Wicked Games: Bishop Mafia Series 1

Chapter 2

Dean drove into the driveway and stopped just behind his parents' car. As he got out of the car, he looked at the garden with the angel fountain in its middle. Rose bushes surrounded it. Just as he remembered. There were lesser trees now. The grass was still mowed and well-trimmed. Gloria Cruise always made a fuss about this garden of hers. It also brought back memories of the times when he used to chase Elena all about the garden and she would get her dresses or pant legs caught in the thorny rose bushes. He had always come to her rescue, only to chase her again. She was a screamer, constantly telling him to get away from her. She had always hated him. And now he was back.

“Senor Bishop?” The woman at the door greeted him. “Good afternoon.”

He nodded. She appeared to be in her forties. The thick Spanish accent reminded him of Elena’s favourite ballet teacher, Mrs. Augustine.

The woman's eyes scrolled from his head down to his feet. "Is it true you are going to marry our young miss?" She asked, excitement brewing in her voice.

"Si, Senorita.” He took her hand and kissed the back of it.

"Oh!" The older woman literally blushed, the redness filling her sun – kissed cheeks. She slapped her palms onto each of her cheeks. "You are very handsome."

"Where is your young miss?"

"Missy Elena is with her mother in the living hall. This way..." She beckoned him to follow her.

Elena was seated between Dean's parents and her mother sat across them. In as much as she had told Mel that she wasn’t at all disturbed by the tall blue – eyed stranger, she couldn’t help but feel a strong pull of attraction towards him.  She wondered if Dean would look anything like him.

“C’mom, Ele…admit it. This guy’s hot, isn’t he? You became like butter in his arms just now, outside the Chez.”

“No! He’s a jerk and I hate those types.” Elena had blown out a breath.

Mel had laughed. “I dunno. Probably because you are such a tight cunted princess.”

Elena had reached out and pinched her friend’s arm. Unaffected by the pinch, “Admit it, Ele.” Mel continued. “Guys like that just get all weak when they look into those sweet brown eyes of yours.

Elena sighed thinking of Mel’s words. Maybe she was right. There was no other explanation as to why Dean had insisted that she was his girlfriend, even when they had no proper courtship or dated. She knew she wasn’t ugly and she had been voted the most beautiful in college yearly. But looks aside, was Dean even compatible with her? The boy she knew, was a terror. She never hurt anybody. He always hurt someone. At an early age of fourteen, her mother had constantly begun to remind her of the promise their two families had made to each other. The wedding.

She tried very hard to remain poised and in control of her emotions as the parents excitedly chatted about the wedding. Her wedding. One that she didn’t want to happen. Amazed at how fast the wedding plans had progressed with none of her involvement, Elena forced small smiles at Roberto and Liza Bishop.

Liza was literally bouncing off the couch, holding Elena's hand in hers and talking about the gown that she will wear on that dastardly day. And her mother was adding salt to her flustering wounds about how Dean and she will look just picture perfect together.

"There you are honey." She heard Liza's cheerful voice.

Elena's eyes shot to the man standing before them, the man who was soon-to-be her husband. Her jaw fell to the shiny marble floor.

Liza got up to kiss her son on the cheek. He kissed her back and then extended a hand to Gloria.

"My, my...Dean honey.” Gloria welcomed him with a motherly hug. She had already met him months ago and excitedly, nodded in approval of how a wonderful partner he would make for her daughter.

"Son, this is the most important person you need to meet," His father, Roberto nodded at Elena.

Dean gave her a wink.

"You! It was you!" She shrieked at him. "Why didn't you tell me, it was you?"

"Oh, you two have met already?" Liza looked on quizzically from her son to Elena.

"Yes mama. I ran into Elena while I was having lunch with Leila, today." He said casually.

Elena raised an eyebrow. Ran into? Like a co-incidental thing? My foot! You followed me!

"Oh...” Liza's voice hinted at the displeasure of Dean being with Leila. "Come honey, sit here!" She recomposed herself and patted at the space next to Elena.

As Dean sat down, his shoulders and knees brushed against Elena. She felt an electric current whizz through her body at the contact. His parents seated themselves with Gloria, leaving both Dean and Elena to sit together.

"How've you been, Elena?" Dean asked softly.

"Fine!" She snapped as she scooted to the edge of the sofa.

Dean followed, sitting himself close to her. She tossed her head away from him.

"Awww....aren't they cute?" Liza giggled

"Just like when they kids!" Gloria laughed, clasping her hands to her heart.

