Her Protectors

It has been a little of a year since my uncle passed away. The police say that someone broke into his shop, and he was killed in an attempted robbery. I don't believe them. We never kept money in the office. His two-bedroom apartment, above the shop, had a safe in the kitchen behind the refrigerator. No one knew about it, except for me and my uncle. A month after my uncle's death his attorney showed up with paperwork for me to sign. I was his only beneficiary. He left everything to me. The shop, his properties, my parent's home which I never knew we had.

My name is Cassidy Romano. I just turned twenty-one a month ago. I live in Brooklyn, New York. My parents died when I was thirteen years old. I was sent to live with my uncle, Gino Delvecchio, when I was fourteen years old. I was an only child. No other relatives other than my uncle. My uncle was killed in his ship, supposed in an attempted robbery. The crime scene did not look right. It looked staged. I have been a mechanic for the past five years. My uncle showed me how to work on cars. Everything from tune-ups to transmission rebuilds. I keep this shop clean. I know every tool in this shop.

The night my uncle was killed, there was a black tire iron that had not been here before. Everything we have in this shop is steel, silver. We have everything organized in our tool chests. The scene had looked like there was a scuffle and drag marks by the office. My uncle was shot between the eyes. Another three gunshots to the chest. If I was not mistaken, it looked like a hit. Mafia style. But what ties did my family have to the mafia?

I am busy today. I have several tune-ups scheduled for this morning and a tranny rebuild. I have a new smog testing machine, that I purchased with some of the money my uncle left me. It has brought in a ton of new business. I also extended my hours. I am here at six in the morning and do not leave until eight at night. On Saturdays I am here six in the morning to twelve noon. I knew these hours would help out the working-class people who took their cars to the shops on their own.

There are 4 work trucks coming in for full servicing for Saturday morning. It is Friday seven thirty at night. I am cleaning up for the night. I always double check jack stands and lock up the front then work my way to the back of the shop. I close the front gate and pull the chains together. I put on the double lock. I am about to walk away as a work truck pulls up and blows the horn. I walk back to the gate and the driver jumps out.

"Hey there cutie. My boss, Mister Marchetti, wanted me to drop off the trucks tonight for tomorrow servicing."

"Oh okay, let me open the gate back up. Pull around back and driver into the shop. Park on the right side. There are four scheduled for tomorrow. Are you bringing the other trucks tonight?"

"Yeah, my guys are right behind me. About five minutes out."

"Okay, drive through." I waved him through. Just I turned around, the other trucks were pulling in. I waved to them to follow the first guy.

The guys parked all of the trucks in the back of the shop. The first guy that arrived was walking toward me, "Hey cutie, where is your boss? I need to give the keys to a Cass. The boss told me to see Cass."

"That would be me!" His eyebrows went up. Yeah, that always gets them. I go by Cass and since I'm a woman, a lot a people don't take me seriously. "This is my shop."

He walked up to me, extended his hand, "Well cutie, I am liking my job more and more now." He reached for my hand. I shook his hand firmly. He pulled back with a grin. "Strong grip. I like that. What else can you firmly hold?"

"Do you want to really find out?" as I cracked my knuckles.

"Ooo, sassy. I love it. Cass? Short for?" he asked. "Cassidy. Cassidy Romano. And you are?"

"Marco Martini. Martini like the apple drink. Or M&M, melts in your mouth, not in your hand. You can always order a dirty martini. Hahaha" he says with a shit-eating grin. He is a hunk. But not my type. He's more of a dork, in a handsome way.

"You know the old saying 'the lips are moving, they are lying'?" I said as I walked back to the gate. The other drivers were already walking to a car that had pulled up outside the gate.

"Oh, and I never really like vermouth. I'm more of a tequila girl. Not that silver shit, anejo. Smoother. It slides down the throat smoothly." I said as I was holding out my hand waving him back out of the gate.

"Oh, my heart just stopped. I like you. You're brassy. Be careful, I might have to take you to dinner and let you have your way with me."

