Twisted Hearts (The Camorra Chronicles 5)

She slipped out of my hold, making an innocent face. “I don’t know what you mean.” Before I could grab her again, she left the room. Running again, Kitty?

Did giving in to me scare her that much?

That night I could see Gemma’s stubborn streak in full effect. She didn’t allow me more than a quick kiss once we were in bed.

I chuckled into the darkness. “Gem, you’ll give in soon enough. You know it as well as I do.”

Silence was the answer.

I gave her some space over the next couple of days, trying to give her a sense of safety before I’d try for another seduction attempt.

“There’s a big fight tonight. Why don’t we watch it together in the Arena?” I asked during our daily morning workout. Gemma gave me a look as if I’d given her a Christmas present. “Really?” She threw her arms around me and kissed me enthusiastically. I deepened the kiss at once. Too soon, she pulled away with a smile.

I chuckled. “If I’d known that this was the key to your panties, I would have suggested it sooner.”

She punched my shoulder. “You got a kiss, not more. Toni’s working tonight, so I get to see her too. I haven’t since the wedding because she had to help her dad in the Arena, thanks to Fabiano beating him up.”

“Next time, he’ll know better than to accidentally give us a smaller percentage than agreed,” I said coldly.

Gemma scanned my face. “Sometimes I forget that you’re a Falcone because you’re so easy going, but you can be really scary.”

I tried to keep my scary side from her. It had its time and place but usually not around my family.

“The Camorra is my life, Gem. My brothers and I won’t allow anyone to mess with it. Roger’s lucky he only got beaten up. I don’t believe it was a fucking accident that he messed up the bookkeeping. He wanted a bigger part of the pie for himself. That’s betrayal and would mean death under normal circumstances.”

“Then why is he alive?” she asked.

“Because Diego has a soft spot for Toni and because I have a soft spot for you, and you’re best friends with Toni. But I won’t turn a blind eye again, so Roger better get his act together.”

Fabiano wasn’t stupid. He knew the truth and so did Remo and Nino, but Roger wouldn’t survive another bookkeeping mistake.

Gemma licked her lips. “It would break Toni’s heart if something happened to her dad.”

“Then she should make sure her dad stays in line, Gem. That’s all I can say. Remember your loyalties.”

She stepped back. “I’m loyal to you and to Toni. I’ve known her all my life. She’s my best friend.”

“And I’m your husband.”

She swallowed. “Toni’s more responsible than her dad. She’ll make sure things go smoothly.”

I kissed her temple.

Around eight in the evening, I waited for Gemma in my living room. The moment she came down the stairs, my heart sped up. She was wearing a tight red skirt and a red crop top. Holy hell.

Slowly I pushed to my feet, not sure if I wanted to take her into public like that.

Gemma tried to act casual but this wasn’t her usual style. Until recently, she’d still worn those horrendous dresses. “I have a feeling I’m going to kill someone tonight.”

“You threw someone through a window for talking to me, don’t you think that was bad enough?”

“He survived, didn’t he?”

She huffed.

The moment we entered the Arena, every fucker with eyes in his head checked her out. Only a death glare from me stopped them. The Camorrista spending their evening here gave me polite nods. Like usual, they made up only about a quarter of the customers, the others were the people that really brought us money: gambling addicts.

Toni waved at us from behind the bar. We headed that way and she and Gemma hugged each other over the counter. The bar was crowded and apart from Toni, I could see only one other waitress.

The girls whispered among each other briefly, probably about our still non-existent sex life. Like all girls, Gemma had definitely kept her best friend updated on the progress of our bed activities.

I kept my hand on Gemma’s waist to dissuade a guy from looking at her. We took seats at the bar, not my usual spot, but I could tell that Gemma wanted to be close to her friend. Diego joined us shortly after, grimacing when he saw where we were sitting.

He and Toni were in the off part of their on-and-off affair once more. Gemma hugged her brother briefly. Toni gave him a look that suggested she hoped his balls would fall off.

“What’s with them?” she whispered.

“After the quickie at our wedding, things cooled off again,” I said.

Gemma sighed, giving Toni a worried look. I clapped Diego’s shoulder. The first fight was over within two minutes, a fucking bore, but the one after reached a level of bloodshed that would have made Remo proud.