Second

by Penelope Sky

  “That’s the only reason why I’m here—besides this guy.” I squeezed his foot the way Annabella just had.

  Hades gave me a glare with his eyes, but a subtle smile was on his lips. “Whatever, asshole.”

  After we sang happy birthday, Andrew smashed his fists into the cake, wiping it all over his face and getting it on his father’s clothes. He giggled then smacked his hand right onto Hades’s nose, getting white frosting everywhere.

  Sofia tried not to laugh, but it was impossible.

  Annabella didn’t care. “Wow, he got you good.”

  Hades stilled before he grabbed a napkin and wiped the mess off his face. “You’re lucky you’re so damn cute, Andrew.”

  Andrew grabbed more cake and smeared it across his father’s face.

  Of course, Hades did nothing…wrapped around his finger.

  Sofia grabbed some cake and did the same, smearing it all over Hades. “Good job, Andrew.”

  Hades just took it, letting his family ruin his clothes and smearing it across his forehead and getting it stuck in his hair.

  Annabella continued to laugh, sitting beside me with her legs crossed.

  I made a really stupid decision and wiped my finger into the remaining frosting on my plate and wiped it down her cheek.

  She turned to me, her eyes annoyed but also filled with laughter. “How dare you?” She grabbed a handful of cake and pushed it right into my cheek.

  “I just did a little spot,” I said with a laugh. I grabbed a napkin and wiped it away.

  She grabbed another handful and wiped it across my lips.

  I licked it away. “Well, I don’t have a problem with that.”

  She chuckled as she looked at me, leaving the streak of white frosting on her cheek. She seemed to forget about it instantly.

  My thumb moved to her cheek, and I gently wiped it away, my skin directly against hers. I could feel her softness, like I was stroking a fallen rose petal. I got all the frosting on my thumb, taking my time so I could draw the touch out as long as possible. Then I brought it close to me, about to lick it off, but I realized that would be incredibly inappropriate. I wiped it on my napkin instead.

  Her smile faltered for a moment, as if she knew what I was really going to do before I changed my mind. Then she turned away and didn’t look at me again.

  “When is he gonna be here?” I walked beside Sofia down the stairs as we headed to the entryway.

  “Just two more months. He’ll be here, wiping frosting all over his father’s face.” She gripped the rail and held her stomach as she moved.

  “I hope they gang up on him.”

  “Oh, they will,” she said with a chuckle. “Me included.”

  We reached the entryway, where Annabella was still talking to Maria.

  I’d hoped she’d be gone by now.

  “How’s Charlotte?” Sofia asked, even though she’d never met her.

  I didn’t want to talk about her, especially not in front of Annabella. Charlotte wasn’t my girlfriend, even though I’d been seeing her for a while now. “Fine.” That was all I gave her.

  “Maybe the four of us should go to dinner sometime.”

  Now we were in earshot. “Uh…maybe.” That wasn’t going to happen.

  Annabella hugged Maria goodbye before she turned to Sofia. “Thanks for inviting me. Your son is adorable.”

  “Thank you,” Sofia said. “But I don’t think Hades agrees right now.”

  Hades took Andrew away to give him a bath before putting him down for a nap. He’d destroyed his clothes with the frosting and got it everywhere, in his hair and all over his arms. I said goodbye to Maria. “See you later.”

  She kissed me goodbye. “When are you going to start a family, Damien?”

  I hated that question, and it seemed like only older people asked me stuff like that. Maybe I should introduce her to my father. “After the mess Hades had to clean up, maybe never.” I made a joke out of it instead of telling the truth—that I wasn’t interested in a family.

  She laughed and let the conversation drop.

  Annabella said goodbye and walked out with me.

  We stepped into the parking area surrounded by the gate, and after Sofia waved goodbye, we were alone together. Winter was almost over, so some warmth was returning to the air. Her Bugatti was in one spot, my car on the opposite side of the area.

