Dual Desires (Triple Threat Book 3) Read online

  The three of us worked together to place 39 candles strategically around the words and guitar. Tommy stuck one more in the guitar’s hole with a wink. “One for good luck.” It was a chore to light them. “Damn it!” He had just gotten the last one lit when a few on the other side went out.

  That time I held my laughter in. Carefully, Tommy and Giovanni brought the cake into the next room. They set it on the coffee table in front of Dominic and Noelle. Dominic blushed deeply as the whole place started to sing. He held onto his girlfriend’s hand and eventually blew out the candles with her help.

  He looked up. “Thanks, guys.”

  I stepped toward him and placed a kiss on his cheek. “There’s presents too.”

  “Uh-uh.” Dominic put up his hands. “Please. I don’t need anything.”

  Tommy put his hands on his hips. “Shut up and let us do something for you for once. You give and give and give. Sometimes you gotta let us give back.”

  Dominic frowned but nodded. He sat back and opened gifts. His face showed his shock at the thought put into each one. Next to him, Noelle’s smile never faltered.

  “I brought you something too,” Brandon Knight, lead guitarist of Wicked End, carried a guitar case toward us. He gave his girlfriend, Mackenzie, a quick kiss then set the case in front of Dominic. “Bit of a thank you for the pep talk years ago.”

  As he blushed yet again, Dominic smiled. “You were a punk back then. Glad you smartened up.”

  After he glanced at Mackenzie for a few seconds, Brandon said. “That I was. Kenzie wants to marry me anyway.” He winked.

  “Congrats!” Dominic stood and gave Brandon a brief hug. Then he took a deep breath and opened the guitar case. “You’re kidding me?” He looked up. “How the hell?” His eyes moved to the Randy Rhodes signature. “You remembered?”

  Brandon grinned. “Yeah. Another off your list. Right?”

  “Yep.” Dominic turned to Noelle. “Did you see this?”

  I leaned my head on Giovanni’s arm. “Glad we weren’t the only ones who brought him something.”

  Chapter 2

  I was surprised the party was tame. Most of Tommy’s parties had some sort of debauchery. Giovanni and I had fun so far. Dean even seemed calm. Unlike Tommy’s birthday party, everyone kept their clothes on as well. Shane and Craig winked at me once in a while though.

  “I’m going to the bathroom,” I told Giovanni.

  He nodded. “Let me know if Dean bothers you.” He had watched Dean often. Most likely, he expected Dean to cause a scene as he had the day we were engaged. “Seriously.” Since he had revealed he was once a drug addict, I understood why he worried.

  “I will.”

  The hall bathroom was occupied. I knocked on Tommy’s bedroom door. There was no response, so I went in. It was empty, thankfully. After I used the toilet, I heard an argument. Slowly, I opened the door and peeked into the master bedroom.

  Mackenzie glared at Dean. “What you did was inexcusable!”

  “I know.” Dean put his hands together, almost in prayer. “I’m sorry. I was high. I swear I’m clean. Never again. I won’t touch you.”

  Her fist connected with his jaw. “No you won’t.” Dean hit the floor, and my mouth dropped.

  Then the door opened. Brandon walked in. “There you are. What the fuck? He touch you again?”

  “No. I swear.” Dean held his arms over his face. “I didn’t. Please. I’ll never touch her again.”

  I covered my mouth and gasped. I didn't want them to know I was there.

  “You tried to rape her, asshole!” Brandon screamed.

  Mackenzie pushed Brandon back. “Stop. This is my problem. We talked about this. I needed to face him.”

  With a shake of his head, Brandon stomped out and slammed the door shut.

  “I’m sorry,” I said quietly. “I was in the bathroom.”

  Dean turned to me. “Oh shit.”

  “Shut up.” Mackenzie kicked Dean in the side. “Get the hell outta here, fucker.” She stood there, furious.

  I waited until Dean was gone to speak again. “Um. I didn’t mean to hear all that.” I took tentative steps in her direction. When she sat on the bed, I took a deep breath. “Do you want to talk about what he did?”

  “No.” Mackenzie looked up at me. “I know you want to help, but I’m fine. Thanks. I can deal with this.”

  I sighed. “I thought I could too, but I couldn’t.”