"I want the wedding to be in two weeks." Dean informed as his eyes remained on Elena.

Elena whisked her head and glared through those big brown eyes of hers.

Unbelievable? I mean really? That soon? Her eyes threw him the questions which he seemed to dismiss right away.

Gloria had noted the protest in her daughter’s face. As Elena opened her mouth, Gloria quickly spoke up.

"Oh lovely, Dean darling. I am sure your parents and I can handle all the wedding matters. Just leave it to us." Gloria said. She was happier to know Dean wanted the wedding earlier than the first discussed date. With the way matters had been spiralling, she preferred it if Elena, was under the Bishops’ care as one of their own.

"You know, I think us older folks should leave the bride and groom to catch up. It's been a long time since they last saw each other." Roberto said.

"Yes Roberto, you are so right. Come on then...let's leave them alone." Gloria echoed the words. She paused and her eyes drilled into Elena’s. Elena’s face frowned. Satisfied, Gloria smiled and turned her attention to the older Bishops. She ushered them into a smaller room.

With the parents gone, a silence hung in the air. In the fraction of a second, myriad images flashed past Elena.

Dean chasing her in her mother’s garden. Dean demanding kisses from her. Dean tying her pigtails to the legs of her father’s chair. Dean’s messy hair and his moody tantrums. An adult Dean with suave style as he leaned against his Lamborghini. Dean beside her now.

God, she felt awkward. She knew him then but now he was a different boy. Man, she corrected herself. A real man. When she had banged onto him, she had felt those muscles and the lean body beneath his shirt. His musky and spicy scent filled her nostrils again. The mushy feeling in her stomach returned. It wasn’t hunger she had felt then. It was the feeling of being near a grown and in Mel’s words, gorgeous Dean Bishop.

Just for a moment, she considered being nice to him. Maybe if she was, she could get him to stop this wedding. Only he could do it. Talking to her mother, had only caused the two to argue and that explained the stern look Gloria threw her way before leaving with the older Bishops. Elena, shifted uncomfortably in her seat, not knowing what to do. She stared at the vase of roses in front of her.

Dean was glad for this moment. Alone with her, he admired her to his heart’s content. He noted that ample bosom heaving and falling slowly as she breathed. His eyes shamelessly roved over her body. Her dark hair flowed down her back lusciously like a waterfall. She wore minimal make - up, her skin had always been flawless. Yet her dark eyes were bewitching, though he noted the resentment present in them. The full pink lips looked so dang kissable that he was tempted to taste them at this very moment, wanting to feel those small pouches of flesh on his very own lips.

He had been holding back since the second he eyed her today. The way her body was curved in all the right places. Curves which had his blood pumping even though she was seated and that low-cut top was revealing too much of her full breasts that he felt his groin ache with lust. She was no longer that skinny kid he liked bullying. She had blossomed into a woman. Perfect for him. 

"Stop staring at me." She spoke without looking at him. Her body shifted uncomfortably.

"Am I staring? How do you know? You are not even looking at me." He answered calmly.

Silence filled the room again. Dean continued with his staring.

“I don't want to marry you, Dean."

Silence once more. Elena’s heart started beating faster. How was he going to respond?

Say yes. Say that, yes, this wedding won’t happen. Say that you will let me live my life like I want it. Say it!

"Why?"

She didn’t understand the tone in his voice. It was neither angry nor happy.

“I’m not ready.”

“You’ve known all these years that you were promised to me.”

“I’ve never had any intentions of marrying you. Whatever is between my parents and your family, you will have to sort it out with them." She suggested and stood up to leave.

She didn't get very far as her body spun around.

“Obviously, you don’t understand what is going here, do you?” He asked in a low baritone voice which made her swallow hard.

Before she could utter a word in reply, Dean's stern mouth took hers in an evocative thrill ride. Caught by surprise at the kiss, her limbs were in a state of paralysis. He was kissing her with a want that she felt. Elena didn’t date much and she was no stranger to kisses but this one. This man. Dean! He was different. His kiss made her weak in the knees. She knew him. They had grown up together and for that fact, it didn't seem wrong when she couldn't stop herself from responding.

Her fingers busied themselves clutching his brown hair. Dean deepened the kiss at her response. His tongue danced with hers as a soft moan escaped her lips. Their teeth brushed against each other. She felt herself melting into him. So much so that she wasn't even aware that Dean had pushed her back into the sofa, with him on top of her. Her body was going wild with the attention from his. Gently he pulled on the hair at the back of her head. With her head arched back a little, he ran his tongue over her lips.

