How in the hell can she talk this fast without stopping to draw a breath? Fuck me. At least I know how women achieve their twenty thousand words-per-day quotas. They just don’t breathe as often as men. “What the fuck is Pinterest?” I ask absently as I try to digest all the shit she’s tossed out. Somehow, I think my question lowers her opinion of me even further, if possible.
“You really need to get with it, Moretti. There is this whole world outside of your gang. Even prisoners use social media to find romance.”
“So you’re saying Pinterest is a dating site?” I give her a cocky grin that has her visibly gritting her teeth. “Trust me, baby, I don’t need any help in that area.”
“As all the STDs you’ve acquired would attest to.” I fight the urge to cover my crotch when she adds, “I don’t care what they say, I believe your dick can certainly fall off from diseases and overuse.”
How’s it possible to be both offended and turned on? This is some seriously fucked-up shit. In the space of moments, I had the two things I’m most proud of insulted: my shooting abilities and my cock. Although, probably not in that order… How much can a man be expected to endure in one sitting? Without thinking, I grumble, “What does my sex life have to do with Franklin’s death? You’re all over the place, Belle. If you haven’t been checked for ADHD, I highly recommend it.”
I could kick myself when her face falls as reality comes crashing back in. Why hadn’t I kept my mouth shut and let her continue? Was my ego really that fragile? Um, yeah. “I—how could I have forgotten that? I said all that silly stuff.” She appears to be studying her hands intently now as she whispers huskily, “It’s not as if I had any kind of real relationship with him, no matter how much he tried. Don’t get me wrong. I know he isn’t—I mean, he wasn’t a good man. But he was decent to my mom while she was alive and did everything he could for her when she got sick. She adored him, and I believe he felt the same. She sold her soul for that love—but I never did. I got out as soon as I could. If not for promising my mom, he’d never have let me make a life of my own.”
I shrug my shoulders, not bothering to confirm or deny her statement. Undoubtedly, she’s right, but it matters little now. “Franklin was one of the few decent men left.”
“Honor among thieves.” She snorts. “I lived with him and his spawn for several years, so you don’t have to try to make him into something he wasn’t for my benefit.” A shiver passes through her small frame when she adds, “And Frankie Jr. would have been the devil himself if he’d been smart enough to pull it off. The people in this city better be grateful he was a few sandwiches short of a picnic. Otherwise, he’d have been unstoppable.”
“Frankie was… challenged.” I nod thoughtfully. I’ve never made a secret of my disdain for the other man, and I won’t pretend otherwise. That would certainly look suspicious to the wrong people. “I often thought Franklin would have been relieved had Frankie been taken out. He’d have avenged him, of course, but then he’d have moved on and damn sure lived a more peaceful existence. Regardless of what you think, business is business, and when you have a loose link, they pull everyone else down with them. But being family makes it tricky.”
“Then it doubly sucks that Franklin didn’t live to enjoy his son’s demise,” she murmurs. I fight the urge to squirm when she stares at me intently. “Do you have any idea who did it? The Morettis run Asheville, don’t they? Surely, something this big couldn’t happen without you guys getting wind of it.”
Fuck, she’s a danger to herself. She needs to understand there could be dire consequences should the wrong person hear her. “Nina, you cannot say that shit. Hell, don’t even think it.” There are no traces of humor in my voice now. “You’re already in a vulnerable position with your connection to Franklin. Don’t act as if you have any knowledge of the inner workings of the Morettis or Gavinos. Everyone is under intense scrutiny now, and you must think carefully before you speak.”
As much as I hate scaring her, I’m relieved to see that my words have the desired effect. She’s clearly unnerved—and that could save her life. “There’s no reason for anyone to look twice at me, Marco. I haven’t seen anyone but Minka in months.”
I lay my head back on the sofa for a moment as fatigue threatens to overtake me. It’s been a long few days, and I’m so beyond tired at this point. “Your friendship with Minka is not a plus. You can be damn sure that her father keeps an eye on her, so everyone in the Gavino family knows that not only are you tied to Franklin and his idiot son, but also to Raymond’s daughter. Which wouldn’t be a big deal if you were family. But you’re a well-connected outsider, and that is dangerous.”
