I nodded. “Only if you promise to be naked.”
“I’ll even let you tie me to the bed. I know how your brain works. Just don’t leave me there with an erection, ‘kay?”
“Haha, no promises. Better keep me happy.” I trailed a finger down his chest.
He grabbed my hand and kissed it.
“Guyssssss.” Maksim’s voice came again. “Good for you for blowing off some steam, but they said ten minutes, and it’s been way longer. And you still have to somehow get that sex smell off of you, which, honestly, it’s even out here. So maybe…walk faster, Tank, so Sergio doesn’t break your legs for screwing his daughter?”
“Good point.” Tank pulled away from me and then went to the opening of the cabana to poke his head out. “Clothes?”
Maksim said something I couldn’t hear.
Then there was laughter.
Tank kicked at someone.
And then he closed the cabana again.
“Everything okay?” I leaned back on my elbows and watched him approach.
He swore and dropped my sarong and flip-flops onto the other chair. “No. You’re naked, and now you have to put on clothes… Oh, and Maksim’s a jackass.”
“Heard that!” Maksim called.
“You really are, though,” King agreed, loudly.
I threw my head back and laughed. “You’re no saint either, King!”
“Love you, Tiny!”
“Love you, too!”
We hurried and got dressed, discarded the er…towels we’d used to wipe each other down, and quickly started walking with Maksim and King.
It was quiet.
Which was rare with those two.
“I can’t keep it in,” Maksim blurted. “I tried extremely hard, but I just can’t do it, it may kill me.” He turned his perfect fallen-angel face toward me and smirked. “Tank and Tiny…How did he even—?”
Tank lunged for him.
But Maksim was fast.
Probably because he had a mouth on him and had to learn how to run away so he didn’t have to fight. Even though he could probably take on Tank, Tank was still bigger.
King busted up laughing. “He only said what everyone’s going to be thinking.”
I stumbled. “Everyone?”
“Please.” Maksim jogged back. “It’s all over your faces.” He snorted. “Especially this guy’s.” He pointed to Tank. “His face literally says, “Just got laid, five stars, one hundred percent recommend!”
“I’m killing you,” Tank said in a low voice.
“Many have tried.” Maksim just grinned. “All have failed. I’m too pretty.”
King sighed. “Pretty doesn’t keep you alive.”
“And yet, it does.” Maksim shrugged. “One of the world’s great mysteries, I suppose. Oh, and”—he snapped his fingers—“future boss of the Sinacore Family. No big…”
Tank just laughed. “If you make it that long.”
“Hey, hey.” Maksim slapped him on the back. “I was just curious. Besides, it’s not like anyone can keep a secret around here when people are having sex, need I refresh your young minds about the DoorDash incident with Annie and Ash outside, pants down at his ankles? I’m still traumatized, and I’m all for outside sexcapades.”
King shuddered. “Some things, I should never have to see. One being my cousin’s mouth on”—he gulped—“…never mind. I’m still not okay.”
“It will get better.” Maksim wrapped an arm around him. “These things take time.”
“It was so cold that night.” King put his head on Maksim’s shoulder. “And the lights—”
“There, there.” Maksim gave him a slight hug and then shoved him.
And I realized, I hadn’t stopped smiling.
Tank grabbed my hand.
And I knew as we approached the large structure housing Tex, my uncle and Godfather of the Families, that it would be okay.
I had Tank.
And neither of us were letting go.
Chapter Eleven
Tank
I don’t know what I expected.
But all the bosses lined up in the living room of the hut in the dark with candles lit all around them was not one of those things.
Sergio took one look at me holding Kartini’s hand and straight-up growled like a fucking animal.
Nixon put his hand on his shoulder and pulled him back.
Tex—the terrifying Capo—grinned like a fool.
Valerian stood next to him, arms folded, eyes lasered in on me as if telling me it was time.
And it was.
Every boss was present.
Dante Alfero, Tex Campisi, Phoenix Nicolasi, Andrei Sinacore, Valerian Petrov, Nixon Abandonato—and underbosses Chase Abandonato, Ash’s dad, and next to him, still glaring…
Sergio.
I had no clue if I was about to become a fucking sacrifice to some mafia god or if they were about ready to offer me what Valerian had known I wanted.
I’d already been made, so I wasn’t sure what the hell this was, but it must have been important because Kartini squeezed my hand extra-hard, and I could tell just by the look on her face how important this really was.
Only the older kids were there.
Ash, King, Maksim, Junior, Izzy, Serena, Annie, and Violet all stood off to the side, and then slowly Ash moved forward.
I frowned as Ash, one of my best friends despite the fact that this last year we’d nearly killed each other, moved directly in front of me.
His blue eyes nearly glowed, his whiskey-colored hair fell in a mess over his forehead, and I was reminded yet again how regal he looked when he was being serious and not pissed.