Pasquale was in a bad mood. His boss had finally found the thief, who was at that moment on his way to the other world. The guy had thought it was wise to hide the crate so that later when no one had noticed it missing he'd take it and sell it. His mistake? He came back instead of leaving for good. He was like one of those killers who went back to the crime scene. And the thing about Jonathan was that he was careful when he dealt with enemies and traitors, never leaving any evidence. Pasquale had asked him on numerous occasions to tell him what he did with the guys who crossed him but he'd gotten no answers. Then again he never expected them.

Squashing the cigarette he had been smoking with the heel of his boot, he looked at the men in front of him. They were all in their mid twenties hoping to make quick bucks. True their business paid well but it also came with risks. He wondered what had pushed them to come looking for a job at their organization. Everyone had a story to tell and often he found himself wanting to hear them. Not that he needed to. Lukas was running a background check on each and everyone of them to see if they were hiding something or if they had been sent by their enemies. They also didn't want to accidentally recruit an undercover cop so thank God for that genius kid. "Okay. Listen up" he yelled, gaining their attention. The room went quiet and the only thing that could be heard was the sound of breathing. "This business is not for the weak hearted. I have one of our guys checking out your credentials and if I happen to find out you lied about where you came from, you're dead." he stopped, letting that sink in

"You'll be trained and briefed on your positions. If by the end of the month you're invited to live in the house then know you're doing something right. We don't condone liars and we highly value honesty. Trust me you don't want to know what the boss does with traitors. Any questions?" he asked and when someone raised their hand he ignored them. Rookies shouldn't have questions. "Great. My man Abe will give you more details about your positions."

Abe, who was almost seven feet tall, stepped forward getting straight to the point. There were fifteen men all lined up in a straight line. Most of them were given guard duty in different warehouses around the city while the others were told to wait for updates. The thing about hiring new guys was that you never knew who they really were. Some cops were good, managing to blend in with them perfectly. The first cop they'd caught was never heard from ever again. Since then, Pasquale had to believe that no one in their right mind would try to infiltrate their organization. Yet, they did show up once in a while and they were dealt with. Jonathan really was a force to be reckoned with. His phone vibrated in his pocket alerting him of an incoming call. Speak of the devil

"What's up boss man?"

"I'm leaving for Rome. You're in charge until I get back"

"How long will you be gone?"

"A week at most."

"Yeah. Okay. Don't worry I'll handle everything. What are....." the line went dead. Pasquale shook his head, scowling at his phone. His boss was all business and no play these days. He wondered why Jonathan was going to Rome. New business or… Nothing. The guy only spent his free time with whores. He'd taken the Lone wolf nickname seriously and decided not to get involved with anyone for fear they might die the way Lilith did. Which was one of the reasons he never envied his friend or his position. He wasn't foolish enough to wish he could live the way his boss did. Because Jonathan wasn't living. He just existed.

----------

Jonathan stood beside John Keats grave wondering what the fascination was. There were a couple of tourists going around taking photos and discussing the graves but he wasn't among them. This particular cemetery was Rome's final resting place for non Catholic foreigners since 1784. It hosted Buddhists, Russian orthodox Christians and atheists but he wasn't there as a tourist. The person he was waiting for was late and he was starting to get pissed. Dressed in jeans, a T-shirt and cap he blended in with everyone else. The camera hanging over his neck added to his tourist look but it wasn't the best disguise. Anyone who knew him well could point him out in a crowd. He stopped a little to make his shoulders smaller. The slight breeze blew a familiar cologne his way and he clenched his jaw. "You're late" he ground out.

"Hi to you too. Enjoying the scenery?"

"Update?"

"Almost there. Cassandra has gone off the rails again which is why I'm late. I swear to God I'm going to throw her somewhere dark and forget she even exists." the other man growled frustratingly.

Jonathan scoffed "Empty threats. That's all that is." he cleared his throat going back to business. "Has Kyle found the trail?"

"No. But he says he's close so I have to believe he is"

"Tell him to work faster. I want Wes out of the way"

"What's the rush?" the man asked, raising his eyebrows.

"I've always been in a rush to get rid of that scumbag. He's bad for business and doesn't think before making important decisions. Make it happen or you'll be out of a job"

"Sir yes sir" the man retorted sarcastically. They both knew Jonathan was also making empty threats.