  I should just wave goodbye and walk to my ride, but I didn’t. I walked with her, walking her to her car like a gentleman…when I wasn’t a gentleman. I knew I was only doing it because of the way I felt about her, to be close to her for a few more seconds before we parted. We didn’t see each other often, so I didn’t know when our paths would cross again…even though I would be better off if they didn’t at all.

  She got her keys out of her purse and clicked the button so the doors would unlock. Then she turned to me, her gaze serious now that we were alone together. Our conversations were never casual and easy. They were always so complicated, so deep, that it was impossible just to say goodbye and walk off.

  Why the fuck was it so hard?

  She stared at me in silence, as if she wished she could come up with something good to say. We were both lighthearted just a second ago, making jokes with Sofia and Maria. But now it was like that had never happened. We were instantly transported back in time, back to when we spent the evening together in her hotel room.

  “How’d it go with Liam?” I didn’t want to talk about him, to acknowledge he existed, but the whole reason I went to her room that night was to check on her. It would be odd to pretend it never happened, to act like I didn’t care when I did.

  “He apologized…for everything.”

  That was all he was good for…fucking apologies.

  “Said he wouldn’t fight.”

  “Good.” I wanted him to be what she deserved. I didn’t understand why that was so hard for him. His wife was the most stunning woman on the planet. Why did he want to make his knuckles bloody when he could be home with her?

  She gripped the strap of her bag, her other arm crossing over her chest. “Fighting will always be his passion, no matter how rich he is, but he understands why I don’t want him to do it. I think the matter is settled.”

  It should have been settled a long time ago.

  “So, you and Hades can move on to another candidate. There’re a lot of other good fighters out there.”

  I’d moved on a long time ago. Hades was the one who hadn’t…but I didn’t tell her that. “Yeah.” I moved past her and opened the door for her. It was hard to stand there when the wind subtly moved through her hair, when the cold air made her nipples harden under her sweater. I could still feel her little nipple in my mouth, remember every groove of each one that was permanently imprinted on my tongue.

  She hesitated instead of getting inside the car.

  I knew there was something else on her mind.

  “What is it, Annabella?”

  She dropped her gaze for a moment. “I was thinking about what you said…that it would happen for me someday. Did you mean that?”

  She didn’t talk about it much, but it was obvious that losing her child still haunted her. That it would always haunt her. And being around Andrew and a pregnant Sofia made her question her fertility, made her wonder if she was less of a woman. I couldn’t give her concrete evidence, but she still wanted me to comfort her.

  I assumed Liam never tried. He only thought about himself, how it affected him, even though she was the one who’d had life growing inside her. She knew the moment it was gone. “Of course.”

  She lifted her gaze. “I never went to a fertility specialist because I’m scared—”

  “You will have children, baby.” I wanted to chase away all those fears, hold her until all the pain was gone. “Miscarriages are common. It’s not you. There’s nothing you could have done.” I hadn’t known anything about pregnancy and childbirth until I’d researched all of it. And the only reason I did that was because
she told me what had happened to her…so I cared. “Just because it happened once doesn’t mean it’ll happen again. And even if it doesn’t, you have other options. You will find a way.” I wasn’t her husband so I would never be the father of her children, but I was talking to her like I was. This wasn’t my problem to solve. I wasn’t the person who should comfort her. But I did it anyway.

  She inhaled a breath of relief as if that was what she wanted to hear, that I had successfully consoled her. “You’re right.”

  “Of course I am. I’m always right.” I lightened the mood so she could drive away with a smile on her face.

  And then she smiled…and that made me smile.

  He was hard to track.

  He never stayed in one place too long, never used the same number for long. That was why he was the best—because even his clients couldn’t track him down. Charlotte was asleep in my bed, so I stepped outside onto the cold balcony, my naked chest unaffected by the icy breeze. With the phone to my ear, I rested my arm on the stone wall and looked at the city, quiet ringing in my ear.

