My Best Friend’s Dad

Chapter 3

CHAPTER 3

O ne month later

Jenna

My best friend was a traitor.

Bella had always been the spontaneous one, but leaving me to rot away all summer while she pranced off to Italy for some prestigious foreign studies program was a new low. We had made so many plans—beach days, movie nights, road trips—and she just up and left. Now I was stuck here, on my own with no prospect other than my own dirty fantasies.

I lay sprawled on my bed, staring at the ceiling fan as it whirled lazily above me. The quiet in the house was oppressive, and I groaned out loud just to fill the silence.

I didn’t know what to do with myself.

I grabbed my phone, scrolling through social media aimlessly, seeing picture after picture of my best friend living it up in Italy—eating gelato, visiting the Coliseum, and making new friends.

Ugh, Bella! Why?

Why couldn’t she have waited until the fall semester? The program was prestigious, sure, but what about our plans?

The other reason I was slightly bothered by her absence was that I couldn’t go over to her house and see Vincenzo like I was used to doing.

I licked my lips, imagining his face peering down at mine right before he slid inside me just like I had fantasized last night, and my pussy clenched hard.

Fuck me.

My phone buzzed, pulling me from my extraordinarily wicked thoughts. With an annoyed groan, I glanced at the screen to see an incoming call from another one of my friends, Sophie.

“Hey, Jenna!” Sophie’s cheerful voice rang through the phone. “What are you up to?”

“Not much,” I replied, trying to keep the bitterness out of my voice. “Just lounging around.”

“Well, you won’t be for long! There’s a party tonight at Jake’s place, and you’re coming with me. No arguments.”

I sighed, sitting up and crossing my legs. “I don’t know, Soph. I’m not really in the mood.”

“Nope. None of that,” she insisted. “You need to get out, have some fun. Besides, Jake’s parties are always epic. It’s just what you need to shake off whatever funk I’m hearing in your voice.”

I bit my lip, considering what she’d said. Sophie had a point. Moping around all summer wasn’t going to bring Bella back any sooner. Maybe a party was exactly what I needed to snap out of my mood.

“Okay, fine . What time?”

“I’ll pick you up at eight. Wear something hot!” Sophie hung up before I could protest.

I dropped my phone on the bed and stood up, stretching. A party might actually be a good distraction. At the very least, it would keep me from brooding over Bella’s betrayal and my twisted fantasies about Vincenzo.

Maybe I’d meet someone else… A hot diversion may be exactly what the doctor ordered.

With renewed energy, I rifled through my closet, looking for something to wear, and I found nothing. My wardrobe felt so uninspiring and flat. I thumbed through hangers, hoping to find something, anything, that would make me feel like going out tonight. Nothing seemed right.

“Ugh, why do I even bother,” I muttered, pouting at the lack of options. I flopped back on my bed, staring at the ceiling again.

For a moment, I pondered just staying in with a pint of ice cream and a Bridgerton marathon, but then it hit me.

Bella’s closet!

Bella always shared her clothes with me. She had some amazing outfits and I bet I could find something just right in her closet since I couldn’t find anything in mine.

I jumped up, feeling a spark of hope. Bella’s house was just next door, and I knew the code to get in. She’d given it to me ages ago for emergencies and I had it memorized.

Vincenzo was probably away at one of his restaurants, which meant I’d have the place all to myself to try on whatever I wanted to my heart’s content.

Grabbing my phone, I headed out the door, the warm evening air brushing against my skin as I made my way to the Santoro house. It looked quiet and empty, the lights off inside.

Perfect.

I could slip in, borrow something fabulous, and be out before anyone noticed.

I punched in the code at the back door, and it beeped softly, the lock clicking open. I slipped inside, moving through the familiar kitchen and up the stairs to Bella’s room. It was complete chaos, clothes and shoes scattered everywhere, yet it had a certain charm that was undeniably Bella.

I headed straight for her closet, pushing aside hangers and rummaging through the options. Bella had the best wardrobe—cute summer dresses, trendy tops, and skirts that could make anyone look amazing. I pulled out a few items, holding them up to the light.

First, there was a white lace crop top that I knew would look perfect with high-waisted jeans. I tried it on, but it didn’t quite fit the mood I was going for. I needed something a bit more… striking.

Next, I found a red off-the-shoulder dress. It hugged my curves in all the right places, but it felt a bit too formal for a house party. I sighed, tossing it onto the growing pile of rejects on Bella’s bed.

Finally, I stumbled upon a sleek black mini dress. It was simple yet elegant, with thin straps and a neckline that hinted at just enough cleavage without being too revealing. I slipped it on and twirled in front of the mirror.

Fuck, yeah.

I slipped on a pair of Bella’s strappy heels and gave myself a onceover in the full-length mirror. I had to admit to myself that I looked fucking good and anyone I ran into would undoubtedly think so too.

Not needing to be ready for another few hours, I changed back into my bright pink jogging shorts and a tight black fitted t-shirt. I put the rest of the clothes I tried on back, folded the dress, and took the shoes in my hand before I left the room.