"Sorry M&M, I'm not into little chocolate covered nuts. I'm more of a long chocolate bar woman. Have a good evening, gentlemen." I nodded to all of them as they laughed at Marco. He smiled and walked to the car. He waved as he got into the passenger side.

I laughed to myself. Some men are so full of themselves. He was funny though. I locked up the gate again. Walked to the back of the shop, closed the back door and locked it. I walked back to the front of the shop and double checked the front doors and locks. I shut off the neon sign out front. I went to the back to the office and got my clip board.

I always documented mileage, make and model of each car I serviced. I also took pictures and recorded everything around the vehicles. Sometimes you have those customers that say we damaged their vehicles and try to get free service or try to sue you for more money. One of the things my uncle first taught me. I missed him so much.

I recorded everything, took the clipboard back to my office and turned off the lights. I walked through the shop, up the stairs to the apartment. My uncle built an apartment, above the garage. I walked inside and immediately set my security system. The entire property had security cameras and sensors. Two-bedroom, in which one of bedrooms I had my monitors and a safe with my guns. You just never know. My apartment has a small kitchen, single bathroom and a small patio. I had my barbecue grill outside. I loved to grill food. I liked the clean foods, not really a heavy sauce person. I mean I am Italian, love pasta. But my favorites are grilled chicken and grilled veggies. Simple.

I have to admit, the single bath had an old fiberglass shower tub combo. Which I ripped out myself. I had a customer, that does quartz and granite kitchen and bath remodels. I asked him if he would like to exchange a shower pan in exchange for the work on his car. He actually added more to the shower and a glass panel. No need for a show curtain.

I live by myself. No harm, no foul. Right? My customer also exchanged the work for a new countertop in my kitchen and made a small island at the end of the counter. Nice. I put bar stools on both sides. An extra chair, in case I had a guest. I had plants on the patio and a dwarf lemon tree. It was great for my tequila nights. My small living room had my bookshelf. I loved to read on my day off, while doing laundry.

I poured myself an aloe drink and walked out to the patio and plopped down in my chair. I was sitting there thinking about maybe taking a vacation to Italy. I was grilling some chicken and started to walk back into the apartment when I got this strange sense that I was being watched. I was listening to one of my cd's Evelyn "Champagne" King. She's just awesome. I started singing along:

No sleep last night

Been dreaming of you

Please hold me tight

'Cause I can't help the way that I feel

I just can't help the way that I feel

Thief in the night

You took my heart

Now danger's in sight

'Cause I can't help the way that I feel

I just can't help the way that I feel

Do do dit dit dit dit dit dit do do do

Baby you make my love come down

Ooh you make my love come down

Make it come all the way down

Oh you make my love come down

Baby you make my love come down

Ooh you make my love come down

Can't do without

Your tender love

There's no way out

And I can't help the way that I feel

I just can't help the way that I feel

Your love has a force

Got me under your spell

So take me, I'm yours

And I can't help the way the I feel

I just can't help the way that I feel

Shoo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, oh

Baby, you make my love come down

Ooh you make my love come down

Make it come all the way down

It is usually quiet out in this area. Another favorite song came on "It's Raining Men" I started singing along with that song as I came back out of the apartment, I got a glimpse of a shadow across the street. A lit cigarette was tossed down. Whoever it was stepped on the cigarette and walked away. What the actual fuck? Who was there and why where they watching me?

After I ate my meal, I walked back inside locked up the sliding door. I did not get this feeling to being afraid. Just warmth and tingles. I thought I smelt cologne. A man's cologne. It smelt like Johnny Depp. Dior. Sauvage. My favorite. Hhuummmm. My knees felt weak. What is wrong with me?

I sometimes dream of Mister Right, saving me from this life. I dream about walking the beaches of California or Mexico. I dream of being on a yacht with a tall handsome Italian man. I have had this same dream over and over before. Tall, chocolate brown eyes, strong hands to hold me. Wide shoulders, muscular with a happy trailer down to my idea of wonderland. Prominent nose, perfectly face with strong cheek bones and kissable lips. I love a man with stubble. I dream of running my hands up and down his chest.

