Luciano

Her

The cool breeze of the ocean hit Charlie's face as soon as he arrived in Atlantic City. The smell of fish struck his nose making him scrunch it in disgust.

How do people live in this shithole?

He consciously thought to himself. Ignoring his conscience, he walked in one of the restaurants situated on the boardwalk. In contrast to the one he frequented in New York, this one was big with lighting coming from every direction as a result of the large windows in the restaurant.

A large crystal glass chandelier hung from above the ceiling.

Charlie walked around the restaurant until he spotted a sharply dressed middle-aged man occupying a table. He smiled to himself. Salvatore Maranzano.

Maranzano was a contrast to Joe Masseria. While Masseria had short, chubby stature. Maranzano had a tall, fit build. Maranzano was also handsome unlike Masseria and still sported a full head of salt and pepper hair in contrast to Masseria's thinning hairline, which he tried to hide by different hairstyles. He walked towards Maranzano's table.

"Maranzano?" he asked

"Si" a pair of grey eyes looked up to him.

"You must Salvatore ?" Maranzano asked in his thick Sicilian accent.

Charles nodded and Maranzano got up and kissed Charlie on both cheeks in greeting.

Charlie took note that unlike Masseria Maranzano had manners as Joe would never get up to greet someone.

"Take a seat. Please". Marazano said while pointing to a seat opposite him.

Charles nodded and both men took their seats.

"Welcome to Atlantic City, Mr. Luciano. How may I help you? " Maranzano said with a smile on face while his arms were wide open signaling around the restaurant.

Charles looked at the man suspiciously not trusting his 'friendly' behavior. In Charlie's eyes, men are only nice when they want something or even worse when they are up to something and Charles did not trust Maranzono for a second heck he did not even trust Masseria and that was his boss.

Charles cleared his throat and spoke.

" Thank you, sir. I was sent by Mr. Joe Masseria..."

"Oh. So you are Masseria's messenger boy?" Maranzano asked condescendingly.

Charles clenched his jaw trying to suppress himself from having an outburst. Charles was irrationally short-tempered which is evident by the number of assault arrests he has on his wrap sheet. Any little thing could set him off. But as he grew older he tried to calm himself. A twenty-something-year-old Charles would have Maranzano's throat in his hands for daring to disrespect him.

But this was the new Charles he was no longer a boy, 31 years meant that he was a man and an aging one at that as his madre would say. However, Charles believed she only said that because she was pressuring him to take a wife and start a family. Which is something he swore he would never do. Being tied down to one woman was not an ideal life for him besides his job was not meant for family men, it would be too dangerous for him to start a family to top that Charles has never met a woman who gave him the desire to give up his bachelor lifestyle and he doubted that she existed.

Charles glared at Maranzano with his dark eyes and spoke through clenched teeth.

"No. I am his right-hand man"

A look of confusion overtook Maranzano's face.

"Are you not a bit too young to hold a position as a top official, what are you ....25..?"

"31" Charlie corrected.

And yes he was correct Charles was a bit young to hold a top position. It was usually men in their forties who held that position but Charlie had proven himself valuable when he saved Masseria's life and killed the man who tried to kill him. Charlie was also brutally violent and showed no mercy even when killing women and children and Masseria saw him as a valuable asset. Still, people would be surprised about his position at such a young age, although it did not help that looked younger than his age due to his grooming techniques.

"My age is not a factor here. I'm here to make you a proposal"

Maranzano waved his hand signaling for him to continue

Charles cleared his throat before he spoke.

"It has come to our attention that you have a business here and Mr. Masseria was interested in becoming a partner"

"I don't work with partners" Mararanzano spoke grimly.

Charles clenched his jaw suppressing his rising temper.

"You haven't even heard my proposal," Charles said with a forced smile.

"I don't need to hear your proposal as I have said I don't work with partners."

Maranzano got up and spoke while putting on his overcoat and hat.

"If you will excuse me, Mr Luciano, I have places to be. Send my greetings to your boss."

Charles glared at the man standing in front of him.

"Good day Salvatore," Maranzano said as he tipped his hat in Charlie's direction before leaving.

At this point Charles was fuming with rage his eyes were darker than usual, his jaw clenched as well as his fists balled up. He looked like he wanted to kill someone. Even the waiter was scared to approach him with the bill.

