Maybe it’s not an unpleasant way to live. Foolish, but probably not unpleasant. I view the world through exactly the opposite lens; always expecting the attempt even if no one is holding a gun.
Absently reaching out and tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, I tell her, “You have a good heart. I don’t. Let’s leave it at that, hm?”
I could inflict further pain and embarrassment, but I don’t feel like it. Since she seems to be out of words now, I gather her close and wrap my arms around her waist, tucking her head beneath my chin. She doesn’t struggle—one of the battles she opts not to fight. This one is harmless enough. Knowing her warped way of looking at things, she probably thinks I need the affection.
I mean, I do enjoy it, but I don’t need it. I did spend more of today than I care to admit thinking about it, looking forward to the moment I could come back to this bed and bury myself inside her body, then curl up with her afterward. It should matter that she doesn’t want to be here, but it doesn’t.
That’s not need though. It’s merely desire. Yes, I desire her, but that’s nothing.
Mia’s warm breath against my skin pulls me from my thoughts. “I don’t want to die.”
I lean back and reach a hooked finger beneath her chin, tilting her face up so she has to look at me. Her blue eyes are swimming with so much uncertainty now, glinting with flecks of fear. There’s still a stubborn tinge of absurd hope in their depths though, and as much as I want to, as much as I need to in order to make her desperate enough to sell me out, I can’t bring myself to completely extinguish it.
My dark gaze holds steady on hers, unapologetically predatory. “Then I suggest you keep me entertained.”
She swallows, looking no less uncertain.
Just in case there are any doubts as to how she might accomplish such an end, I lean in and brush my lips against hers. She draws in a hasty, hitching breath, but she doesn’t struggle. Regardless of how she feels or what she wants, regardless of the awful things I’ve done and will continue to do to her, her mouth softens and she kisses me back—without prompting, this time.
[FRIDAY]
“I think we have a problem with Enzo.”
My younger brother Dante stands in front of my desk with his arms crossed, scowling at Adrian. “There’s no problem with my guy.”
“Yeah, there fucking is,” Adrian states. He’s irritable as hell this week and doesn’t seem to have the patience for Dante’s shit right now. “I’ve double checked and his shit doesn’t check out. He’s skimming or someone on his crew is and he’s not noticing. Either way, it needs to be dealt with.”
“I’m saying you’re wrong,” Dante states.
“I’m saying I’m not,” Adrian shoots back, meeting Dante’s gaze.
Dante’s eyes narrow on Adrian’s, then he looks at me, since of course I get final call.
“Do one more check,” I advise Adrian. “If you turn up the same results, take care of it.”
“Does this check include talking to one of my best guys before you kill him?” Dante asks, his eyes glinting with aggravation, but his tone level enough.
“I’d say if he doesn’t notice skimming, he’s not one of your best guys,” I offer.
“Let me deal with it.”
“If you wanted to deal with it, you should’ve done so before it came to Adrian’s attention,” I inform him, declining his request.
“Enzo’s been around longer than you have,” Dante states.
“Then he should know better, shouldn’t he?”
Since he can’t very well argue with that but he still doesn’t like me messing with his crew, Dante’s jaw locks and he nods once. “So it’s like that.”
“Yes.”
He’s angry. I understand. Dante’s more in love with the business side of things than I am—forms closer relationships with the men, has a greater stake in the operations. To be perfectly honest, I don’t need the crime; I just like the power and have a legacy to uphold. I make enough of my own money without it, but I do very much enjoy not having to play by the rules of polite society. I have no trouble making the hard calls, but I prefer to deal less with the day-to-day hand-dirtying.
I am an excellent delegator.
Dante’s too close to the situation.
“Anything else?” I question, lifting my coffee cup and taking a sip as I watch the two men over the brim.
“Nope,” Dante clips.
I indicate the door. “Then you know what to do.”
It’s an obnoxious dismissal and I smile faintly as he gets even more annoyed and storms out of my study without another word.
Adrian shakes his head and sighs, dropping into the chair in front of my desk. Since I’ve started fucking with Mia, Adrian hasn’t been especially happy with me; I’m surprised he stayed to visit.