I dreamt of a huge house and a huge family. Dinner with a huge family. I dreamt of having a baby. Beautiful baby boy that looked like my dream husband. I know that is just a dream. I have no one. The hours I work, I may never have the chance to meet anyone.

Sometimes I have a temper. I never show any of my customers. I think it's the Italian in me. I remember my father laughing at my mother when she was angry. She would be yelling and throwing things. She would go in the small back yard we had and throw knives the fence. He used to say that one day she was going to kill someone and just hoped it was not him. I chuckled to myself. She loved my father with everything in her soul. She used to tell me that he was her fire. I hope to have that someday.

I could not stop watching her. She made my blood stir. She's beautiful. Ocean blue eyes, obsidian black hair. Pouty lips I would love to see sucky my cock. Beautiful firm body. She is about 5' 4" and has a body of someone that takes care of herself. You could see her arms are cut and firm. Her legs are firm. Her abs are ripped. Her ass, I dream of holding her and squeezing her ass as she screams my name. She has been working on my trucks for a couple of years now. Ever since I first saw her that night, I could not stop thinking of her.

We had gone to pick up our trucks the night her uncle was killed. A rival crew had visited him that night. I overheard the conversation. They thought he took their drugs out of their car that they left there for a tune-up. Something was not adding up. One guy asked about a map. The other would shut him up and ask about a tunnel.

First what idiot would drop off a car with drugs hidden in it? I could not see exactly who it was. I had someone looking into the situation as this happened on our turf. What map? What tunnel?

I am Lorenzo Marchetti, my father is Luca Marchetti, the mafia godfather. Brooklyn is part of our turf. Our family has been here since the early 1900's. I am being trained to take over for my father when he retires. I am twenty-nine years old. 6' 2", I graduated college with a business degree. I have been able to legitimize and large majority of our businesses. I have four brothers, Francesco, Tomas, Mateo and Luca Jr. and one sister, Giana, she is twenty-one. Just like my beautiful angel.

I have been watching Cassidy, ever since that night her world stopped. I wanted more than anything to go to her and hold her. I saw the look on her face. Alone. Angry. Defiant. Simply beautiful. Yeah, I had my share of girls. Not real dating girls, just one-night stands. None ever captivated me like Cassidy.

Her intense stare. She showed no emotion after her uncle was killed. She was angry with the police that night. They told her simple case of killed in an attempted robbery. After the police left, she squared her shoulders, straightened her posture, head up and she kept staring at the area and walking the perimeter and talking to herself. She knew simple was not the answer. I heard her yell out, "Bull shit! I will find out who did this. No matter hell or high water." He made my blood stir.

I have my men keeping an eye on her. I want nothing to happen to her. I must have her. I want her by my side. Just her presence calms me. My mind, body and soul belong to her. I have not thought of anyone else. I have not been with anyone else since I first laid eyes on her. I watch her every night. I stand in the dark like some stalker. I dream of her every night.

My Father has yet to find out who was responsible for her uncles' death. We tried to find out whose car was in the shop at the time of the murder. I have to protect my angel, amore mio. I will kill who ever lays a hand on her.

I send my men there to drop off the trucks early, just so I can see her earlier in the day. I usually watch her in the darkness of the night, but Marco suggested dropping the trucks off the day prior to the appointment. I could see her beautiful face in the day light.

She was beautiful in every way she moved. I saw her eyes, the way she looked around checking the streets. She always locked up the same way. Wearing coveralls and her hair up in a messy bun. She had a small, thin black watch on. I could see the dirty and grease on her hands and arms. Closing the gate and locking it. Closing the garage doors and the doors in the back after she double checked everything in front. I knew she had a small handgun tucked in the small of her back. I would love to run my hand up and down there. I dream about taking her to dinner and placing my hand there as we walk into one of our restaurants. I would take her anywhere she wanted. I often wondered if she ever wore a dress. I want to love to see those legs in a dress.

She reminded me so much of my mother. My mother passed away ten years ago from breast cancer. I saw the look in my father's face when my mother took her last breath. Part of him died that day. If anyone could make my father bend, it was only my mother. He worshipped her. He loved her. He tried to find ever cure he possibly could for her. In the end, the cancer took her from us.

