She looked at me, her cheeks red, and let the sheet drop away. She climbed out of bed and hesitated before walking to the bathroom. I stared at her long legs, her lean body, her perky breasts. I felt my cock stir as I took down my jacket and slipped it on.
I headed downstairs while she showered and made a few calls. When I was done, I made the coffee, scrambled some eggs, and made some toast. It was finished by the time she came down wearing a pair of sweats and another black tank top. I glanced at her body, at her breasts, unable to help myself. Having her last night, sinking my cock deep into her tight pussy again and again, fucking her rough and without any mercy, it only made me want her more.
But I had business to attend to. “Sit,” I said.
She curled up at the kitchen table, legs crossed under her. I put a plate of eggs and toast down in front of her and poured a coffee.
“You’re not eating?” she asked.
I shook my head. “Got shit to do.”
“Dante—”
“Don’t worry. Gino will be in soon.”
She stared at me for a long moment then looked away. “Yeah. Okay. Good.” She bit her toast and sipped her coffee.
I walked to the kitchen counter, picked up the gun I’d left next to the frying pan, and slipped it into the waistband of my pants. I covered it with my jacket, adjusted my cuffs, and hesitated just a moment. “I’ll see you later,” I said.
“Be careful.” She blurted the words out like they were hard to say.
I smirked and nodded. “I’ll see what I can do.”
“You don’t want to ruin another shirt.”
I barked a laugh and left the kitchen.
Steven was already idling down by the curb. Gino got out from the back and I stopped him. “You missed the action last night,” I said.
He shrugged. “You know me, boss.”
“I do. I know you would’ve been there.” I reached into my pocket and took out a small roll of hundreds. I shoved them into his hand. “Watch her close.”
“I will.”
I nodded and got into the car. Gino headed up the steps without counting the money. I smiled and looked at Steven. He nodded back and put the car into gear.
“You look happy,” he said. “Finally fuck that little toy of yours?”
I winced. “Don’t talk about her that way.”
“Fine, but the point stands.”
“What have you heard?” I asked, changing the subject.
“Vlas is unhappy, but he’s not making any waves, not yet at least. The crew’s been warned, and all our associates and spies are out in force this morning with their ears to the ground. We’ll turn something up.”
“Fucking better,” I grunted. “I have to know how Vlas pulled that shit last night.”
“I know what you’re thinking,” Steven said, glancing at me as he stopped at a traffic light.
“Of course you think you do.”
“It’s not a fucking rat.”
“Who said that’s what I thought?”
“You did. And you didn’t have to.”
I shook my head. “You think you know me so well.”
“I do,” he said. “Don’t fuck around, Dante. I know how you get when you think you’re being wronged.”
“I’m holding it in check,” I said, looking out the window.
“And the girl—” he started and stopped himself.
I turned and narrowed my eyes. “What about her?”
“She’s a liability.” He kept looking straight ahead as the light changed and he pulled forward.
“No, she’s not.”
“She is and you fucking know it, Dante.” Steven’s voice sounded tense and it almost surprised me. “Vlas is already starting to use her against you. What’s with that girl, anyway?”
“She’s mine,” I said. “I’m going to make that girl my bride.”
Steven just sighed and shook his head. “You’re fucking crazy. You remember putting a bullet in her dad’s head, right? You remember wrapping his corpse in plastic?”
“I do,” I said. “And I’m still going to marry her.”
“That’s the dumbest shit I’ve ever heard.”
“You know what? When you can keep a girl around for more than ten minutes without scaring her off, then you can talk shit to me.”
Steven snorted. “Say what you want, the girl’s a liability. Vlas may not be a good fighter, but he’s a fucking psycho. He’ll use her against you. He’s already doing it.”
I stared at the streets flashing past as we left the suburbs and headed deeper into the city. I knew he was right, knew Vlas saw how I felt about Aida at our last meeting. That was exactly his kind of move, find a weakness and exploit it as hard as he could. Aida was that weakness for me, as much as I didn’t want to admit it.
But that wouldn’t change a thing.
I already made up my mind. I knew what I wanted, and I wasn’t the kind of man to back down once I decided on something.