by Cora Reilly
The elevator doors slid open and Sandro stepped in, holding up a black case. “Morning, boss. Hope I didn’t interrupt anything,” he said, his eyes sliding past me to Gianna. Despite his mess up six months ago, he was still a good soldier. The best one next to Romero.
“You didn’t,” I said with a grin at Gianna, who’s eyes narrowed even further. It was a good thing that Sandro didn’t look anywhere near my crotch area because there was no way I could have hidden the bulge. Not that I fucking cared. “Let’s do this now,” I said eventually.
Gianna crossed her arms over her chest, somehow managing to push her breasts up in a delicious way. Was she doing it on purpose? She didn’t move as we walked toward her. She looked like she couldn’t care less but I knew her better than that. She was probably trying to figure out a way to make me pay for teasing her, not to mention for the ankle bracelet. But she’d brought this upon herself.
Sandro watched Gianna suspiciously as we stopped beside her. I couldn’t blame him. His pride had taken quite a bruising when she and Aria had drugged him and tied him up. He was too clever to show his dislike though.
I pointed toward the barstool. “You need to take off your tights and sit down.”
“Thanks for the heads up. You could have mentioned the tights thing before and spared me a whole lot of trouble,” she muttered. Fuck, her glare made me want to bend her over the kitchen counter and fuck her brains out.
Sandro pretended he was busy with the ankle bracelet in the case as I leaned close to Gianna. “But I loved watching you put on your sexy tights, and I’ll love watching you take them off again.”
Gianna almost tore her tights down this time before she perched on the stool, her long lean legs crossed. She pressed her lips together in anger, then flinched from pain. Fury for her father burst through my rising lust. Damn, Luca, and his determination to keep peace with the Outfit.
Sandro hesitated, ankle bracelet in hand, and darted an inquiring look my way.
I’d never put an ankle bracelet on anyone, so even if I fucking hated the thought of Sandro touching Gianna’s leg, it was the logical choice. I nodded. “Go on.”
“Extend your left leg.”
Gianna sent me a scathing look but she raised her leg without protest. Maybe she’d decided it was the better option than being locked into the apartment all the time, or maybe she was coming up with torturous things to do to me as retribution. I had a feeling I might enjoy whatever she had in mind, even if that wasn’t her intention.
Sandro bent over Gianna’s leg and started fastening the small black monitor around her ankle. I leaned against the kitchen bar next to Gianna. She didn’t glance my way.
“Will this monitor my alcohol intake as well?” she asked Sandro. He raised his eyes to her, then me.
“I don’t care if you’re getting drunk as long as you do it in New York,” I said. Her blue eyes fixed me with another scowl before she turned back to Sandro, who was checking the bracelet for its functionality.
With a nod, he straightened. “All done. You can trace her with your laptop, phone or any other internet-ready device.”
“Great,” Gianna muttered.
“Thanks, Sandro.”
“Do you need anything else?”
I shook my head. “Not today. Romero is upstairs. You can return to your other tasks.”
Sandro gave Gianna a curt nod before he turned around and headed for the elevator. After I’d let him out, I returned to Gianna.
“So how long am I going to have to wear this thing?” she asked, lifting her leg to take a closer look at the small black device around her ankle. I hated seeing her with that thing. It seemed wrong to shackle her like that, but Luca had suggested the bracelet and it was a neat solution. Gianna was too volatile for her own good.
“Until I decide I can trust you enough not to do something stupid.”
“So forever.” She dropped her leg back down.
I chuckled. “No. I like your gorgeous legs better without the ankle monitor, believe me. I’ll relieve you of that thing as soon as possible.” I traced my fingers over her bare knee, then higher until I reached the edge of her jeans skirt. She swatted my hand away and hopped off the barstool.
“Hands off,” she said sweetly.
I raised my eyebrows. “I thought you wanted to continue where we left off before?” I really wanted to fucking continue where we left off.
