Gio

“Yeah, and thank god for that.” I run a hand through my hair. The gel is starting to break down and it’s looking unruly. “It’s the only way, Annie. You have to get through that vent, okay?”

Her arms instinctively cross over her chest as she gazes over the metal contraption again. “Where does it go?”

“Fuck, sweetheart. You know I’m not gonna tell you that right now.” I’m in a foul mood, between prepping for this job and talking to my father, plus carrying all of Gian’s stress, I’m a second away from cracking.

“Okay.” Annie backed down sensing my frustration. “So you want me to crawl through this vent.”

“Yes, you crawl through that vent and that’s all you have to do.”

“Fine,” she mutters. “I’ll try again.”

I take a deep breath, taking my frustration out on Annie isn’t going to help. She’s a champ though, she climbs the ladder and tries again, and again.

Charlie talks her through it with the patience of a saint while I sit down with a cup of espresso. Maybe a minute and some caffeine will do me good.

“Okay, breathe through it, Annie,” Charlie tells her.

She inches forward causing the metal to shake.

“I’m in!” she finally shouts.

“Yes! Good job!” Charlie looks at me with a huge smile on his face.

She fucking did it.

“We have a problem.” Tony breaks through the excitement with just a few words. He leans down to whisper to me. “Fucking Johnny Byrne is trying to gamble again.”

“Fuck.” I scrub a hand over my chin. “You stop him?”

“Little J. has him in his car right now.” Tony glances over to make sure Annie isn’t listening. “Apparently he’s drunk and causing a scene. What do you want me to do, skip?”

I release a long breath.

What can I do?

“You were an ass today.” Annie is glistening with sweat when she slides into the passenger seat of my Porsche.

“Yeah, well I’d get used to it if I were you.” I sift the car into gear and pull away from the warehouse where I handle business.

“Why are you in a bad mood?” She’s wearing red leggings and a tight black tank top with a sweatshirt tied around her waist. Her blonde locks are tied into a loose bun that she’s currently fidgeting with.

“Hey,” I say. “I’m sorry. You’re right, I was being an asshole.”

Her blue eyes turn to me, checking to see if I’m serious. I think she’s surprised to hear me apologize.

“Thank you for the apology.”

“You did good today,” I told her.

Her success is the first step to this job working. Now she has to get her timing down and we’d be on our way to a few million in diamonds.

Nothing is as sweet as money.

“Thank you, but you didn’t answer my question.” she redirects. “What’s going on with you?”

I shift in my seat. She’s too observant. I think I liked her better when she was too scared to call me on my shit, but then again, I like having her in my bed. “Just shit, ya know.” I give her a half answer.

She eyes me. “Shit…sure.” she sighs dramatically. “You know you can talk to me, right?”