My father still visits the family mausoleum. He talks to her every day. On Sundays he places flowers on her casket. He used to have flowers delivered to her every Sunday morning. This was our family day. She always made a huge dinner. Everyone in our family was there. Music would be playing and every Italian dish you could think of was made. My mother would be up late the night before making her desserts. She loved cooking. She spoiled the entire family. But not as much as she spoiled my father.

I was brought out of my thoughts as I noticed Cassidy was staring in my direction after nightfall. I threw my cigarette down and stepped on it. I hope she did not see me. I want to make a special trip back to see her when we pick up the trucks Saturday afternoon.

She is an excellent mechanic. She really knows her work. She is strong woman. Alone handling the engine hoist and all of the tools. I watched her in awe one day from one of my cars. I parked across the street in my car watching her. She is respected by all of her customers. She is honest and trustworthy. The way she handles herself. I chuckled at the music she played, Evelyn "Champagne" King, Teena Marie, Lincoln Park, Green Day and Red-Hot Chili Peppers. She would sing out loud a song 'It's Raining Men'. She listens to a lot of different music. She would dance around carefree and wild. I could sit there for hours just watching her sing and dance around. I would smile to myself. She cannot carry tune, but she is just absolutely captivating.

Could I make her happy? I am not the easiest man to love or even get along with. My men know I have a temper. I have had people killed for crimes against my family.

I had turned a small part of the garage into my work-out room. I did not have time to go downtown to the local gym. So, I made it easier to work-out. I had started kickboxing and taekwondo when I was eight. My parents both agreed being a young woman and having to sometimes go places alone. I needed some type of self-defense. I had taken gymnastics in junior high. I had started boxing in high school. I felt the need to take it to a higher level for myself. I installed a free-standing punching bag, a kick boxing bag, stairmaster boxmaster tower. I have graduated from kick boxing to Muay Thai.

I have an instructor that comes by on Monday and Wednesday evenings. I had met him when he brought in his car for servicing. I had not closed the door to my small gym, and he saw my equipment. He had asked me if I was training by myself and offered to help me. That was three years ago. Jin Shin, a Muay Thai Mixed Martial Arts fighter has been my friend and trainer. Sometimes his wife and little girl come to visit. His wife, May, is just beautiful. Her kindness, the way she cares for her family. She is soft spoken. I know how she fights. The saying, 'The quiet ones are the ones you have to worry about' is just a small statement about May. She is just awesome. She has showed me how to make noodles and veggie plates. I grill a lot of meats. Not much of a fried foods person. My weakness...ice cream.

I am usually working out at four in the morning. I love rocking out to the GAP band or any R&B funk music. I was in the warehouse district so no one could hear the music unless they were standing right outside my shop. I just finished my morning crunches and my morning run. I use my yard as my running field. It is still dark outside, so no one should be up. That is a big should be. After my workout I go in and take a shower and have a light breakfast. I usually meal prep since I am short on time and really don't drive into the city for lunch. Traffic is too thick, and I don't have the patient for that anyways.

I checked all my cameras and turned off the security system. I unlocked the back door and raised to garage roll-up. I walked to the front of the garage and unlocked the door. I noticed someone standing at my gate waiting. "I'll be right there." I yelled over.

"No worries, Cara Mia. I would wait for you forever if needed." The man said. He was just gorgeous. Tall, Built like a god. A beautiful smile that could melt a woman's panties right off. He wore black dress pants that fit oh so well and a long sleeved light grey dress shirt. Oh my, I just took a shower. I may have to go back and take a cold shower now. My tummy was doing a flip flop. His beautiful chocolate brown eyes just captured my heart. He had wavy hair I wanted to run my fingers through it. Maintain girl, maintain.

"G-good m-morning. H-how may I-I help y-you sir?" Damn I am stuttering like an idiot. Did I put deodorant on? Man, I hope I remembered to put my good bra on this morning. My coveralls are on thank God! I think my nipples pebbled.