She walked past me toward the coffee maker, swaying her hips in a way that turned me hard again. “I’m good,” she said with a shrug. “All I need is a cup of coffee.” She grabbed a new cup and put it under the coffee maker before peering over her shoulder at me. “What about you? Is there anything you need?” Her eyes wandered down my body toward my hard-on. I could tell that she was fighting a smile.
Oh, fuck. She really knew how to give me bedroom eyes. And obviously she thought she could play my game better than I did. “I’m good too.”
She brought her cup to her mouth, took a sip, then ran her tongue slowly over her upper lip.
I stifled a groan. I had to meet Luca to discuss what I’d missed in the last few months while I’d been hunting Gianna, but I really wished I could watch her all day and maybe convince her to run her tongue over my cock. I strolled toward her and twisted a strand of her hair around my forefinger. “I hate your new color. I liked you better red.”
Gianna pulled back and set her cup down with a clang. “Well, looking good wasn’t my main concern while I was on the run. Maybe you didn’t notice but a notorious mobster was hunting me.”
I grinned. “Notorious?”
She rolled her eyes. “If you are fishing for compliments, then you’re talking to the wrong person.”
I didn’t tell her to dye her hair back to her natural color, even though I wanted to. I knew she wouldn’t do it if I tried to push her. Maybe admitting that I liked her red hair was already enough to make her want to stay a brunette forever. “I’m meeting with Luca. You can spend the day with Aria upstairs if you want.”
Her eyes widened. “I’m allowed to spend the day with Aria?” After a moment, her mouth twisted and she added. “Not that I should need your permission to see my sister…”
“You and Aria haven’t seen each other in a long time, I suppose you have a lot to talk about.” I wondered if Gianna would tell Aria about last night and what exactly she would say. Normally I’d ask her what she’d enjoyed but I knew Gianna wouldn’t give me an honest answer. Women had never complained about my sexual skills, but I wanted to hear it from Gianna. Maybe Luca was right and I was a vain asshole.
“Can we go up now?” Gianna asked, excitement lighting up her face. It was the first real emotion she’d shown me all morning.
“What about a kiss to convince me?”
She surprised me by grabbing my shirt, jerking me toward her and pressing her lips to mine. Her sexy body leaned up against me and her tongue slipped into my mouth. I didn’t need any more encouragement. I grabbed her ass-cheeks, squeezed, relishing in her gasp as our tongues danced with each other. I pushed my hard cock against her. She needed to know what she was doing to me. Fuck. I was so fucking hard, it was a wonder that I hadn’t come in my pants yet like an idiotic teenage boy.
Without warning she drew back and I growled in response, my grasp on her ass tightening, but she pushed my arms down and stepped out of reach. “You wanted a kiss, you got your kiss. Now let’s go to Aria.”
That vixen. I knew by her rapid breathing and flushed cheeks that she was as effected by our kissing as me, but she seemed determined to suppress her lust. I’d simply have to up my game, show her what a mind-blowing orgasm really meant. After that, she’d hopefully be putty in my hands.
I walked toward the elevator as if I didn’t give a damn. I had more than enough experience at hiding my emotions, so I had no trouble masking my arousal. I pressed the button that made the elevator doors slide open and motioned for Gianna to walk in. She frowned but then she headed into the elevator an
d leaned against the wall.
Hiding my smile, I joined her and jabbed the button that would take us up. It took several moments before Luca approved our going up. Before he’d married Aria, I had been allowed to take the elevator up without his approval, but since then he’d installed the manual override again. Not that I blamed him. I didn’t want him or Aria barging in when Gianna and I were desecrating every available space of the apartment either. The elevator started moving and within a few seconds stopped again.
Aria was already waiting in front of the doors when they slid open. She barely spared me a glance before she pulled her sister into a hug and dragged her away toward the living area.
Luca stood with his arms crossed against the wall. “No kiss good-bye for you from your lovely wife?” he asked wryly.