"I have a flight in one hour. Being anywhere in Italy without strangling Wes is hard. Say hi to Cassandra for me." Jonathan stopped throwing one last jab. "Tell her I miss her" The man growled clenching his fists. He itched to beat Jonathan to a pulp but they were trying to blend in and exchanging fists would expose them drawing unwanted attention. Wes had minions all over the country. Knowing his partner had even stepped foot in the airport without his knowledge was going to raise suspicions. So he just dug his nails into his hands knowing that sooner or later Jonathan would get what he deserved. And he would be there to laugh in his face.

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He'd been back for two days. Since he still had three more days because he'd told Pasquale he would be away for a week, he stayed at his apartment. No one knew about it and it was registered under a different name which gave him the privacy he needed. When everything was too much at the house, that was where he went to blow off some steam or to get away. Something he found himself needing a lot lately. He also needed to come and go as he pleased without his men questioning his movements. He wasn't stupid. Somewhere among his men there were at least five of Wes that kept an eye on him. He knew who they were and he also made sure whatever they reported back was what he wanted them to. Without knowing, Wes was only getting the kind of information he allowed him to get. Right then whatever he was doing didn't need to get back to his partner.

He'd been keeping an eye on Jennifer following her movements. Why? He didn't know. All he knew was that he was drawn to her. He'd almost jumped in joy when she had escorted her ex husband to the airport. The guy had left alone and judging from his expression, he wasn't happy. It looked like he wanted to stay longer but Jennifer had told him to leave and that she would be fine. Jonathan was still puzzled as to why she hadn't called him yet. What puzzled him more was why he wanted her to call him so bad. True, his intentions had been about helping her at first but now it was more. He wanted to have a reason to invite her to dinner or at least see her. She intrigued him. Behind her eyes he could see she had been through a lot. The level of maturity she portrayed came from a person who had struggled. Someone who had been forced to grow up too fast. He'd been around such people to know that particular expression. And he wanted to know more. It was almost becoming a need. Jonathan Blackwell had never in his life needed anything.

By the time he knew who he was, all he did was want. He wanted something? He took it. He grew up knowing that needs were for the weak minded. The need to feel loved. The need to impress a certain someone. The need to prove themselves. The need to feel a connection. All those were the things he saw as weaknesses. Life had dealt him a cruel hand but he'd defied fate and lived when he should have died. After coming out on the other side, he had vowed to take whatever he wanted. Never again was he going to be helpless. But Jennifer was doing something to him. Something he had avoided in all his existence. He had to pull back before it was late. Making up his mind he decided to go back to the house. Keeping his mind busy with work would give him a few minutes of Jennifer free thoughts.

"You're back early," Pasquale said, blocking his entrance.

"Do you have a problem?"

"Nope. None at all"

"Good. Move out of my way Pascal" Jonathan said, shoving him aside. Sometimes he wondered why he'd never seen how nosy his right hand man was before giving him that position. He was worse than a nagging wife.

"When was the last time you got laid?" he asked, trailing behind him.

"None of your business where my dick has or hasn't been."

"That translates to it's been too long. I'm going to find you some pussy" he said branching off to the kitchen. Jonathan wanted to call him back but stopped. He did need it. If he was going to forget about Jennifer then someone else might do the trick.

An hour later he groaned in frustration. The woman kneeling in front of him took that as encouragement and increased her movements wrapping her hands at the base of his shaft while her mouth sucked him off. For a moment, he thought of telling her to stop and leave but he needed an outlet. All the frustration that had been piling up all week, he had to get rid of them one way or another. Sadly, the woman kneeling in front of him was the only way at the moment. The other one was destructive. Grabbing her hair he yanked her up and she released his cock with a pop. He was semi hard because he was holding back. Even though the woman had skills he felt horrible for using her. In the past it was okay since he saw who he was screwing. Now all he saw was Jennifer's face and although he tried as hard as he could, he couldn't erase her from his mind. So whatever he was about to do felt dirty and wrong but he wasn't going to stop.

