Tearing Down Walls (Love Under Construction Series Book 2) (5 page)

Vic smiled. He thought back to soft skin, that sweet smell of feminine arousal, the warmth of an embrace, and it made him so sad that he had trouble breathing. “I’d do anything for a woman I loved.”

“I know, buddy. You’re a good guy; there’s someone out there waiting for you, I just know it,” Tony said, smiling.

“I have my doubts . . .” Vic wanted to say,
Yeah, there is someone, but she’s taken. By you. And there’s nothing I can do about it.

“Don’t. I have faith in fate, or the universe, or whatever it is that Nikki’s so plugged into,” Tony laughed. “You just need to hang around her a little more. Maybe it’ll rub off!”

You can’t know what a bad idea that would be,
Vic wanted to say. “Thanks for the pep talk, cousin-brother. I needed that.”

“So enough of that. Get ready to talk to McCoy. And let’s get something to eat. I’m thinking pancakes. Whaddya think?”

“I’m with you there. Ready in five.”

“O
kay, I’m here. What’s up?” When Steve walked into a room, everyone took notice. He had that effect on everyone, everywhere, even Tony. The guy just had that vibe about him. Nikki always told Tony that the green-eyed, tall, blond attorney was “striking;” Tony thought that was a description that fit Steve well.

“Hi Steve! Coffee?” Steve nodded, and Nikki got back up and made her way back toward the kitchen. “Need food?”

“No, I’m good. Well, if you have some of your amazing cookies . . .”

“Coming right up!” Nikki bounced away and disappeared through the kitchen doorway.

“Thanks for coming over,” Tony said, shaking hands with Steve. “Vic will be down in just a minute.”

“So this has something to do with Vic?” Steve asked, confused.

“This has everything to do with Vic,” Tony responded. “But he needs to tell you.”

“Would this have something to do with me seeing him at the club last night?”

“It would.” Tony swirled his coffee and didn’t say anything else. They sat in silence until Nikki came back with the cookies. About the time Steve took two, Vic came down the stairs and through the doors, choosing a chair across from Steve so he could see Steve’s face well. And he looked excited about something.

“So what’s this all about, Cabrizzi?” Steve asked.

“Hello to you too,” Vic said.

“Oh, sorry. Hello. So what’s this all about, Cabrizzi?” Nikki had to stifle a giggle.

Vic gave a deep sigh and sat back in his chair. “I don’t even know where to start.”

It broke Tony’s heart to see Vic so conflicted and miserable. “Just tell him about Carrie first, bud. However you do this, it’ll be the right way.”

Vic took a deep breath. “I had a girlfriend, beautiful girl. Her name was Carrie. We were together about six months. And she broke up with me because I hurt her.”

“Hurt her? How do you mean?” Steve asked.

“I got a little too crazy while we were having sex. It was like I couldn’t stop, like a switch got thrown and I couldn’t control myself. I messed her up pretty bad; she had to go to the hospital and have stitches. I’d done that to her twice before, but I’d just bruised her up. This was different, and it made her afraid of me.
I
was afraid
for
her. So when she wanted to go, I didn’t argue.”

“Oh, Vic, man, that’s bad. I’m so sorry.” Steve seemed genuinely sad for him.

“She wasn’t the only one. I’d hurt two other girls before. But they only stuck around for the first time; they didn’t even give me another chance to fail. Carrie was different, and I failed her too. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. A therapist told me she thought it was the stuff I lived through before my mom and I came to live with Tony’s family.” Vic was having trouble looking Steve in the face. Nikki wanted to go to him and hug him tight, tell him it was okay, but he had to do it this way.

“So how long ago was it that this happened last?” Steve asked.

“Almost three years. I haven’t been with anyone since,” Vic answered. Nikki looked at Tony; it was killing both of them to have to hear the pain in his voice, all the loneliness and grief.

“And I’m guessing you want to know if you can join the club with this issue?” Steve asked straight up.

“No.” Vic straightened and looked at Steve. “You know more about this stuff than the three of us combined.” Tony chuckled, and Vic added, “Well, maybe with the exception of Nikki.” She giggled. “What I want to know is this: Do you think that training to become a Dom could help me find the self-control and discipline to overcome this, this, whatever it is? What do you think?”

“First of all . . . Nikki?” Steve stared at her, and she blushed and giggled again. “Good information to have.” He looked back at Vic. “Second, do you have any idea what this would entail? What kind of process this would be? Because let me tell you, I’m picky about this shit.”

“That’s why you’re here. I’ve been in a lot of clubs that were cesspools, but I saw how you run that club. It’s spotless and safe, and I have a lot of admiration for that, a lot of respect for someone who can do that. I need some input and guidance. But if it’s just impossible, let me know and I’ll drop it.” Vic’s shoulders fell, and Nikki had all she could take. She walked over, sat down on his knee, and hugged him, rubbing his shoulders. She could feel some of his tension fade, and she sat up, held his face in her hands, and kissed his forehead, then went over and sat back down in her chair. When she glanced at him again, he was smiling at her, a far more relaxed smile, and she smiled back.