As I walked down the hall, my gaze passed over the one room I’d never been in but was always curious about. It had always been locked as long as I could remember.

It wasn’t locked now.

In fact, the door was slightly ajar.

Wait. What?

I paused in front of it, my heart beating a little faster. I glanced around, ensuring no one was watching, then pushed the door open a little more. It creaked softly, revealing a dark room beyond. I hesitated for a moment before stepping inside, my escalating curiosity pushing me forward.

The room was small, almost like a large closet, with shelves lining the walls. As I took a few cautious steps further, my eyes widened. Several serious-looking guns were displayed neatly on the shelves, glinting under the faint light. My breath caught in my throat.

It was like a small armory.

On a lower shelf, there were stacks of cash, neatly bundled in large amounts. My eyes widened, and my breath caught in my throat. Alongside the cash were several passports, all with different names but with the same photo—Vincenzo’s. My hands shook as I reached out, barely touching the edge of one of the bundles. This was beyond anything I had imagined.

My heart pounded harder, and a cold sweat broke out on my forehead. This was a side of Vincenzo that I had never seen before, a side that he had kept hidden from everyone, maybe even Bella.

I swallowed hard, taking a step back, the shoes and the dress in my arms forgotten. I felt a surge of fear, wondering if I had seen too much.

What did this mean for Vincenzo? For Bella? For me?

A chill ran down my spine, and I instinctively reached for my phone. I hesitated, the thought of taking a picture crossing my mind, but I quickly put it away. This wasn’t something to mess with.

I suddenly felt like an intruder in a place I had no right to be.

I needed to get out of here.

The thought of being caught in here filled me with dread. I needed to run and pretend this never happened.

Just as I turned to leave, the door shut behind me with a resounding click. The room was plunged into pitch blackness. Panic set in, my pulse racing as I fumbled in the dark, trying to find the door handle. My hands trembled, and I could feel the cold sweat on my palms.

“Calm down, Jenna. Just find the handle,” I whispered to myself, but my voice sounded small and frightened in the enclosed space.

I pushed against the door, but it didn’t budge. The darkness was suffocating, pressing in on me from all sides. I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. The silence was deafening, broken only by the sound of my own ragged breathing.

Minutes felt like hours as I groped around, my fear growing with each passing second. I was trapped, and the realization hit me like a punch to the gut. My mind raced, thinking of all the things that could go wrong. I pulled my phone out of my pocket and switched it on.

Fuck! No service in here!

What if no one found me? What if I was stuck here for hours, or worse? Bella wasn’t coming home, and I didn’t know where her father was…

I took another deep breath, trying to calm myself. I had to think. There had to be a way out.

But then, the light switched on.

I squinted, momentarily blinded by the sudden brightness. Blinking rapidly, I tried to adjust my eyes. When my vision finally cleared, my heart sank. Vincenzo was standing in the doorway, his tall frame like a giant in this small room. His expression was stern, a mixture of disappointment and something darker that I couldn’t quite place. He looked… angry.

Honestly, he looked dangerous.

My mouth went dry, and I took a step back, feeling the cold edge of the shelf press into my back. The room that had seemed so intriguing moments ago now felt like a death trap.

I thought I had known this man, but I really didn’t. What was he capable of? What more didn’t I know?

Vincenzo’s gaze was piercing, and I felt a wave of guilt wash over me. I shouldn’t have been here. I had invaded his privacy, and stumbled upon secrets that were never meant for me to see.

“Jenna,” he said, his voice low and controlled, but with an edge that made me shiver. “What are you doing in here?”

“I… I was just looking for something to wear,” I stammered, my voice barely above a whisper. “The door was open, and I… I didn’t mean to…”

He took a step forward, his eyes never leaving mine.

“This room is off limits. You know that,” he declared, and I swallowed hard, knowing he was right.

“I know,” I admitted, feeling a lump form in my throat. “I’m sorry, Vincenzo. I didn’t mean to snoop. I just saw the door open and… curiosity got the better of me.”

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Curiosity can be really dangerous, Jenna. Now you’ve seen things in here that you shouldn’t have, and I have to figure out what to do with you.”

“I won’t tell anyone,” I promised quickly, desperate to make him believe me. “I swear, I won’t say a word.”

His gaze softened slightly, but the disappointment still remained. “It’s not just about keeping this secret. There are reasons why some things are hidden, and why some doors are kept locked.”

I nodded, feeling the weight of his words. “I’m really sorry, Vincenzo.”

He stared at me for a long time.

“I should have spanked you a long time ago,” he whispered and for a moment, I wasn’t sure if I had heard him right. I opened my mouth to say something, anything really, but nothing came to mind, so I just closed my lips, swallowed heavily, and turned my gaze to the floor.

He couldn’t have meant that, right? I wasn’t a kid, so he wouldn’t punish me like one, or so I thought, but right now I wasn’t sure what he was capable of.