“But what about Tony and Lee?” she asks defensively. “They’re Moretti royalty, yet they’ve distanced themselves without issues.”
My jaw snaps shut in frustration as I glare at her. “Did I not just fucking tell you to stop speaking as if you’re an expert on things you shouldn’t be? I swear to God, I hope you and your friend don’t talk about shit like this is public.” I reach out and put my hand on her arm, hoping she can feel the gravity of her situation. “Your best friend is Minka Gavino. Her father is now likely the head of the family. Minka’s activities will be monitored more closely. I’m well aware of your disdain for our… way of life, but it’s imperative you keep those opinions to yourself. It would be wise to avoid Minka altogether, but that’s probably not going to happen. So when you do see her, stick to safe topics.”
“Like shopping and boys?” she says, sounding like one of the bimbos she accuses me of favoring.
I pretend not to notice her sarcasm. “Exactly, Belle.”
She wrinkles her nose in the adorable way I find so sexy. “We’re not stupid. We’ve had our own language for years, Moretti. Don’t you think we’re aware that some nosy asshole might be getting his rocks off by listening to us? Believe it or not, women are capable of more than lying on their backs and bending over.”
That last part has my blood pressure spiking. I resist the urge to adjust, afraid she’ll pull her gun out from wherever she has it stashed. I clear my throat as I try to clear the image of her bent over the damn sofa we’re sitting on from my head. “Er… could you be a bit more specific? If you two are speaking a foreign language, I’m pretty sure they can have it translated.”
Shaking her head in amusement, she says, “That’s not it. We invented our own. And don’t bother to ask any more questions because I’m not telling you. That would kind of defeat the purpose, wouldn’t it? For all I know, you’re wearing a wire. You said to trust no one, and I have to assume you were including yourself in that.”
Baby, you have no idea. I want to continue this debate because I get off on these crazy arguments, but I’ve already been here too long. I’ve barely processed that thought when her doorbell sounds. We both jump, which I’m grateful no one is here to witness. She’s going to be the death of me. She’s off the sofa and halfway across the room before I reach her. “What in the hell are you doing? Have you heard nothing I said?”
When I attempt to move past her, the little hellion elbows me in the side. “Ouch,” I hiss. The jab was surprisingly strong coming from someone so petite. She mumbles a word under her breath that has me narrowing my eyes. Surely, I heard that wrong. “What did you say?”
If I expect her to back down, I’m sorely mistaken. She straightens her spine and puts her hands on her hips. “I said you’re such a pussy.” As I’m choking on my indignation, she slips around me and opens the door. I pull the gun from my ankle holster and aim over her shoulder. “Oh great, good cop is here. And I was afraid I’d be stuck with just the asshole one this time. Lucky me.”
Nic chuckles as he pulls Nina into a side hug that lasts a little longer than necessary. Come to think of it, they’re not buddies, so why is physical contact necessary at all? And she’s calmly allowing the embrace. She’d have her knee in my crotch by now. I’m far too fixated on her doing bad things to my dick. “How’s life treating you,
Rambo?” He chuckles affectionately, and I’m further annoyed to see her lips twitch in amusement.
She inclines her head in my direction, all hints of laughter gone. “It was fine until your buddy hiked up his leg and pissed all over my day. Not only has he told me that Franklin and Frankie are dead, but he also has some insane notion that I’ll pack a bag and go along with him docilely, like one of his bimbos.”
Nic winces at me, then dares to stroll past us and sprawl out on the sofa. Nina follows, not appearing bothered by it in the least. I almost expect her to stretch out next to him, but luckily, that doesn’t happen. Instead, she perches on the edge of a nearby chair as if waiting for something. Nic reaches out and picks up a magazine off the coffee table and begins thumbing through it. Without looking up, he says, “Seems like you’re having a tough time here, bro. I gathered that must be the case when an hour passed and there was no sign of you.”