"Cara Mia, I was just checking if my men had brought my trucks in for servicing. I trust that you are having a good morning. I brought you something as well." He said as he held something behind his back. He brought a little pink box from around his back. He smiled at me as I unlocked the gate and slid it open.

Geez, that smile. His eyes twinkled. Yep, a player. He probably did that with all the women he knows. I smiled at him as he handed me the box. "Oh, thank you but you did not have to do this."

"Yes, I did. You do excellent and quick work. I would also like to ask you out for lunch. I know close early on Saturdays. You are closed Sundays. And I also know you are extremely busy during the week. Your work is all talk about town as the best and trustworthy. My name Lorenzo Marchetti."

"Yes, yes of Marchetti & Son Inc. Please come in and have a seat." I said as I held my hand guiding him into the office. I have no idea why i was so nervous. I opened the office and held my hand out guiding him to a chair. "Coffee, tea or..." I paused and I looked at him questioning. That's when I smelt his cologne. Sauvage. Was he? I did a full body shiver as he walked past me.

"Or you? Coffee is fine Cara Mia. Are you up early all of the time? Do you not have anyone else that helps you here?" Lorenzo asked. He handed me the small box. I opened it. Oh my, one of my favorites, cannoli with mascarpone cream. Oh, my ass just got wider!

"Just me. I am an early bird. I have not hired anyone else yet. I guess it's a trust thing. I know my work. I am honest with all of my customers no matter their status. I work with my customers that have little to pay. I know a lot of people work hard and still struggle to make ends meet. They have families. I do not take advantage of anyone. And I expect the same."

"Yes, you remind me of my mother. Strong willed, defiant and yet beautiful."

I blushed hard. I looked down. "I do not think of myself as...beautiful.' As I made him a cup of coffee. I turned with the cup and had a questionable look. Cream or sugar? He took the cup shaking his head. I guess black coffee it is.

"But you are." He paused staring at me. Ok, now I am really nervous. What is his angle? What is with all of the questions. I really need to get started on his trucks. I wanted to watch a movie after I shop for groceries.

"My apologies, Cara Mia. I brought you some cannoli my zia Mariana makes these Friday nights for her Saturday ladies tea parties. It is my zia ...oh sorry my aunt, my father's sister. They meet every Saturday noon. I told her I was stealing some cannoli for a special person...Cara Mia." Lorenzo kept talking at looking into my eyes.

The more he talked the more I was enthralled with him. I felt like licking his face. My god, this man could easily pass for a model or Hollywood actor. I was suddenly getting wet down there. His accent was making me shiver. In a good way.

"Cara Mia, would you please have lunch with me today or tomorrow?" he asked me. I was dumb founded.

"Why me? Why am I so interesting? I have just met you Mister Marchetti."

"Lorenzo, please call me Lorenzo. Look at yourself. A beautiful woman. You own your own business and run it by yourself. I have admired you since I saw you on one of our service days, a couple of years ago. I have been trying to work up the courage to ask you to lunch. I was feeling brave today. I also have a business proposition for you. It will benefit both of us." He smiled again. There it was. That shit-eating grin of a player. These men only use women and toss them out.

"I am not what you call a player. I see the question in your eyes. I have not dated or seen any women in a few years. I have a heavy workload with my father and our family business. I would love for you to say yes, Cara Mia. I would be very happy."

Here we go. I am weak already. He makes blood yearn for him. What am I a friggin vampire now? Geez. Ok. Ok. Calm down girl. With that smile of his, dammit!

"Well, I like to make my customers happy. How about this, it won't take me that long to service these trucks. My scheduled tranny rebuild is postponed. The parts are delayed. Since I already have all of the work history, that I already did. You can pick up me up at 1:30 today? Since I do not really drive into the city. I have my truck. I just do not like taking it out for daily travel through the city."

"Yes, yes. I will let you get to work, and I will be back today. Don't work too hard Cara Mia." With that he walked to the door and turned to me. I stood from my desk as he turned his head, he smiled and wink.

Yep, I just creamed my jeans. Geez what is happening to me. I'm too young for hot flashes.