  “But I’m not you.” Mackenzie grabbed my hand. “I’m not saying you’re weak. I’m saying I’m different. Before he did that, I willingly slept with him. Well, kinda. Hard to explain. Point is, I don’t have flashbacks, I don’t fear anything. All I got is a hatred of him. Only him. I don’t know why. Maybe I’m just a bit cold. Thanks for asking though.” She smiled.

  I swallowed. She made me feel weak, although she didn’t try to. “Sometimes it doesn’t happen right away.”

  “It was four months ago.” Mackenzie got to her feet. “Believe me. I’m good.” She walked to the door. “Wish it was that easy for you too.”

  I wished it had been as well. Dean freaked me out when he came onto me. I had a feeling he was dangerous. However, to hear what he was capable of, terrified me. With a few deep breaths, I collected myself and entered the hallway. Giovanni was no longer where I left him. I walked to the back of the hallway and looked out at the balcony. He wasn’t there. When I turned back, I crashed into Dean as he came toward the door.

  “Hey.” Dean grinned, although there were tears in his eyes. “She don’t want me. Maybe you do?”

  That confused me. “Who? Mackenzie?”

  “No.” He laughed. “Amanda. The bitch.”

  My mind raced, while I tried to figure out who Amanda was. The only one I knew was Jon’s sister. She was at the party, but he couldn’t mean her. Could he?

  His eyes raked my body, as he licked his lips. Frozen, I wasn’t sure what to do. Then his hand hovered over my breast. “You wearing a bra? Maybe I should check.” He winked.

  Suddenly, Giovanni snatched Dean’s arm and yanked him back. “Hands away from my woman, dickhead.” He glared at him.

  “I’m sorry.” Dean shook his head and walked away.

  Giovanni put his hands on my shoulders. “Did he hurt you?”

  “No. He was talking about some girl.” I looked up at him. “Something’s wrong. He wasn’t high. Just kinda upset.”

  He cocked an eyebrow. “You sure?”

  “Yes.” I had seen him high before. “He looked lonely.” Although he scared me, I felt bad for him. “Maybe I should ask Dominic to talk to him.”

  Giggles came from behind Giovanni. He turned. Dean and a beautiful young woman ducked into Tommy’s bedroom, both with a glass in their hand. I frowned and hoped Dean was not drinking. To forget my worry, I followed Giovanni to join the party again.

  Chad leaned on a wall near the kitchen. He smiled when we approached. “You having fun?”

  “Yeah.” I was glad he was happy, although I missed being so close to him. It had not been easy to give up our physical relationship. One glance at Giovanni reminded me why I did it. “Where’s Maggie?”

  He grazed my arm with his knuckles. “Bathroom. She’ll be back soon.” His eyes showed a hint of desire, but it was gone quickly. “Maybe we can go on a double date next weekend.”

  “Sounds good.” Giovanni tugged my back to his chest and wrapped his arms around my shoulders. “There’s a cool Sci-Fi movie coming out Friday, Intergalactic Wars.”

  Chad nodded. “Cool. Good idea.”

  We stood there and talked even after Maggie returned. A female cry echoed in the condo. I guessed it was the girl Dean was with. It’s about time something started. I almost laughed at my inner monologue.

  “Now it’s a Tommy Fischer party.” Phil laughed as he passed us then went on to the kitchen.

  Minutes later, another scream was heard. That one was not passionate but full of fear. Dominic and Jon stood from the couch and
hurriedly walked to the hallway. I didn’t have to wonder why for long.

  “How could you?” Dominic shouted.

  “Get the fuck off me!” Dean struggled to get away from Dominic, who tried to escort him to the front door. Then Dean shoved Dominic against the wall. “No!”

  Giovanni quickly ran over and grabbed Dean in a headlock. As I walked toward him, Giovanni growled, “Don’t make me hurt you, man.”

  “I ain’t high!” Dean yelled as he tried to escape Giovanni’s grip. “I’m not.” His eyes told a different story though.

  Jon went to them and helped Dominic up. “You tried to choke her, you asshole! Don’t tell me you ain’t using again. I found your stash.” He held up a ziplock bag of pills

  “I swear those are hers. I told her I don’t want any. I didn’t choke her exactly. She wanted to play a game while I fucked her.” Dean still tried to get away. “I’m not on nothing. You never believe me.”

