Cap laughed and winked at me then waved down Jules. “Can I get some wine? And Mal wants whiskey.”
“And another for me,” I said.
Jules didn’t look at me. “Is this one really drinking for free?” she asked, nodding in my direction.
Cap squinted at me. “For now. I’m not sure he could make good on his tab.”
“I bought you this place,” I said, glaring. “Unless you’ve forgotten.”
“We haven’t forgotten,” Mal said. “Only I think you spent the last of your cash on it, so we’ll float you for a while.”
I sighed and rubbed my eyes as Jules laughed and walked off.
“I’m glad you two are having fun,” I said, staring at my empty glass. “Did you hear the latest on Balestra’s men?”
“They took some territory in the north side,” Mal said. “I was out there with Roman and Enrico.”
“He’s getting aggressive,” I said as Jules returned. She put the drinks down and stood nearby, cleaning a glass, and obviously listening. I ignored her and pushed on. “Which means something changed. But I’m not sure what.”
“Can’t be more men,” Mal said. “I haven’t heard of any new muscle moving into town.”
“But it’s something,” I said, tapping my finger against the glass. I glanced up and Jules was looking at me, searching my face. I tilted my head and parted my lips and felt a surge of something like desire.
Stupid, stupid desire.
Cap was right. I was a caveman. I wanted to drag Jules into my dark tunnel and fuck her savagely by the fire. I wanted to impregnate her and make her all mine. It was a foolish, insane need, and I did my best to ignore it.
But the girl was always around. We lived in the same apartment. I was responsible for her well-being.
This new guard her father was sending would help. He’d give me some space to maneuver and an even better reason to keep my hands to myself. Because if something didn’t change soon, I doubted I could control myself for long.
It was her lips. The way they moved and quirked. Her body didn’t help—she was curvy and luscious in all the perfect ways—but her lips drove me to new levels of need. I couldn’t figure out why or how, but I needed to see them wrapped around my cock, those deep, brown eyes staring into mine as she sucked me off—
“I’ll look into it with Roman,” Mal said. “We’ll put the word out.”
“Good,” I said, nodding to myself. “And what about you, Cap?”
“You mean Maxim?” She sighed and shook her head. “He’s not returning my calls.”
Maxim was the son of a powerful Russian gangster from Dallas. They were a powerful family, and building an alliance with them was a top priority. Cap knew him because her father had tried to set them up, but she’d wrecked that relationship. Now though, I needed that connection.
Mal grunted his disapproval, but he didn’t fight it. We’d gone over this already. If Cap wanted to help by putting me in contact with Maxim, she could do it—even if Mal didn’t want her getting even more involved in this fight.
Jules spoke up suddenly. “If the guy’s not taking your calls, why don’t you go out to see him?”
I frowned over at her. “Sorry, do you know what we’re talking about?”
She shrugged and shook her head. “I’m eavesdropping. But my father always appreciated it when guys went out of their way to pay their respects in person. He said it was a sign of good character, whatever the hell that means.”
Cap pursed her lips. “She could be right, Carmine,” she said.
“You’re not going with him,” Mal said, practically growling at her.
I put a hand on his shoulder. “Easy boy. If I’m going, I’ll go alone. Cap can let Maxim know I’m coming.”
“Can I send a text, Mr. Overprotective?” Cap asked, grinning at Mal.
He sighed and nodded. “Yes, darling. If that’s what you want to do.”
“You guys are weird,” Jules said, grinning.
“I hate to admit it, but she’s right. About going in person, not about us being weird.” I raised my glass and nodded to her. “For once, you had a good idea.”
She rolled her eyes. “Please, I never bother speaking up. You’re too busy listening to the sound of your own voice to hear anyone else.”
Cap and Mal both laughed as I grinned, shrugged, and took a long drink from my whiskey. I put the glass down.
“That’s the plan,” I said. “I’m heading to Dallas to meet with Maxim. Mal, you and Roman will shadow Balestra and figure out what he’s up to. And Cap, you’re sending a single text. We’re all clear?”
“And what am I doing?” Jules asked, leaning against the bar. Her black top pulled up slightly and I stared at the skin over her hip. My mouth filled with saliva and I pictured biting her there hard enough to make her moan as my fingers pressed in deep—