Aria and Gianna had settled on the sofa, and were whispering among themselves. Romero raised his hand in greeting from his spot in the kitchen. He’d keep watch over Aria and Gianna while Luca and I were busy in Sphere. He knew what the two girls had done to Sandro, so he wouldn’t let his guards down, and even if he did, the ankle bracelet would alert me of Gianna’s whereabouts.
“Aria doesn’t really look too sad to see you gone either,” I said when Luca joined me in the elevator.
He smirked. “We already said good-bye twice this morning. What about you? How was your wedding night?”
I couldn’t stop the grin. “Better than yours.”
Luca’s eyebrows rose in silent doubt. “So did she put out?”
“She did,” I said. “And I was her first.”
“Did she tell you that?” Luca asked doubtfully.
“No, she didn’t. She was furious that I found out. But there was no way she could have hidden it.”
“Good for you,” Luca said, clapping my shoulder. “So are you still into her or have you come to your senses now that your cock isn’t ruling your thinking anymore?”
I gave him the finger. “What makes you think my cock isn’t still in charge?”
Luca sighed. “Suit yourself, but don’t come bitching to me when she starts to annoy you.” The elevator stopped and opened to the underground garage. “Now let’s focus on business. You’ve wasted enough time. I need your full attention now.”
“Don’t worry,” I said, but I had a feeling it wouldn’t be easy to get Gianna out of my head. The image of her naked body beneath me had burned itself into my brain and I wasn’t too keen on letting it go.
Gianna
Aria dragged me toward the sofa, away from Luca and Matteo. We sat down and Aria reached for my fat lip with a frown. “I can’t believe Father hit you so hard.”
“He’s done it before,” I muttered.
Romero was watching us from the kitchen. I really wondered how he could stand being trapped in this penthouse with Aria all day. I doubted many soldiers had vied for the job.
After a moment, Aria leaned toward me, whispering. “Are you okay? How was last night?”
I glanced in the direction of Luca and Matteo but they had already disappeared in the elevator and were off to God-knew where.
“Gianna?”
“I’m fine,” I said, sending my sister a comforting smile. She looked like she hadn’t slept much last night. Had worry for me kept her awake?
“And? How was it? Did you sleep with Matteo?”
I laughed. Aria reminded me of myself after Aria’s wedding night. I had been so terribly worried for her. “Don’t sound so anxious. I’m really fine.” I was oddly fine. Maybe even too fine. It had been too easy finding my way back to my old life, as if the life I’d tried to lead in the last few months had never really fit. This morning I hadn’t wondered where I was, hadn’t had to remind myself of my current pseudonym. I was me again.
“You don’t look fine. Please tell me what happened. I drove Luca crazy with my anxiety last night.”
That made me smile. Everything that soured Luca’s mood did. “I slept with Matteo.” My mind returned to the feeling of him inside me, of his intense gaze, his strong body, his touch, and my core tightened again. I wasn’t sure how I could stop my body from being so eager for Matteo’s attention but I knew I had to figure out a way if I ever wanted to hold some sort of power in this marriage.
“You look like you didn’t mind,” Aria said with a teasing smile.
“Like you said, Matteo is good-looking, and he knows what he’s doing, so it wasn’t bad.”
“Did he notice that you hadn’t slept with anyone before?”
“Yeah. You were right. It hurt like hell. He was so damn smug about it. I really wish he hadn’t figured it out. I feel like he’s got more power over me now that he knows.”
Aria shook her head. “You need to stop thinking like that. You and Matteo need to find a way to get along now that you’re married. It’s a good thing that he knows the truth.”
“Matteo doesn’t exactly make it easy for me either. He’s always so arrogant. And he’s the one who started with the games. And do you know what else he did?” I lifted my leg with the stupid ankle bracelet. I still couldn’t believe Matteo had actually put that thing on my body, like I was a dog who needed a collar. Of course from his standpoint it was probably the normal thing to do. He was a controlling, possessive, power-hungry killer after all, but that didn’t mean I liked it.