“I couldn’t just blurt it out,” I snap defensively.
“Really?” Nina laughs. “You plowed through the news like a bull in a china shop. If that was your attempt at breaking it to me gently, then your technique needs work.”
I open my mouth to deliver a sarcastic retort but close it again abruptly when I notice the way her hands tremble as she clasps them together in her lap. I see her blinking back tears as she stares off in the distance. It’s something I often do when I’m attempting to gather my composure. Although, in my case, it’s usually to deal with anger and not grief. Regardless of her relationship with Franklin, I shouldn’t expect her grief to be so short-lived. Naturally, as soon as her mind isn’t occupied by other thoughts, she’ll feel the loss again. If she ever discovers what I’ve done, I’ll be as dead to her as Franklin is. Nic also notices the shift in her mood and attempts to fill the silence. “It’s a guy thing,” he says simply.
When I see her eyes narrow, I know he’s accomplished his objective of distracting her. “So, since you have a penis, you’re not bound by the usual laws of human decency?” Before he can respond, she slaps her hand on her forehead. “Oh, excuse me, I forgot who I’m dealing with. Laws don’t apply to your kind.”
“Our kind,” Nic mimics.
“You’re getting kinda mean in your old age, Rambo. What are you, like forty now?” He nods as if that explains it all. I don’t bother to point out that we’re closer to the big four-oh than she is.
“Are you going through ‘the change?’ My mother blames everything on that. I swear she’s scarier than an assassin with a machine gun.”
I fully expect her to lose her shit. What woman likes to be called menopausal, especially when she’s only thirty-five. But she merely picks up a coaster and chucks it at him. She grins when it bounces off his chest, and he pretends to be injured. What the fuck? How is it that Nic can get away with anything, whereas I get my ass chewed out for commenting on the weather? “If you two are finished, we need to get out of here.” I see by the stubborn set of her mouth that she’s digging in her heels for a lengthy argument. And there isn’t time for it. Nic’s right; we’ve already been here too long. I know I’ll hate myself, but I do it anyway. “Unless you want to end up with a bullet in your head like Franklin, you’ll pack a bag—now. This isn’t an order, Nina, but it is a one-time offer. If you want to be safe until we know what we’re dealing with, then you’ll come with me. If you’re confident in your abilities to handle whatever shit the Gavinos may possibly toss your way, then stay here.” I glance at my watch. “You have five minutes before we leave, with or without you.”
Her eyes are entirely too big on her pale face as she looks from me to Nic. I know she’s checking for any sign that I’m kidding, but she won’t find any. She wants to make a brave stand. I can almost see her internal struggle. A moment later, she gets to her feet and walks to her bedroom. I expect to hear the door slam, but when it shuts softly, it makes me nervous. “I’d rather she kicked the damn thing in,” Nic says, echoing my own thoughts as he glances in the direction she disappeared to. “I fully expected some bitching. That was rather disappointing.”
I release the breath I wasn’t aware I was holding. “She’s not in the car yet. That went entirely too easily. She’ll probably put a bullet in my head at some point tonight. You get the hugs, and I get the insults.” I flip him off when he merely smiles at my jealous sulking.
We’re still heckling each other when she returns holding a small suitcase. She’s changed into jeans and a dark sweater, along with a pair of combat boots. Better to kick my ass with. She seems irritated that I’m still where she left me, but I’m not sure what she was expecting. Maybe me pacing the floor and counting the moments until her return. “For all your talk of urgency, you aren’t doing anything to expedite our departure.”
Nic yawns loudly and makes a show of stretching before moving into a sitting position. “We should probably think about hitting the road. It’ll take us half an hour to reach the compound.”
“You call your home ‘the compound?’” Nina smirks. “Is this one of those things where a guy with a small pecker gives everything in his life a manly name to compensate for it?”
