When we were kids, he used to collect old trading cards and laminate them. To be honest, I think he still does.

Gia turned her sights to her friend. She didn't know what she was wearing yet, so they made plans to go shopping later. Matty checked his watch once more meaning that it was time to go. Adrian walked him to the door, leaving me and Gia alone in the kitchen. I never moved from my spot against the refrigerator, I just continued to watch her. She took one last drink from her coffee mug, and then got up to put it in the sink. I followed behind her footsteps. While she washed out the dish, I wrapped my arm around her waist pulling her into me as I kissed her neck.

Gia let out a soft laugh. I didn't have to look at her face to know she was smiling. "So are we still on for tonight?" she asked.

"Definitely, I just need to handle some business and then I'm all yours." 'Hopefully' I thought to myself. This meeting with Moretti could go either way. I mean Ray is a high ranking guy in his crew. He could snap his fingers and have me taken care of right on the spot, but this was the life I've chose and I'm constantly reminded of my choice in situations like this.

Gia turned around in my arms. There was a concerned look on her face that I've only seen once before, and that was back when I was shot. "Well since I know it's not club business, why don't you tell me what's really going on."

This girl asked too many questions, and I didn't know if that was a good thing or a bad thing, but right now she was staring in my face waiting for an answer. I turned my head away trying to think one that would satisfy her, but she grabbed my chin and turned my face back to her. I decided what the hell, she wants the truth I'll give her the truth. "Do you remember that guy from the club last night?" I asked and she nodded her head yes. "Well he works for a man named Sonny Moretti and he wants to meet with me about what happened." When I said this, I saw a strange flicker in her eyes.

"What exactly do you mean by 'meet' with you?" Gia asked.

"Your guess is as good as mine." I replied making her concern intensify by ten. Maybe I shouldn't have given her a vague response, but it was the best I could give. "Don't worry Gia, I'll see you tonight." I told her to ease her mind.

She placed her hand on my neck and stood on her toes to kiss me. Her soft tongue slid across my lip and I wanted to devour her, but Matty's voice shouted my name in an attempt to rush me out of the apartment. Gia released me and took a step back. I couldn't help but notice the same worried expression on her face. "Be careful Taylor." Gia warned.