Barefoot Kisses

KISSES AND STRAWBERRIES

{When Danger Meets Desire}

By Silva Tim

Chapter 1 : Kisses , Killings and Strawberries

ITALY – QUIET NEIGHBORHOOD

In a quiet neighborhood, a tall, fitted guy stood staring blankly at some things on the floor.

He took his gun and pocketed it at his back, then looked at the strawberries beside the dead guys on the floor, their blood pooling attractively around them. He scowled before walking off.

"Gosh, that's a waste. They weren't even worth it," he said coldly as he walked slowly. The chilly wind blew his hair backward, revealing his perfectly handsome face, a cross necklace dangling on his neck.

A fragile, innocent-looking girl kept following him, clutching the ripped gown that barely covered her exposed thighs and chest.

"I told you to stop following me," he said in his cold voice.

"Why? But you saved me from those rapists," she muttered.

"Let me get this straight into that dumb skull of yours. I didn't save you. I just felt like it," he replied blankly, darkness oozing from his cold voice.

"But..." she mumbled as he moved toward her.

His dark aura, yet strawberry scent, followed him until he got to her, bringing his face closer.

Surprisingly, she stared him in the eye without flinching, but her heart was beating so fast it might jump out of her chest.

"Say one more thing, and I'll kill you," he said in a threatening voice as she gulped.

"Well, this is my last killing here in Italy, so you won't get to see me anymore," he added.

"So you're leaving me now?" she mumbled.

"What? You're gonna follow a mafia?" he smirked.

"But you're my savior. I wanted to repay you for saving my life," she responded.

"Oh? Why don't you repay me right now?" he said, stepping closer.

"How can I do that? I don't think I-" she was saying when he pulled her closer by the waist and smashed his lips onto hers.

She gasped into the kiss, shocked, while he dealt with her lips quickly. All she could do was stand still.

After the long, fast kiss, he broke it and, for the first time, smiled.

"Remember this all your life. That's how you repay me," he said with his usual side smirk.

His eyes caught her exposed cleavage, and she quickly used her hands to cover it, staring down while biting her lip.

He took off his black jacket and draped it over her shoulders. She held it, quickly zipping it up, inhaling his intoxicating strawberry scent.

"You got my jacket. You should be honored," he said with his usual smirk.

"Thank you so much. You're my lifesaver," she muttered.

"Sure I am, but you won't find anyone like me every day, so be strong," he said.

"I'll be strong," she responded slowly.

"Not my problem," he said blankly before walking away, leaving her there.

"Was he not just nice right now? How did he change in a second?"

"Psycho," she muttered, inhaling the strawberry scent from his jacket.

"By the way, I'm Tamara!" she shouted.

Kenzo scoffed and walked his way.

---

NEXT DAY – ST. MICHAEL CATHOLIC CHURCH

Inside the church, a man in his late fifties with very long white hair, a white beard, and tattoos all over his arms knelt before the statue of Jesus Christ, praying.

The K Siblings entered.

The first son, Kevin Veneto, had a thick black beard with tattoos covering his arms. A thick marijuana wrap stuck at the corner of his lips, and the way he walked screamed danger. He was the underboss of the Veneto organization.

The second daughter, Kayla Veneto, had a beautiful baby-like face. She wore a short flared skirt and a crop top with short clingy shorts beneath. Piercings adorned her ears, nose, lips, and even eyebrows. She had no tattoos, and strangers might mistake her for a nice girl, but she definitely wasn't.

A lollipop in her mouth made her look ruthlessly sexy.

The third son, Kenzo Veneto, wore ripped jeans and an unbuttoned shirt, revealing the cobra tattoo on his chest. His long black hair was crazily styled, adding to his dangerous boy look. No tattoos marked his outer body, but the strawberry scent followed him as he stepped in.

His blank face never shifted, and a black mask covered it. He was the only one wearing a mask for unknown reasons. Only his siblings and father had seen his real face.

Even other mafia organizations didn't know his face.

You could immediately tell he was a crazy hottie.

"Didn't Don tell you not to smoke in the church?" Kayla said to Kevin.

Kevin turned to her, glaring. "Don't tell me that, bitch," he snapped, taking the marijuana out of his mouth and putting out the light.

"Pick it up," the man in his fifties said as he stood upright.

"Father," they all said, bowing instantly.

"Pick the cigar up, Kevin," Capo said calmly. He was the boss of the Veneto organization.

"Yes, Father." Kevin obeyed and picked it up.

Kenzo dropped a suitcase on the table, revealing shiny gold bars. Capo smiled. Gold bars no longer surprised him.

"Good work on yesterday's mission," Capo said, standing upright with his black staff.

"Thank you, Father," they chorused, heads bowed.

"The rest of the suitcases are in the back of your car," Kenzo added.

"All right, Poison," Don replied.

He called him Poison because he had personally trained him, giving him that name since he killed like a poisonous snake, leaving no trace.

"Occhio per occhio (An eye for an eye)," Capo said in Italian.

"Morte per morte (Death for death)," they chorused.

"All right. Leave me and Poison alone. You can return to the castle," Capo ordered.

"Yes, Father," they chorused and left.

"I still can't get over this shit. Why does Father always talk to him alone?" Kevin said angrily outside.

"You need to chill out, man," Kayla snarled.

"Watch how you talk to me, or I'll kill you right here," Kevin shot back.

"Try it and see what happens," Kayla said, pulling out her pistols.

"Should we start shooting at each other and see who wins?" Kevin smirked, pulling out his pistol.

The men in black, about twenty-nine of them, stood by watching.

---

Back in the church:

"I heard you killed a bunch of guys yesterday," Capo said.

"Yeah, I did," Kenzo replied.

"I mean, you saved a girl. You need to stop your hatred for rapists," Capo said.

"Yes, Capo," Kenzo answered.

"All right. You have another job tonight at 8 p.m. Kill Michael. I have another reverend for my church," Capo chuckled darkly.

"Yes, Capo," Kenzo replied.

"That's all. Get out," Capo dismissed him.

"Yes, Capo." Kenzo walked out.

Outside, Kayla stood waiting, licking her lollipop while eyeing him lustfully. More men in black surrounded them.

"I was waiting for you," she said with a smile.

"Okay," Kenzo replied, walking to his superbike and putting on dark sunglasses.

"I got mine," Kayla smirked, also putting on hers.

He hopped on, and as the engine roared, she was about to climb on when he sped away crazily.

"Damn that crazy guy!" she yelled, then smiled. "Well, that's part of his charm." She hopped on her superbike, ignited it, and sped away.

---

Inside the church:

A man in a black suit walked in.

"Boss," the man said, bowing. He was the only one who still called him that since they had been friends since childhood.

"Consigliere," Capo greeted.

"Yes, Boss," the Consigliere replied.

"I'm going to make real use of him hiding his face," Capo said suddenly.

"How, Boss?" the Consigliere asked.

"I'm going to make him extort all the money from his family," Capo said.

"Then we still need to wipe more of his memories," the Consigliere noted.