“Now that were all here,”—Lucca flipped his lighter open to take a much-needed hit off a cigarette—“look around to the people in this room.”
Eyeing around the room, he saw everyone’s face turned serious, the boardroom they were in quickly turning into a war room with just a few words.
“These are the only faces you can trust,” their underboss continued commanding each and every one. “Anyone outside, we cannot trust isn’t One-Shot. No matter who it is.”
Solemnly, every soldier nodded their head, fully understanding that he was suspecting a Caruso to be behind the curtain.
“One-Shot might be gone for now but he will return… and when he does, the only one who will deal with him—” Looking at each and every one of them, Lucca staked his claim. “—is me.”
Forty-Two
This Tub Is Big Enough For Two
It had been one whole month since she had married Drago, and it really had been wedded bliss… besides the whole killer thing that is. If and when One-Shot returned they would deal with it together, because being together came easy for them. You wouldn’t have even known it was an arranged marriage, both Katarina and Drago easily forgetting.
She was happier than she had ever been, getting to see her brothers whenever she wanted, having a group of girlfriends, a husband she enjoyed spending time with, and she also had a job in two families that knew her worth.
“Bye, Amo.” She waved at him once she reached her door.
“Later, Kat.”
Katarina could smell the food that was cooking on the other side. When she opened the door, she found Drago cooking what looked like spaghetti. Going over to him, she was thankful the big meatballs he had made were the only protein.
Pulling her to him, he gave her a kiss. “How was work?”
“Good.” She smiled, kissing him back.
“I ran you a bath.” Drago pushed her pink hair behind her ear. “I’ll let you know when the food is done.”
“You just gave me another reason for having a husband.”
He laughed. “What’s the other reason?”
“Having someone to toast my Pop-Tarts for me.”
“I don’t toast them for you.” He seemed confused.
“No.” Kat gave him a wink. “But now you know.”
Drago’s tough face softened. “Yes, I do.”
Excited for her bath, she went up the stairs, and when she reached the bathroom, she saw the huge tub was waiting with bubbles floating on top. Throwing her hair up in a bun, she practically ripped off all her clothes before she slowly got in.
Blissfully, she felt the water surround her.
My husband isn’t so bad after all.
Katarina rested on the back of the tub, letting the soothing warmth of the water relax her muscles as she closed her eyes. She didn’t realize she had dozed off, not hearing him call her name till Drago opened the door to make sure she was all right.
Awake now, she could see that ring of fire beginning to burn brighter in his eyes upon seeing her. He hadn’t touched her since that last time, and she didn’t force him, wanting him to come to terms with the guilt he carried on his own. Dreamily, she swirled the bubbles to cover the tips of her breast that were poking through the scented water.
Drago stalked closer and closer till he towered over her and the tub.
She looked up at him. He was so handsome that she had to lick her dry lips.
He lowered himself, going down to his knees as he reached out to rub his thumb over her bottom lip she had just licked. “Better be careful, Kitty Kat, before you poke the bear.”
“Really?” she asked before she did it again.
Trailing down from her lips to her neck, his finger slid down between her breasts. “Yes.”
“You’re getting your shirt wet,” Kat teased before he got much further.
Disappointed, she saw his hand come out of the water. She expected him to leave and was surprised to see Drago unbuttoning his shirt and slinging it toward the hamper to the side of the tub. His hand dipped back into the water, returning to the spot he had left.
When Drago’s hand slid down her belly, warmth flooded inside, becoming warmer than the water surrounding her. The quivering ache came next, making her glad that he couldn’t see under the water. Her hands went to the sides of the bathtub to hold herself upright, afraid that she would drown if she didn’t.
Her hands gripped the tub tighter the lower he got as he ran his fingertips along the inner length of her thigh. She forgot about swirling the bubbles, letting the sensations that Drago was arousing within her envelope her into its steamy mist. She inhaled the fragrant bath oil that Drago must have put in the water. Her elbows sloshed water over the side when his fingers came close to her essence before teasingly gliding away. Back and forth his hand wandered over her skin. Each time he touched her sex, his fingers would linger longer before pulling away.