Page 67 of Lord of Punishment

“Well, maybe the bastard realized he shouldn’t rise against our formidable army.”

“I wish that were true. If he hasn’t learned of his brother’s demise already, he will by tomorrow. The body was found and identified.”

“Oh, fabulous.”

“Just make certain you have men watching the house, including Alicia and Brando. I’m concerned we could be in for a bloody battle or two.”

“I will. Is Georgia of any help?”

“We’ve yet to have a full discussion about her ex, abusive fiancé because Dillon is always by her side.”

“Let me guess. You’d like him to stay the night with Brando.”

“If it’s not too much trouble.”

“What’s Georgia going to say about it?”

“She won’t have a choice in the matter.”

He studied me for a few seconds before narrowing his eyes as he always did when he wasn’t happy with my behavior. “You know how I feel about you using my family in any way.”

“That’s not what I’m doing.”

“Bullshit, Sabatino. You might be able to fool some of your men, maybe even that woman you abducted, but you can’t me.”

I looked away briefly. “I need to know if I can trust her. What we shared was… Let’s just say it was breathtaking.”

“Breathtaking. That’s something else that surprises me. However, you also don’t like to lose. Just be careful with the fuel you’re adding to the scorching flames. Both of you could end up burned.”

Now he had me chuckling. “No, I don’t like to lose, brother, especially when a fucking rodent is involved. Since when did you get so philosophical?”

Miguel chuckled, nodding in agreement. “You like this girl. Maybe too much. I can tell.”

“That’s not the point.”

“I think it is and it bothers you. While I don’t blame you, what you’re doing is not only dangerous but could be harmful to that innocent child.”

“Not my intentions,” I told him and he remained quiet, doing nothing more than staring at me. It was his perfected method of getting me to talk. “Yeah, I like her. When I was just Sabatino, some guy who washed up near her house, I was immediately drawn to her. The time we shared was magical. I know that sounds ridiculous, but I won’t allow anything to happen to her.”

“Well, if she’s really Rico’s ex, you know what’s going to happen.”

I tossed back a portion of my drink. “Yep. I do.”

“Don’t do anything you’re going to regret. It will haunt you for a long time if not forever.”

“Yeah, I know. It already is.”

“Finish your drink. It’s time to eat.”

“At least you have your priorities straight,” I teased as I slapped him in the stomach.

“Hey. Don’t knock it. When you have a good woman by your side, every morsel of food will taste like heaven on earth.” He grinned, the man appearing happier than I’d ever seen him.

I’d made fun of him over the last couple of years for being wrapped around Alicia’s little finger. Now I knew what I’d been feeling was raw jealousy.

As I followed him into the kitchen, seeing the two women animated stopped me in my tracks. I could watch Georgia all day, especially when she smiled, her expression lighting up an entire room. I’d taken that away from her among other things but seeing the fleeting reminder of how happy we’d been briefly created another wave of pain.

She slowly turned her head, the smile fading, her return to extreme anxiety evident.

---