Aria grimaced. “I know. Luca mentioned it to me this morning. It was his idea.” She paused with an apologetic expression. “I tried to talk him out of it, but he said he won’t risk any more conflicts with the Outfit by letting you roam free.”
“As if Father or anyone else in the Outfit would care if I ran off again. I’m not their problem anymore, remember?” I wiggled my fingers, showing off my wedding ring.
“Luca and Matteo would look weak if you managed to get away again, and that would weaken their position. Things between New York and Chicago haven’t exactly been going smoothly in the last few months.”
“Because of me?”
“Not just because of you,” Aria said. “Luca and Dante don’t get along very well. They are both alphas who aren’t used to working with equals.”
“I don’t suppose you know of a way how to get rid of this thing?” I tipped my finger against my black shackle.
“No. Is it very uncomfortable?”
I shrugged. “Not really, but I hate it. And I can kiss short skirts and dresses good-bye unless I want everyone to think I’m a criminal.”
Aria touched my arm lightly. “I’m sure Matteo will take it off soon.”
“I doubt that.” If I were him, I wouldn’t trust me anytime soon. Probably never.
Aria’s eyes darted to my hair again. She’d been doing it since she’d first seen me with the new color.
I smoothed a hand over my hair. “You hate it, right?”
“I’m not used to it. Maybe it’ll grow on me. But I miss your red hair.”
“Me too,” I said. “Matteo hates my brown hair as well.”
“Don’t tell me you’re going to stay a brunette because you want to annoy him?” Aria asked with a knowing look.
I wasn’t that childish. Maybe six months ago that would have been my reaction but being on the run had helped me grow up. I wouldn’t keep my hair in a color I didn’t like to annoy Matteo. There were other ways I could make his life harder and I hoped to explore as many of them as possible. “I’ll change it back to my natural hair color as soon as I get the chance. Do you think Matteo will freak out if we leave the apartment in search for a hairdresser?”
“Probably. You’ve been married for less than a day. Maybe you should try to stay on your best behavior for today at least.”
“I’ll do my best,” I said sarcastically.
Aria got up. “It’s almost lunch time. Let’s grab something to eat and I’ll give my hairdresser a call and ask her to come over to do your hair, okay?”
I pushed to my feet. “Perfect. I’m starving.” I followed Aria toward the kitchen area. Romero put his phone down on the counter
, eyes and posture alert as we approached. Sandro had probably warned him of us. That reminded me of something I’d wanted to ask Aria ever since I’d run off. I waited until she’d finished her call with her hair dresser and fixed us a salad before I bridged the topic.
“Did you get into a lot of trouble with Luca for helping me?” I asked quietly. I didn’t want Romero to overhear us. He seemed busy enough talking on his phone, probably to Matteo or Luca who were checking up on us.
Aria’s face tightened. “He was angry at first, but he’s forgiven me. I think he realized that I would never leave him.”
She and Luca seemed happy enough but sometimes outward appearances were deceiving, and I wasn’t entirely sure if Aria was telling the truth. She wouldn’t say something that might make me feel guilty.
“You sure?”
“Isn’t that my line?” she asked teasingly.
I grinned. “You taught me a thing or two.”
“Good to know.”
“There’s something else I’ve been wondering about,” I said quietly. “How did Matteo find me?”
“Luca didn’t really talk to me about the search. He knew I’d warn you. Do you think it could have been the blog? I think Luca checked my laptop. I tried to warn you.”
“I tried not to mention locations in my blog posts. But maybe they could track my location through my blog. Who knows?”
The bell rang. Romero walked toward the elevator before either Aria or I could move. “Will he ever leave us alone?” I asked when he was out of earshot.
“Not anytime soon,” Aria said with a shrug. She rose from her chair to greet the woman in her mid-forties who entered the penthouse with two huge bags. Aria introduced me to her hairdresser and five minutes later we’d set up a chair in the bathroom and my hair was being smothered in cream that was supposed to turn my hair to its original color, not immediately but after several treatments.