  He picked up after a few rings. “Who the fuck is this?” Deep and low, his unmistakable voice came over the phone, packed with hostility and rage.

  “You’re hard to track down.”

  He was silent for a long time, as if he was trying to recognize my voice. “That’s the way I like it. Now answer me.”

  “Damien.”

  He was quiet again, like that name meant nothing to him. “I don’t do that anymore.”

  I refused his answer. “Things change.”

  “Not for me. Don’t call me again.”

  “Bones.”

  He didn’t hang up.

  “You’re the only one who can pull this off. And I have twenty duffel bags stuffed with cash with your name written on each one.”

  His answer the same. “I don’t do that anymore.”

  “Why the fuck not?”

  “Don’t call me again.” He hung up.

  I listened to the line go dead. “Fuck.” I shoved the phone into my pocket and ran my hand through the back of my hair. Hiring the most skilled hit man in the world was my best option to get rid of Heath. It was quick and anonymous. The Skull Kings would suspect me but would never be able to prove it because Bones could have been hired by anyone. But my brilliant plan just went out the window.

  I knew Conway Barsetti had a closer relationship to him based on what he’d said in passing, but I didn’t know the nature of the connection. I assumed he used him for protection for his models, something of that nature. So I called him next, ignoring the late hour.

  He answered after a couple rings. “Do you always call your clients at two in the morning?”

  “Only the ones I like.”

  He sighed into the phone. “What is it, Damien? The government better be seizing my assets right now.”

  “You said you were a night owl. That you designed your best work after midnight.”

  “That was before I got married. Now I’ve got a kid and another one on the way…things change. And you’re lucky you didn’t wake up my wife when you called because she would have thrown my phone in the toilet.”

  “She sounds lovely…”

  He chuckled. “She just likes her sleep. She doesn’t get a lot of it as a full-time mother.”

  “Maybe you need to step up.”

  “I bring home the bacon. That’s my job. Anyway, what the hell do you want?”

  “I just got off the phone with Bones. Tried to hire him for a job, and he said he was out of the game.”

  Conway suddenly became stern. “Yeah, he retired a while ago.”

  “Well, I need him to do this for me. There’s no one else who can take care of it.”

  He was quiet.

  “I know you’re close to him. Ask him on my behalf. If money is the issue, I can give him whatever he wants.” I needed to get rid of the Skull King at all costs. Any amount of money was a small price to pay.

  “Money isn’t the problem. He’s just out of the game.”

  “Conway, come on—”

  “The answer is no.” His response was firm, his tone suddenly turning cold despite our long history. “I’m sorry I can’t help you.” He hung up.

  I let out a quiet growl before I shoved my phone into my pocket. I wasn’t used to hearing the word no, not getting what I wanted. If only I could convince him to handle this, most of my problems would be solved.

  I just needed to see Bones face-to-face…then I could convince him.

  But how?

  Charlotte must have heard my heated conversation, and she came outside in my t-shirt, her makeup a mess because of how sweaty we both got when we fucked. She came into my side and linked her arm through mine. Her face was tucked into my neck, and she pressed a subtle kiss against my warm skin. “What’s wrong, Damien?”

  I kept my eyes on the city. “Nothing.”

  She moved closer into me, placing her body between me and the stone wall. She ran her hand up my chest and sprinkled kisses along my jawline. “Then let’s go to bed. I miss you…” Her hand moved to the back of my hair, and she forced my chin to tilt so she could kiss me. She was demanding of my attention, like she didn’t get enough of it every night.

  I almost caved until I remembered something. I was bedding the woman who worked with Conway every day. She could actually help me with this, could get me to change his mind. “I want you to do something for me.”

  “Anything.” She kissed the corner of my mouth and fisted my hair, smelling of perfume and sweat mixed together.

  “I want you to get Conway and his wife to have dinner with us.”

