Bloodied Hands (Bellandi Crime Syndicate 1)

Okay, that seemed dramatic.

"Honey, where did you see Matteo?" Sadie's voice asked softly, and I didn't miss the way she stared after Duke. Like his pissy fit was more important than getting me out of the stupid date I didn’t want.

"The robbers at the bank, they recognized me somehow. Begged me to tell Matteo that they didn't hurt me. I wanted answers so I—"

She cut me off with a gasp. "Oh no, please tell me you didn't!" she shrieked, drawing Duke back into the house. His shirt sleeves were rolled up, his normally neat blond hair all messy.

"Didn't what?" he asked, slowly. "What did you do, Ive?"

I steeled my shoulders. I didn't care if it had been stupid in hindsight, I wouldn't be treated as if I was a child incapable of making responsible decisions because I'd made one mistake. "I went to talk to him. I wanted to know why they would recognize me."

"Jesus Christ," Duke hissed. "What were you fucking thinking?!"

"I thought that I had a right to know!" I yelled back.

"You also had a right to just be grateful that they didn't shoot you in the face and leave it at that. If someone is connected to criminals, you do not go to their house and make demands!"

I stood, storming my way into the kitchen and grabbing a cutting board out of it.

I needed to cut something.

I figured a vegetable was probably better than Duke's pretty face.

"Well, I did. It's done," I sighed, pulling a cucumber from my fridge and tossing a container of Duke's favorite homemade hummus onto the island.

"Okay, okay," Sadie stood, giving Duke a wary glance as she stepped up and leaned onto the counter. "Don’t get dressed. Put on some sweat

pants, throw your hair into a knot on your head, and look a mess. Matteo Bellandi does not take a woman on a date when she looks more prepared for a movie night at home."

"Okay, okay that works. I can do that," I sighed in relief. I grabbed the peeler from the island drawer, making quick work of the cucumber. I knew she was right. Matteo probably took his dates to high-class restaurants and made them think they had a future before dumping them on their ass when he was done with them.

"Pack a bag," Duke interrupted, taking a furious bite out of a cucumber as soon as I sliced it. "You're staying with me for a few days."

"I can't do that. I have to work. I have photos to take tomorrow. Your kitchen isn't my favorite for that," I argued, shaking my head and discounting it immediately. There was no way I would be forced out of my home.

"Then I'll bring you back and hang out with you while you work tomorrow." Once he'd made quick work of the cucumber, he put the cover back on the container of the hummus and shoved it in the fridge. I widened my eyes at the counter, before turning them his way when he snatched the knife out of my hand and brought it and the cutting board to the sink to wash.

Since when did he wash my dishes?

I shook my head, turning and leaning back on the island. "You only have one bed."

"We'll make it work," he shrugged, acting far too casual considering his outburst before.

I did not like the sound of that.

He shoved the cutting board and knife in the strainer, turning to Sadie. "You want to pack for her?" Sadie stifled a laugh, because even she knew this was uncharacteristic behavior for Duke. He wasn't pushy. He wasn't an asshole.

His hand hit the railing of the stairs, and his foot was on the first step when I called out to him. "I'm not going, Duke."

His eyes hardened as he turned his glare to me. "You are."

"No. I'm not letting him chase me out of my house just because he said he'd pick me up for a date." I omitted the other stuff he'd said about making a dinner out of me if I wasn't ready. That definitely wouldn't help the scenario at the moment. "Look, if he shows up. If anything escalates, you're close. I know to call you. Odds are, he won't even turn up. I can't imagine I'm worth the effort of tracking down my address. It's not like he's lacking for company." I knew I was placating Duke, but I hated the protectiveness he constantly showed over me with men. Like he was determined that every man who was interested in me was a douchebag, just because Matteo had been. He sighed, dropping his head to stare at the stairs.

"Fine," he grunted. He turned, striding out the front door without another word.

"Well, that could have gone better," Sadie said.

I nodded.