Nic’s laughter turns into a cough as I glare at him before shaking my head at the slip of a girl who defies and insults me at every turn. It had been much more amusing when it was Tony catching this kind of hell from Jacey. I need to get out of here before I do something crazy like drop my pants to prove to Nina that I have no shortcomings in that area whatsoever. “The Moretti compound is Tony’s family home,” Nic informs her, as he gives me a slight shake of the head over her shoulder. I’m pretty sure that’s code for don’t drop your pants, dude. “We’ve used it before during a period of unrest. It’s very secure and off the grid.”
Nina winces. “I don’t think he likes me. Maybe you should tell him ahead of time that you’re bringing me along. Might save time and a very awkward conversation.”
I get to my feet and take Nina’s bag from her shoulder and slide it onto mine. “Tony is aware you’ll be with us. We would never bring anyone into his home without his knowledge or approval. Plus, it was actually his idea. It’s the one place you can go to ground for a while and be completely safe. Both the Morettis and Gavinos will know you’re there, but no one in either organization would dare to cross the threshold of Draco Moretti’s home to harm you. That would only be done as a declaration of war, and the Gavinos are not suicidal or stupid enough for that.”
Without speaking, Nic walks to the door, and I motion for Nina to follow him while I bring up the rear. She hands me her keys, and I lock the door behind us as we move silently toward my BMW. I remove my own keys from my pocket and click to open the doors, then press the button for the ignition. And that’s when the world erupts around us. A wall of intense heat pushes us from our feet and flings us through the air like rag dolls. I hear someone screaming, and I think it’s Nina. I land hard on my back and immediately roll to the side to survey my surroundings before coming up into a crouch. There’s so much smoke that I can barely make anything out. A quick check shows the gun in my ankle holster still in place. I take it in my hand and begin looking for Nic and Nina. I’ve made it a few feet when I see both Nina’s bag on the ground and my cousin shaking his head as he stumbles to his feet. “Can’t fucking believe you had a bomb in your car. Whoever did that has some big balls, and I’m going to enjoy cutting them off with the dullest blade I can find.”
“Where’s Nina?” I whisper urgently. “I thought I heard her cry out right after it happened.” As if by silent agreement, we line up back to back with our guns drawn and begin scouting the area. We haven’t gone far when I hear coughing. We both freeze, then profanity fills the air in a voice I’d know anywhere. We move in that direction and find her leaning against a tree. Her face is covered in soot, and her clothes haven’t fared much better.
Sounding weirdly calm, she asks, “Did your car really just blow up? You didn’t do that to scare me, right?”
I give her a look of disbelief that
clearly says she’s insane. “Belle, I’d never resort to blowing up my fucking X6 to convince you that you’re in danger. I’d spank your ass and throw you over my shoulder before I’d destroy my favorite ride.”
“We need to get the fuck out of here,” Nic hisses under his breath. “I hear sirens, and a crowd is gathering.”
“You’re not supposed to leave the scene of a crime,” Nina points out. “The police will have a lot of questions about this.”
“That’s why we need to go now,” I say grimly as I gently help her up. I put an arm around her shoulders, and the three of us make our way as unobtrusively as possible to Nic’s Escalade. I’m on autopilot as Nic and I make a quick sweep of the SUV before opening the doors. Whoever planted the bomb knew what they were doing. The explosion had been controlled. There’s no significant damage to any other cars or structures in the area. Although, what looks to be the hood of the X6 is now crushing the hell out of some nearby shrubs. What the fuck? Who knew I was here? And how long had they known? Were they after me, or had they worked out I was watching Nina? Too many fucking unanswered questions.
She continues to argue as I bundle her into the back seat of Nic’s SUV. “It isn’t as if they can’t trace that burning wreck back to you, Einstein. It might take time, but it can be done. Haven’t you watched any of those police shows?”
Between the near-death experience and her nonstop bitching, my skull feels like it’s splitting in two. I strive for patience, knowing she’s likely even more traumatized now. This hasn’t been an easy night for her, and I need to remember that. I turn in my seat, just able to see her outline in the darkness. “Belle, I’m aware they’ll run the identification of my car. But right now, we need to get to safety. Whoever planted that bomb may well be lurking around, and I can’t risk them using the cover of the crowd to take a shot at one of us. The police will understand when this is explained.”
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