"Mmmmm..." The sound came from her mouth as his tongue licked her lower lip.

He shifted his body weight off hers and sat back, breaking the kiss by only a few seconds and lifted her in double - quick time. Elena felt her body lifted but the pleasure of it all made her dispense with that fact. She did not feel him raising both her legs onto his lap. Another soft moan escaped her lips as he stroked his hand on her thighs below the skirt's hemline. His other hand was stroking her back. Smirking, Dean pulled away slowly.

"Seems like we have a lot of talking to do." He suggested firmly.

Elena's eyes opened at his words. She found herself sitting on his lap. Both arms wrapped around his shoulders. His hands were on her thighs and  her legs felt comfortable on his lap. Embarrassed at what she had allowed herself to do with him, she shifted her body but he held on.

"No! There's nothing to discuss. I'm not marrying you." She tried to maintain firmness in her voice.

Her body tingled as Dean continued to stroke her thigh, moving his hand further up her thigh. She tried to yank his fingers off her but he grabbed her fingers and enclosed his into hers. She swallowed hard, trying to maintain composure.

"Marry me Elena," He said softly.

"No!"

Dean pulled her closer. His head lowered to claim another kiss. She went limp in his arms. He pulled away again.

Elena got up from his lap. Her legs felt wobbly as she stood up. Thankfully they held her. Her body still tingled all over from the kiss.

The corner of her mouth twitched up. “I don’t want to marry you.”

“Why?”

She closed her eyes. He wasn’t going to make this easy for her. “Because, you and me are different. We are… like oil and water. We don’t mix, Dean.”

“We can work it out after the wedding.”

“Did you hear what I said? I… don’t… want… to… marry… you.” She stressed each word.

“You will.” His voice lowered to a dangerous level.

She glared at him. “I don’t like you. Never liked you. And never will.”

He glared back just as fiercely. “Your opinions about me are from the past. I’m not who I used to be. There’s an empire I am caring for. That’s my life now. My life is in Italy. And we will get married in Italy.”

“Italy?” She raised her voice.

“Italy.” He affirmed.

Their eyes met.

“Pack your bags. You are going to Italy tomorrow.”

Her eyebrows rose even higher. “I beg your pardon? Tomorrow?”

“You heard me.”

“Dean, my life is here. I am a Florida girl. Not Italian. My friends are here. My family is here.”

“Your life is with me.” His eyes bore into her. As a kid, she had backed away, fled from him and never put up a fight. Now she was trying to fight back. He loved a challenge.

Dean eased into the sofa and spread his long legs. Ignoring her, he looked around the house. Pictures of her and her parents adorned the wall. Nothing had changed. Neither did his feelings for her.

“You can’t do this to me.” She shot to her feet. “I’ll go to the authorities. I’ll report that you are trying to force me into a marriage.”

His eyes turned a stormy blue. “It doesn’t work like that.”

“You are a jerk. You are forcing me to marry you. You know I hate you. And I will always hate you. Remember this, Dean. This wedding will not happen. I won’t let it happen. I won’t walk down that aisle and say I do, to you. I will post in f*******:, i********: and Twitter that you are forcing this wedding onto me. I’m quite sure, the business empire as you so called it would see this side of you. This wedding will not hap-”

Her voice abruptly cut off. Dean stood up in a flash. Towering over her, he looked down at her. His face was hard. There was a deadly, icy coldness in his eyes which froze her.

“You…” The word sent a shiver down her back. “Will marry me, Elena.”

There was something else to his words. She felt it.

“You get this clear. This wedding will take place. In Italy.”

His eyes were fully focused on her, and he c****d his head. “If this wedding doesn’t happen, then The Peridot will be gone. Every single brick in that hotel will be torn down.”

The shiver that ran down her back made its appearance again. It raced up her back.

He was kidding. Just words to get me to say yes.

“I’m not kidding, Elena.”

The grand symphony of silence began to play in the Cruises’ living hall. In her head, Elena was still trying to understand Dean’s words. He had thrown a threat. At her. She felt a headache coming on. This was worse than she thought.

“You can’t do this. There’s law and order. You can’t destroy The Peridot. It doesn’t belong to you. It’s my father’s. My family’s”

Dean spoke his words slowly. “I own The Peridot now.”