  Giovanni loosened his grip and turned to me. “See if the girl’s OK.”

  “Where is she?” I was unsure what to think.

  Jon sighed, “Tommy’s room.”

  I walked in that direction and found the door closed. After I knocked, I slowly opened it. The girl that had been with Dean sat on the bed with a sheet wrapped around her body. Red marks stood out around her neck and tears fell down her cheeks. OK. He did choke her.

  “I can’t find anything that’d fit her,” Tommy called to me as he searched his drawers.

  Her dress was in a pile on the floor, obviously torn pretty badly. I sat on the bed next to her and put an arm around her. “You OK?”

  She laid her head on my shoulder. “He tried to kill me,” she whispered through sobs. “He wasn’t supposed to hold my neck so tight.”

  I hugged her. “I’m so sorry. We won’t let him near you again. OK?”

  She nodded then muttered, “I slipped him some Adderall. I thought he’d be more fun. It calms me down. He just went crazy.”

  Tommy stared at her with his mouth open. “You drugged him? Fuck!” He pulled his phone out. “Dom. She dosed him. He might need detox.” He paused, a hand in his hair. “She said Adderall.” He huffed and put his phone down. “I have nothing she can wear.”

  “Jogging pants should fit,” I suggested. “And a T-shirt.” I couldn’t believe the girl drugged Dean. Will he be all right?

  Tommy came to us with what I suggested. “He’s gonna have to go back to that damn place. This is insane. What the fuck is wrong with you?” He glared at the girl before him. “Do you have any idea what you’ve done?”

  Her lip quivered. “I’m sorry.”

  I took the clothes from Tommy and handed them to her. “Stop.” I stood and tugged him a few feet away. “She’s a mess. What’s the point?”

  “I don’t know.” He shrugged. “It’s like this shit never ends. He finally gets clean again, and then he tries to…” He bit his lip. “A few weeks ago he tried to kill himself. This could mess him up.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  Shouts and sounds of a scuffle came from outside the room. We were sure Jon and Giovanni could handle it. The setback could cause an issue for the tour.

  “Thanks, babe.” Tommy hugged me. “I hope he can come back from this.”

  When I turned around, the girl was dressed. Before anything else, I check the hallway. I was shocked to see two police officers. “You called the cops?”

  Tommy shrugged. “Maybe Dom did. She deserves it.”

  “Where is she?” A deep voice came from behind me.

  I stepped aside and stared as the frightened girl was arrested. It wasn’t my business, but I felt it might be a bit extreme. I didn’t realize then how bad it could get if she went to the tabloids. Still shocked, I followed them out into the hall with Tommy.

  Giovanni waited for me by the door. When I stepped back into the foyer, he hugged me fiercely. I felt him tremble a bit. Then he mumbled something inaudible into my hair.

  “What’s wrong?” I ran a hand through his long, dark hair as I caressed his arm.

  “Hard to explain,” he whispered and clung to me for a good ten minutes. “Rick and Dwayne took Dean back to some clinic or something.” Then he backed away and headed for the balcony door.

  I followed him outside and ignored the cold. “Hey, don’t shut me out again. Please.” I grabbed his arm and stood in front of him.

  “My love…” He closed his eyes and pulled his bottom lip in. “I… I was… just like that.”

  Then I understood and caressed his cheek. “But you got help. You quit and never went back.”

  “I hurt a lotta people,” he admitted, “Especially my… family.”

  I put my arms around him. “They knew it wasn’t you. It was the pills. You beat your addiction. It’s all over now.”

  “But, the memories are still there. The look on my Mom’s face when she found my stash. If Rosario wasn’t home, I would’ve… I shoved her to get my drugs back. I knocked my own mother down. That shit makes you do crazy things.”

  “Did she forgive you?”

  “Yeah. When I came home from rehab, I apologized every day for it. But, I can never make it up to my Dad.”

  “Don’t you believe he can see you from heaven?”

  “Yeah, but I’m not what he wanted me to be.”

  “I bet he’s proud of who you’ve become. I know I am.”

