" Look Jackson, I was going to tell you but I didn't want to wake you so I left a note on the...". My voice trialed off when I turned around.

It wasn't Jackson.

He smirked at me then directed his words to the gaping girl next to me. " S'up sweet tits?".

I held back a laugh. "What are you doing here?".

He dragged his eyes from Sadie to meet mine. "Your boyfri— sorry, your roommate wants you".

I glared at him. "You know what—".

"Um...i'm gonna go,". Sadie interrupted, getting to her feet and giving me a hug. " I'll text you".

As soon as she left Aiden sighed. "Whoo! your friend is smokin'".

I rolled my eyes. " That's Sadie, I met her today so...don't scare her away".

"Don't worry Ash, the ladies love me". He winked at two girls walking by and I swear they swooned.

"Well,". I shifted uncomfortably, feeling their glare piercing through the back of my head. " That lady is different...don't hurt her".

"Hmm...". He rested his hand on his chin in thought.

" Also don't mess with her, or else you'll end up getting another girl pregnant and trying to explain to the firefighters how your car spontaneously caught on fire". I added and laughed at his confused expression.

"Feisty...that's how I like my women". Something passed over his eyes and he got up and headed in the direction Sadie went without another word.

Shaking my head I headed back to my dorm. The elevator ride seemed like forever as I found myself yearning for information. I have so many questions and they're finally going to be answered. I heard the familiar ding of the elevator and I stepped out into the decorative hallway.

The floor was carpeted red and the walls were covered with pictures of past professors and students along with amazing artwork of racer snakes—our school mascot. Underneath some of the paintings were small tables with freshly picked flowers in some pretty expensive vase. It felt like I was in a fancy hotel.

The smell of pancakes hit me as soon as I walked in the dorm. I covered my mouth trying not to laugh at the sight. The kitchen —which was directly behind the living room, which was directly in front of the front door— had no doors therefore I was faced immediately with a view of a shirtless Jackson wearing denim jeans which —if I may add— showed off his nice butt, and a apron wrapped around his midsection that said Kiss the cook.

Lucky apron.

Quickly I pulled out my phone and snapped a picture of him. The stupid phone wasn't on silent so it made one of those click sounds. Jackson was on me before I could say crap. My hands were secured tightly above my head with one of his and his other hand was holding a spatula which was pointed at me. I would've smiled if he didn't look so intimidating. How the heck does he making a spatula seem intimidating?

"Vanilla bean". He sighed.

" It's...me". I said when he didn't let go. Not that I wanted him to. My back was pressed firmly against the door and I was very aware of his chest squishing my boobs. I squirmed.

" You know, I kind of like this position". He smirked and leaned his head in closer to me. My nose picked up the scent of peppermint and I longed to taste the minty freshness. A low moan sounded in the back of his throat and just as quick as he was on me, he was off with time to spare.

" You hungry?". He asked. Something told me he wasn't talking about food. Desire welled up inside me.

I cleared my throat. " Kind of". I admitted, deciding not to tell him about the scrambled eggs, toast and coffee I had saved in the microwave for him earlier when Aiden was here.

"Good because I made us breakfast,". He paused eyeing me for a minute. " We need to talk".

"Okay". A small squeak escaped my mouth. The spatula dropped and he bent over to pick it up. I watched in awe as his back muscles flexed showing off his incredible strength, my eyes then traveled down to his butt and—

" Enjoying the view". He got up smirking.

"Wha- I wasn't looking at you". I lied, not meeting his eyes.

He walked over to me and ran his thumb over the corner of my lip, drying up a wet substance. " Honey, you're drooling".

My cheeks burned. " I'm just hungry".

He stepped back to meet my eyes. "Oh, you're hungry alright".

He walked back into the kitchen, removed the apron then brought out two plates of pancakes with a bottle of syrup. He then pulled on a navy blue shirt and laughed at my pouty expression. "Don't worry, your time will come vanilla bean".

What does that even mean?

Ignoring his comment, I decided to go straight down to business. "So...Aiden said you wanted me?".

"What?". His head snapped in my direction.

Taken back by his reaction I added, " To talk, he said you wanted to talk...".

"Oh right,". He said, not meeting my eyes. "First things first".

He got up from the couch and towered over me, forcing me to tilt my head back to meet his gaze. He leaned down and slowly whispered in my ear. " Never incorporate us with those filthy neighborhood hoodlums, we are not a gang we are a mafia a famiglia". With that he plopped back onto the couch and began eating his pancake as if nothing happened.

Famiglia...where did I hear that word from? My mind raced through past memories. It took several minutes, several clinking of silverware —from Jackson stuffing his face— and several gulps of coffee for me to remember.

"Family!,". I yelled recollecting the lecture my high school italian teacher gave us. " Famiglia means family".

" About time,". He chuckled. " I almost caved and told you myself...you were really struggling there".

" Okay, so you're apart of the mafia...which is a family,". I said ignoring his last comment. " I don't get it, gangs refer to themselves as family sometimes too".

" Ashley,". The fact that he said my name and not vanilla bean meant that he was mad, or trying to control his temper. " Not only is the mafia way smarter than some simpleminded gang, we actually have ties to the government so we don't get caught that easily and we don't throw our members under the bus to save our own ass....unless they deserve it of course".

I shivered at his tone. He spoke as if he was speaking to a child which he might as well be since it took a while for me to actually comprehend what he was saying. "You would risk your life for a member?".

He sighed when he looked into my eyes for the upteinth time today. " Vanilla bean, we are more than just members we are family...and yes I would gladly take a bullet for them....if they deserve it—like I said before".

"Would you take one for me?". I had to ask.

He pretended to think about it for a minute then said. " Well I am your protector so...".

" Protecting me from what?". I asked shakily.

" Not what,". He leaned in to me. " Who".

" Okay,". I said, putting some distance between us. " Who?".

Without answering me, he got up grabbed my plate with half eaten food along with his completely empty dish and headed in the kitchen. He then came out and went to his room, I jumped a few times when a heard stuff falling to the floor and breaking then eventually got used to it. He came out with a thick packet of papers in one hand, and a pen in the other. He handed them to me.

" Sign it,". He snapped harshly, then upon seeing my startled expression spoke softer. " It's a confidentiality contract, basically saying you won't disclose any information you've learned from me about the mafia or you will be faced with immediate death blah, blah, blah...".

" I may need to read over it first". I said, finally coming to my senses and scanning over the papers.

" You don't have a choice". He calmly stated.

"Well—". I got cut off because he started counting down.

" Five...four...three...two...".

I quickly signed the document and breathe out the air I didn't know I was holding back in my lungs. "There".

" Good girl". He smiled and went in the kitchen. When he came back he had a glass of scotch in his hand. I know what it is because my mom is always drinking it.

" Are You Italian?". I blurted.

What? I was curious...

" No,". He said nonchalantly. " But my parents are, I was born here in America".

" Do you speak fluently?, Italian I mean...". I asked, suddenly interested in the beautiful man next to me.

His eyes met mine as he spoke." Spesso mi perdo nei tuoi occhi, fagioli di vaniglia"

Although I didn't know what he said I could tell it came from the sweet side of Jackson.

" W-What did you say?". My voice was low.

He shook his head. " Not unless you beg".

A shiver ran through my spine. " Okay,". I bit my lip and knelt down on my knees right in front of him, looking up through my lashes I said. " Please, tell me what you said".

He placed his hand on my cheek and spoke softly. " I said, 'I often get lost in your eyes vanilla bean' ".

I melted.

What exactly do I say to that?

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