  “Why?” She pulled away and looked at me.

  “I need him to do something for me…but he’s being stubborn.”

  Both of her hands slipped into my hair, and she stared at my lips like she couldn’t wait to kiss me again. “Consider it done.”

  14

  Annabella

  Liam and I fell into our old routine. I’d come home from work, and he would have dinner on the table. He spent the day training and doing stuff around the house, so when I came home, he spent all his time with me. We’d watch a movie before bed, and then we would be together under the sheets, the sex good the way it used to be.

  I refused to think about Damien when I was with my husband. I wanted to get over him and move on with my life. But when I was at work, he popped into my mind. When I saw Hades stop by Sofia’s office, I thought about him. Whenever Liam wasn’t around, I couldn’t control myself.

  I set my purse on the table and shed my coat when I heard the sound of Liam’s speaking.

  “Alright.” His deep voice traveled to me down the hallway. “See you then.”

  I turned the corner and joined him in the kitchen. “See who when?”

  He pulled a pan out of the oven and set it on the kitchen island. It was baked chicken slathered in balsamic marinade. Noodles were in the pot on the stove. “I invited Hades and Damien to dinner, to make up for…” He pulled off his oven mitts and never finished the sentence. “So, we’re going out tomorrow.”

  “Oh.” I always felt awkward when Liam and Damien were in the same room together. It was obvious Damien despised him because he could barely hide it. I was surprised Liam hadn’t noticed. I also felt guilty for continuing to keep Damien’s identity a secret. If Liam knew Damien was the man I loved, he wouldn’t continue their business relationship. He had the right to know who he was dealing with, but I also knew it would complicate everything…and might get Damien killed. “Just the three of you?”

  “No. The wives too.” He came around the kitchen island and kissed me, his hand gripping my lower back.

  Instead of enjoying the kiss, I thought of Charlotte. Would Damien bring her?

  He noticed the way I flinched. “Everything okay?”

  “Yeah…I’m just surprised you want to have dinner with them.”

  “They’re good guys. I’ve had my problems with Damie
n, but we moved on.” He turned away and grabbed two plates so he could prepare dinner. “We had an entire business plan built around my return to the ring, and I just want to make up for that.”

  I’d only been around both Damien and Liam once—and we didn’t speak. Damien stayed on the opposite side of the ballroom because he was just as uncomfortable. Now I had to sit with both of them, let Liam touch me in front of him, watch Charlotte stick her tongue down his throat… It was going to be terrible.

  Hades and Sofia arrived, and we exchanged hugs and handshakes. We sat at a square table, and I was disappointed when Hades and Sofia chose the chairs directly beside us rather than across from us.

  That meant Damien would sit there—right in my line of sight.

  “Where’s Damien?” Liam asked.

  “Late,” Hades answered. “Always late.”

  “We were late too,” Sofia said. “So, he’s just later.”

  Hades placed his arm around her chair. “Shh, baby.”

  She gave him a playful glare. “Did you just shh me?”

  “What are you going to do about it?” he asked, enjoying the rise he got out of her.

  “Oh, I’ll show you what I’m gonna do…later.” She grabbed the bottle of water in the middle of the table and poured herself a glass.

  I could barely focus on their conversation because I was so tense. Would Damien bring Charlotte? He wouldn’t, right? He would know how awkward that would make everything, so he would avoid it. And he said it wasn’t serious.

  Liam moved his hand to mine under the table. “Want some more wine, Anna?”

  “Uh…” My eyes flicked to the entry, and I saw a gorgeous woman step inside. In a short cocktail dress, toned physique, and with beautiful long hair, she looked like model material. And then Damien walked in behind her. “Yes, I’ll take some.” I pushed the glass close to him because I would need every drop.

  Once the host directed Damien to our table, he headed our way, in the lead.

  Charlotte moved behind him, and she sped up in her heels so she could slide her hand into his, gripping his palm like reins.