Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 91389 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91389 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
“So far you’re doing an admirable job.” I push him away and climb out of bed. I like the way he stares at me as I pull on clothes. “But I’m still mad at you.”
He groans and looks at the ceiling. “This again?”
“This again,” I confirm, hands on my hips. “Tell me I’m allowed to make my own choices.”
“Claudia—”
“I’m serious. I like being with you. Whatever’s going on here—” I gesture between us. “It could be a good thing. But not if you’re going to turn into a controlling prick.”
I don’t add that I had a controlling prick in my life already and his name is Rodney. That would be going too far, but it’s true.
“I just want you to be safe,” he says, and he must not like the look on my face, because he puts his hands up in surrender. “Fine, baby, you’re a pain in the fucking ass for such a small girl, but fine, you win. I’ll be there every single night you’re working though.”
“You already are.” I give him a sickly-sweet smile. “You’re a peach, darling.”
“And you’re a monster.” He kicks the sheets off and gets up. I stare down at his semi-hard dick and his muscular abs and his defined chest, and now I’m the one that’s doing the admiring. “Now, I need a favor from you.”
“A favor?” He walks past me and into the kitchen. I follow after, feeling nervous. “What kind of favor?”
“Since you’re being stubborn, I need you to talk to my brother.” He opens cabinets and starts making coffee.
“Your brother. As in, the Don of the Bianco Famiglia?”
“His name’s Simon and you don’t have to be intimidated.” He frowns into the refrigerator once the coffee machine’s burbling. “I’m going to stock this damn thing. Actually, I’m going to buy you all new appliances, renovate this place—”
“Stop it. Why am I going to talk to your brother?”
“I need you to tell him what you know about Tommy.” He puts a pan on the stove and starts making eggs. “Simon’s going to be annoyed when he finds out that I’ve been causing trouble, but once he understands how things are, he’ll do the right thing.”
“Which is what?”
“Give me permission to kill everyone involved with Cage.” He says it so casually like it’s no big deal. Except he’s talking about murder. Multiple murders. Lots and lots of murders. “Coming from me, he might think I’m just reading into the situation. Which is why I need you to confirm everything.”
“Why wouldn’t your brother just believe you?”
“Tommy and I have history together. Simon thinks I’m on a suicidal revenge rampage.”
I walk over to the coffee pot and pour myself a mug. “Which you are.”
“Yes, which I am, but I’m still right.” He turns to me and grabs me by the waist. I yelp as he pulls me against him. “Come talk to my brother. If you’re good, I’ll show you my house.”
I let out a little laugh. “Is that some kind of incentive?”
“Yes, baby. I have a very large bed and an even larger appetite.”
“You’re so cheesy sometimes.”
“You like it.” His hand squeezes my ass and I wriggle against him. “Do me this favor. It’ll help, I promise.”
“I’ll come talk to your brother.” I slip out of his grip. “But I’ll pass on the house tour.”
“You say that now.” He waves the spatula at me. “But it’s only because you’ve been thoroughly satisfied not too long ago. You’ll change your mind.”
I stand in the doorway to the kitchen and glare at the big, shirtless beast cooking eggs at my stove. “I was definitely something this morning, but I wouldn’t use the word ‘satisfied,’ you dick.”
“Your screams suggest otherwise.”
“That was me begging for mercy. I was praying for it to be over as fast as possible. You’re just mistaken.”
His expression darkens. “Are you trying to tease me?”
“I’m trying to shrink that swollen ego of yours.”
“Bad idea. You’re only giving me ideas.”
I shake my head and turn away. “I’m showering. And I’m locking the door, so don’t come bother me.”
“Locks can’t stop me from pleasuring you, baby,” he calls as I head into the bathroom.
I grin to myself and leave the door open a crack. He’s right—the lock would be worthless anyway.
I’m nervous on the drive over to his brother’s place. We’re in the back of a black sedan and a couple of very serious-looking men are up front. We swing by Cage first so the guy in the passenger seat can bring Angelo’s truck home.
“Our block is called the oasis,” he says quietly as we drive to a nice part of the city.
“What do you mean, your block?”
“We own every house on the oasis. Each member of the core Bianco family has one, and the rest are for other various uses, like guest houses, a gym, an office, shit like that.”