For the time being, his threat just hung between us as he glanced around the room.

“You now know more about me than anyone,” he said, his voice low and intense. “I need to know how you got into this room.”

I swallowed hard, trying to steady my voice. “The door was already open. I swear, Vincenzo. I just saw it ajar and…”

A concerned look crossed his face, his brows furrowing. He nodded slowly, his grip tightening slightly.

“Wait here,” he instructed, his tone leaving no room for argument.

I watched him leave, letting my gaze linger on the strong form of his muscles beneath his t-shirt and the rounded globes of his ass filling out his jeans. I waited in silence, trying to calm the pounding of my heart and the racing of my thoughts.

“I should have spanked you a long time ago.”

He’d really said that…

This wasn’t a nightmare. I wasn’t going crazy. This was all painfully real. I had stumbled into a part of Vincenzo’s life that he had kept secret from everyone, not to mention the fact that he threatened to punish me because of it, because that’s what he meant, right?

I pressed my teeth into my lower lip, trying to rein in my nerves and utterly failing. He was taking too long, and every minute felt like an hour.

Was he going to come back? Was he going to call the police? Did I need a lawyer?

Fuck, fuck, fuckity fuck!

Would he actually spank me? I wasn’t sure why the thought was turning me on, but it was. The thought of him taking me over his knee and smacking my bottom until it was bright red and I was sorry flashed before my eyes and my pussy clenched hard.

I squeezed my legs together, trying to ease the pressure that was building there. I licked my lips, trying to rein control over my traitorous body, but it was to no avail.

The more I thought about him taking me in hand, the more turned on I got. What was wrong with me? Normal people didn’t get aroused by the thought of being punished, right?

I could feel my body responding, the ache between my legs growing. My nipples were hard, straining against the thin fabric of my shirt.

Oh, my god!

I wasn’t wearing a bra. Sure, my shirt was black, but that would do little to hide the stiff tips of my nips poking through my shirt. Had they been hard before? Had he noticed? Did I want him to?

Yes, you do. You want him to see all of you, don’t you? You want him to take off your shirt and your shorts, take down your panties, spank your bare ass bright red, and then take what’s always been his. You’ve always wanted that, and you know it, you dirty little slut.

My breath was coming in short, shallow gasps, and my heart was racing. I closed my eyes and crossed my arms over my chest, trying to cover up my nipples as best as I could, but it didn’t feel like enough.

When I grew even more restless, I put my hands at my sides and squeezed them into fists, but that didn’t help either.

Where did he go? What was taking him so long?

My fingers edged at the elastic waistband of my hot pink shorts, and I stilled, glancing at the door and then back to my hand.

No. Don’t even think about it.

But the more I thought about him spanking me, the more I wanted to slide my hands in my shorts and deal with my needy little clit.

What was wrong with me?

I was his daughter’s best friend, and he was so much older, and yet, the thought of him putting me over his knee, baring my bottom, and punishing me for letting my curiosity get the best of me was almost more than I could bear.

Wait. Since when had this turned into a bare bottom fantasy? He hadn’t even threatened that!

Heat spiraled in my core, swirling outward and racing up and down all the way to the tips of my toes. I whined softly.

I’d never been this aroused before. Sure, I’d gotten hot and heavy thinking about him in the past, but this was something else. Maybe it was the look in his eyes or maybe it was the way his hands tightened reflexively like he was really imagining spanking me when he’d threatened it, or maybe all the tension between us had come to a head now that Bella wasn’t in the picture.

Or maybe I was just losing my mind.

Either way, I couldn’t take it anymore.

My right hand slid just beneath the waistband, and I bit back a gasp as I slipped my fingers into my shorts and then my panties. Ever so slowly, I ventured closer to my pussy, just wanting to touch myself a little bit and maybe come before he got back so I could get control of myself. Just as I grazed my clit, I whimpered at what else I found.

I was wet.

Soaking wet.

So fucking wet that not only had my arousal seeped through the fabric of my underwear, but through the stretchy cotton of my running shorts too.

Fuck!

How could I be this turned on?

My knees were shaking, and I leaned back against the wall, closing my eyes, and slipping a finger inside my slickened folds over top of my clit. I moaned, unable to stop the sounds of pleasure escaping my lips. I circled my fingertips over my needy bundle of nerves, touching myself just the way I liked andimagining it was Vincenzo.

I wanted him to spank me, to feel the heat of his hand against my bare bottom, and to hear the sounds of his palm cracking against my flesh.

More than all of that though, I wanted to feel his lips on mine, to experience his kiss and his touch and his cock between my thighs filling me completely.

This was wrong, right? He was off limits, but I couldn’t help but imagine what would happen if he came into the room right now and found my hand in my shorts, touching myself as I imagined what it would be like to be with him for real.

It was only fantasy.

This wasn’t real.

I kept lying to myself as I rubbed my clit in slow, lazy circles.

If I came fast enough, he would never know.

So that’s exactly what I tried to do.