  Giovanni took a deep breath and looked into my eyes. “Thank you.” He kissed my lips softly. “I better get you back inside. Your skin’s cold.”

  As we walked to the door, a thought occurred to me. Years ago, Chad talked about a “friend” whose brother was on drugs. Then their dad died. I glanced at Giovanni. He had come far. It must have taken a lot of hard work to not become Dean. I was grateful he did fight, or there would be no us.

  “Giovanni?”

  He turned just before he opened the door. “Something wrong?”

  “No.” I took a deep breath. I didn’t want to upset him. “Why did you get the dragon tattoo? Manny said something I could never figure out.” Manny was his tattoo guy.

  He sighed. “It symbolizes my recovery. It felt like I was up against a fire-breathing dragon, fighting for my life with every breath. I decided I never wanted to forget that feeling, so I didn’t slip.”

  “I love that tattoo.” I reached up and kissed his lips. “Thanks for sharing that with me.”

  Chapter 3

  When midnight was almost upon us, everyone gathered in the living room for the most part. I looked around for Chad. He was normally the one I kissed at the stroke of midnight. I didn’t plan on it that year, but I hoped to at least wish him happy a New Year. I finally found him and Maggie in the hallway, not far away. It looked like they argued quietly.

  Soon after, the countdown started. By the time we all got to twenty, Giovanni put his hands around my face and kissed me. Gentle, soft kisses at first. Then he deepened the kiss. Aggressively, he thrust his tongue into my mouth. His hands moved. He held my ass and back at the same time, while I put my arms around his neck.

  My eyes drifted closed as my love for him grew. Blood rushed to my loins. I was beyond consumed by the feelings. I never wanted to let him go. He must have felt the same. Both of us panted yet rarely came up for air.

  Giovanni walked me backward until I hit a wall. He pressed me into it and ground his hips against me. His cock was as stiff as could be. I swore my juices dripped down my leg. I was full of desire. If he slipped a finger into me, it would be a great relief. I could care less who was around us.

  When we finally parted, it was past midnight. We clung to each other for support. I tried to say something but could only gasp. Giovanni looked into my eyes and opened his mouth. However, he was also speechless and just held me tighter.

  After a few minutes, he gazed into my eyes and uttered haltingly, “I wanted… to kiss you… on New Year’s… since… the day… I met you.” He finally caught his breath and smiled. “They say the person y
ou kiss at midnight is the one you’ll be with for the rest of the year.”

  “I never believed that,” I replied, breathlessly.

  He smiled. “You don’t have to. I do.” He kissed me again. “Everything changes this year, with the tour, getting married and trying to have a baby.” His grin widened. “I can’t wait to marry you.”

  “I can’t wait either.” I touched his cheek. “I love you.” The baby part I was still leery about though.

  “I love you too.”

  “Do you mind if I go wish Chad happy New Year?”

  “Go ahead.” He caressed my back slowly.

  I finished my champagne and gave him my glass. “I’ll be back in a few.”

  Then I walked to where I last saw Chad. He wasn’t there. I looked around the room and found him in the hall, but he walked toward the front door. Don’t leave yet! I hurried, so I didn’t miss my chance.

  “Why does it mean so much to you?” Chad asked Maggie as I approached them. It seemed he followed her. When he grabbed her arm to stop her, I froze and waited. “I thought you said we could just talk.”

  Tears fell down Maggie’s cheeks. “Is going to my place that awful?”

  “I just can’t.” Chad hung his head down.

  She wiped at her eyes. “It’s because I’m not her. Isn’t it? You’ll never be able to fuck me, will you?”

  “Why d’ we have to move so fast?”

  “I’m going, Chad. Let her take you home.” Maggie walked out without Chad.

  I slowly went to him. “You OK?”

  He turned to me. “Yeah, I guess. We’re leaving in two weeks anyway.”

  “True.” I put my arms around his waist. He towered over me, even in my heels. “I’m sorry though.”

  He hugged me back. “Thanks, baby.”

  “Happy new year.” I reached up and kissed his lips softly. Something I had not done since we ended our affair.

  He sighed. “Yeah same to you, my baby girl. Things have to get better. Don’t they?”

  “They will. You’ll see.” I pulled away and looked up. It broke my heart to see him sad. “Where’s Chris?”