The meeting did not go as planned and he needed a release before concocting another plan. Maranzano was not going to stop him from having a stake in Atlantic City, Charlie always got what he wanted and what he wanted now was Atlantic City, he thought to himself. He grabbed his overcoat, putting the bill on the table before leaving in search of a brothel to get his release.

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

As he was exiting through the door, he bumped into something or rather someone. As he was about to unleash his built-up frustration on the i***t who bumped into him. He stopped when he saw her face.

My God, he had never seen such beauty before. Her round pouty lips were pink in color and he couldn't help but to wonder how they would feel on his, her big round brown eyes were covered with dark thick lashes. Her thick dark curly which reached her shoulders was styled in a fashionable way which complemented her round face and chubby cheeks. He had to restrain himself from touching her. Her flawless ebony skin complimented her beauty.

She was black.

He could never be with a black woman it was strictly forbidden. But Charlie was never one to follow rules.

Rules are meant to be broken.

He thought devilishly and a smirk formed on his face. He refocused his attention on her and noticed those beautiful lips in an 'oh' shape and wondered how she would feel around his c**k. He quickly shook off his thought and decided to help her up.

"I'm sorry sir. I wasn't looking" She spoke in a soft voice.

Charles usually found the Jersey accent obnoxious and annoying but with her it was different. Although she did not have the typical Jersey accent.

She must have been educated in proper schools.

He thought. She had the voice of an angel. Realizing he was staring at her for too long, he replied.

"No. I was at fault. In fact, let me make it makeup to you and buy you a milkshake."

She bit her lower lip looking around, uncertainty plagued her angelic face. Charles groaned at the thoughts he had.

"I promise I won't do anything just milkshake as a symbol of an apology."

She looked around once more before nodding. Charles smiled and led her to a table.

"What's favorite milkshake flavor," Charlie asked her as they sat at the table.

She smiled two dimples appearing. " Strawberry. Pretty basic." She said as an innocent giggle escaped her precious lips.

It was there and then that Charles realized something that he missed earlier on.

She was young. Very young, maybe a teenager.

"What's your name" he enquired

"Maybelle" She answered

A beautiful name for a beautiful face. He thought.

"And yours" She took him out of thoughts.

"huh?"

"What's your name?"

"Oh umm. Charles but my friends call me Charlie or Lucky. You can choose which one to use." Charlie replied.

She put her finger on her chin as if thinking, a smile on her lip and dimples showing.

God. She's beautiful.

He thought to himself.

"Charles." Her voice to him out if his thoughts once again

"I think I'll use Charles it sounds mmm.... smart."

He smiled at her silliness. Their Milkshakes arrived and he didn't miss the joy in her eyes.

She must be very young. Younger than I thought.

His conscious said.

"How old are you," He asked suddenly."

She looked up to him with those gorgeous brown orbs.

"sixteen" She replied innocently.

Charles hissed and groaned she was half his age. A kid basically and he had all these sinful thoughts about her.

"How old are you?" She asked

" I'm 31," he replied

She scrunched her beautiful face.

"That's so old" she giggled innocently.

"I'm not that old." He chuckled.

"Well to me that is old" She replied

"What do you do?"

"I'm a businessman" he replied

She nodded.

"I'm guessing you in school"

"yep" she replied

"I'm guessing 10th grade?"

She shook her head.

"No. Good guess though I'm in 12th grade." She said.

"I skipped a grade or two." She explained smugly

"Beautiful and smart. You miss are a rare breed." He smirked causing her to giggle.

"Thank you, sir." She said innocently, smiling and fluttering her long thick lashes.

Charlie felt a familiar twitch in his pants and groaned.

She's a child.

His inner voice reminded him.

Her innocence was what drove him crazy. She was forbidden fruit and which to Charlie was the best kind.

She took a sip of her milkshake and moaned while rolling her eyes.

"Yum. So good." She said childishly.

Despite her childish tone. Charles could not help the filthy thoughts that plagued his mind.

He wanted her badly. He imagined her moaning beneath him. Screaming his name.

She's a child for Christ's sake

His minds scream. Screw the age- gap, he thought. She's practically a woman

He lustfully stared at her appreciating the beauty of God's creation in front of him. He hadn't been to church or prayed in years although he still wore the cross neckless his nona gave to him as a boy. But for her, he would get down on his knees if God would give him the opportunity to do the things he wanted to do to her. He wanted to taint her.

"Why are you looking at me like that." She broke his thoughts

"I'm admiring your beauty. You're the most beautiful creature I have ever seen." He said in a dark lustful voice