“Well, I can’t say I’ve ever dealt with anything like this. And I don’t know how it would work. But,” Steve said while the other three held their breath, “I’d be willing to work with you and find some other people to work with you too.” The look of relief that passed over Vic’s face was obvious, and Nikki and Tony both had to fight the urge to cheer.

“So how do I start?”

“Be at the club tonight at six. If I’m going to train you, you’re going to do what I say. I want you dressed in black tee, black leathers, and black boots. Leave your hair loose. You’re a big guy – what, six-six?”

“Six-eight,” Vic answered.

“Yeah. You’ve got to look super-hot or the women will be afraid of you. But that’s no challenge for you. In the meantime, I’m going to try to find a sub who’ll consent to work with you. Problem is, I’ll have to be honest with her, whoever she is, about what’s gone on with you, so it may be a little difficult to find someone. I’ll work on it. This is going to take a lot of commitment on your part. Sure you’re ready?”

“Absolutely,” Vic said, sitting up perfectly straight. “I’m ready.”

“Bye, honey. I’ll be sending positive energy your way.” Nikki hugged Vic and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

He couldn’t stop himself; he grabbed her and hugged her to his chest. She felt so good, so right, in his arms, her warmth and softness calming him. “I love you, little girl. Thanks for loving me.” It had been a long time since he’d been as nervous about something as he was about this.

“Oh, sweetie, you’re so easy to love! This will all work out. I have a good feeling about it.”

“Cousin,” Vic said, taking Tony’s hand. He couldn’t think of anything to say that would sum up how he felt about Tony, but that was okay – Tony understood. He dropped Vic’s hand and hugged him hard, and they stood like that for what seemed like forever.

“Nikki’s right, you know, cousin-brother. This will all be fine.” Tony took Vic’s face in his hands in true European fashion. “Think of it as an adventure. And keep us up on what’s going on. We’ll get together next week to talk about the project, okay?”

“Yeah. Maybe I’ll have something good to report by then.”

“I’ll hold you to that,” Tony said with a grin.

Vic got into his car and started home. Tonight might not be the deciding factor, but he wanted to bring his A-game. The rest of his life was riding on it.

“I thought I’d be the one to call this time,” Steve told Laura when she answered the phone on Saturday afternoon. “Stokes has another assignment tonight and I need a bartender. Can you come in?”

As much as she hated being there, she could use the money, and it was hard to say no to her boss. She wanted to ask,
Is Vic Cabrizzi going to be there?,
but she knew that would send up red flags to Steve. And would she be asking because she wanted to avoid him, or because she wanted to see him? She wasn’t certain. “Yeah, sure,” she told him. “I’ll be there.”

“Great. See you then.” The phone went dead. She was on the hook for a Saturday night. He acted like she didn’t have a life.

Well, actually, she didn’t.

Vic was at the club at five before six. When he walked in the front door, José said, “Boss man told me to expect you. His office is all the way at the back. Go to the private room hallway and keep going. To the right, by the door with the exit sign.” The door buzzed and Vic walked through. Then the office door popped open and José whispered, “Hey, by the way . . .”

“Yeah?”

“You look fucking hot!” José said and winked at him.

What the hell?,
Vic wondered, trying to figure out what he should say. “Um, thanks?” He couldn’t help wondering,
Is there something I should know here?

Rattled, Vic wandered through and went straight to the back; he didn’t even notice the heads turning as he walked through, mostly female but a few male. He knocked, and Steve said, “Come on in.”

Vic wasn’t prepared for what he found on the other side of the door. Steve sat at his desk, his feet up, and a drop-dead gorgeous woman who looked to be in her thirties knelt beside his chair, head down, hands resting on her legs palms up, knees about as far apart as she could get them. And she wasn’t wearing a stitch. Perfect presentation. Where did Steve get these women?

“You can get up now. Go and put on your skirt. And wait for me in the chair in our regular place.”

“Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.” She stood, turned, and left the room without ever even glancing at Vic.
Well-trained,
he thought. “Did you train her, or was she . . .”

“Sub wannabe. I’m working with her to see if I want to keep her. I’m just not sure. Awful lot of responsibility.” He looked Vic up and down. “You look, well . . . you look damn good.”

“José said I look hot,” Vic said without cracking a smile.

“José would know. He’s got a good eye.” Vic shot him a curious look. “He swings both ways. Lucky bastard. And he should know hot; he’s pretty damn hot himself.” Steve wrote something on a notepad on his desk, then stood. “Ready?”

“As ready as I’ll ever be.” Vic took a deep breath and sighed it out.
Here I go,
he heard a voice in his head say.

“I want you to watch some of the scenes, get a feel for what’s customary around here. I’m going to go and do one with my sub trainee. You can sit nearby and watch and, while you do, note if there’s anything you need to ask me later. I realize you’re not clueless, but every club is different.”

“Sounds good.”

Before he could turn and leave the office, Steve called out, “Wait!”

“Yeah?”

“Close the door.” Vic pushed it shut and sat back down. “How do you know anything about any of this? I would’ve never pegged you as one to be in the lifestyle.”