"Did I do something wrong?" the woman asked, shaking. He let go of her hair caressing it absently

"No..." he stopped. He didn't even know her name. That only added to his reluctance. "On your knees" he told her, deciding to get it over with once and for all. She scrambled on the bed getting in position. The flimsy lingerie she wore revealed more than it hid serving her ass to him on a silver platter. Jonathan went through the trouser pockets lying at his feet, searching for a condom. After sheathing himself, he positioned his cock at her entrance then pushed himself inside. Closing his eyes he imagined beneath him was someone else, someone he enjoyed pounding into. With a grunt he finished then removed the condom. Throwing it in the trash can, at the corner of the room, he opened a drawer and took out wards of cash, handing them to the woman slumped on his bed. "This should be enough. Now leave" he told her even though they both knew it was more than enough.

"Oh it's fine. When can I come back?" she asked, batting her eyelashes.

"Just leave," Jonathan snarled. He wanted to be alone. She picked up her coat then left banging the door on her way out. He sat on the bed sighing. Was it possible that he felt empty? Because that was the only way he could describe the feeling threatening to swallow him. Empty and cold. What he just did with that prostitute disgusted him. He was after his own release so he hadn't bothered with her needs. Then again, did it matter if she was satisfied? It was her job to satisfy him. He'd paid her for it. Why was he worrying about that? Better yet, why was he wondering what kind of a person he was? And why now? He knew the answer to that. Jennifer.

He kept picturing how he would act if he was with her. How he was going to make love to her. Make love? Crap. He didn't do that and yet that's how he saw it. With her it wouldn't be meaningless. He wouldn't just go in, get his release then leave. No. With her he would worship her body. Give her all his attention. Make sure she's satisfied before he even thought about himself. Growling in frustration Jonathan got up from the bed just as his phone rang. It was an unknown number. He wasn't in the mood to talk to anyone but calls couldn't be ignored. What if it was important? Answering the call he snapped at the person on the other end of the line. "What!" nothing was said but he heard breathing. Soft breaths that only meant the caller was a woman. He'd only given his number to one woman. Shit. "Jennifer?" he asked, holding his breath. The one time she decides to call, he snaps at her and now she's scared.

"Sorry. I... I... I didn't mean to..."

-------------------

Jenna could have kicked herself. What had made her call him? Her weird dreams or Chloe's taunting? She'd learned the hard way that when it comes to the twins, you couldn't tell one a secret and expect them to actually keep it. All week long Chloe hadn't stopped teasing her about Jonathan and many are the times Jenna had thought of shipping her back home. But she was still a child, a nagging one but still a child who saw everything in a positive light. Lucky her. After that greeting, Jenna was ready to hang up and forget he ever existed.

"No, no, no, no please don't hang up. Please" Jonathan begged from the other end. "I'm sorry please don't....." a sigh. "....if you hang up I'll show up at your door"

Jenna rolled her eyes "Now you're threatening me?"

"No. It's not... I just figured... I don't know. Just don't hang up on me yet"

"Okay." Jenna said then both of them went silent. She could hear him breathing and she was sure he heard the same but didn't say anything. One, two, three, four, five seconds passed before he cleared his throat.

"How is your husband?"

"Ex husband" she rushed to say. "He went back home"

"Oh. Okay. How have you been?"

"Are you okay? You don't sound like you"

"What do you mean?"

"You're always straight to the point. Since when do you care about how I am?"

"I can't do this... "

"Okay. Sorry I called" Jenna said, feeling a pang of disappointment.

"No. I mean I can't do this over the phone. Let's get dinner?"

"Dinner?" Now her stomach was dancing with anxiety.

"Yes. A business dinner" oh. That was like a bucket of cold water on her nerves. She chilled immediately. What had she thought? That he felt the way she did? How did she feel anyway? She still loved Jeremy but wanted to sleep with Jonathan. The only explanation she could come up with was that he resembled her ex-husband and he at least was single. He was. Wasn't he?

"Yeah. A business dinner. I can do that. Just tell me when and where" then she hung up. Well that was awkward. Jenna felt embarrassed for even thinking the way she did. To be honest she was attracted to Jonathan. With Jeremiah it was different because she knew he was the love of her life. But Jonathan brought out something else in her. She couldn't pinpoint what it was at that moment but she knew it wasn't the kind of thing she wanted unleashed. Up until she'd met Jeremiah, her life was heading to what she considered normal. But Jenna should have known she wasn't meant for normal. Because who in their right mind loved one person then thought lustful thoughts about someone else? And that was what it was. Lust.

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