Page 55 of Desperate Vows

I skimmed the tip of my tongue down her neck. Her hands found my hair, and her fingers curled in it, and the moan rolling from the back of her throat tickled my lips. Then another soft moan.

“You probably should go take your shower or bath or…”

I pulled her earlobe into my mouth, sucked on it, and the sentence ended in a gasp. If this was just kissing, what sort of songs would she sing when it was more?

“I probably should get that shower.” I leaned back and smiled at the desire reflected in her eyes.

Those lips puckered in a pout. “That was mean.”

Before I lost the willpower to leave, I pushed away from the counter. “So is pouting, especially when you’re telling me to go take a shower.”

When I glanced back, she gave me this over-the-shoulder, sultry look with mischief in her eyes.

She slowly raked her gaze from the top of my head to the tips of my toes, and I swear this woman had stripped me naked. I was half tempted to cover myself with my hands.

Damn. That was sexy as hell. If I walked back to her, I wasn’t going to be dining on cheeseburgers. “I’ll be back before dinner gets here.” I stalked down the hall.

I had never wanted a woman so bad in my life. Once this thing with Franklin and Marco was over. I was going to show her just how mean I could be.

Chapter Twenty-Two

LUCAS

A few days later, my family, several of Jason’s, and men loyal to Gabriele Moretti met at a neutral location where we entered through an underground parking garage. Three families meeting would bring attention we didn’t want just yet.

Yeah, we could have gone in guns blazing, and I really wanted to, but that was a good way to kill a lot of people—some innocent—and now that I had a future that I was looking forward to, I wasn't adding to the stains that were already set in.

I wasn’t the first to arrive. Gabriele was there with his entourage. I suspected that the shootout had him extra cautious. No shade. I would probably feel the same way.

Typically, we wouldn’t meet this way, but Gabriele and I had been in touch, and we wanted to make sure our efforts were coordinated and that our people were communicating with each other should they need backup.

Gabriele stood and shook my hand. “Lucas.” He met Ari, Alexander, Dimitris, and Thea’s eyes, nodding. “Glad you could make it, and I hear congratulations are in order.”

“Thank you.”

Not five minutes passed before Jason and Thomas arrived, with a few bulky guys following behind. I suspected they didn’t want to be outnumbered.

“Jason,” Gabriele said and shook his hand. “Good to finally meet you.”

“Likewise,” he replied as he took a seat across from me. “I have to say I was a little surprised by this meeting and who would be in attendance.”

I shrugged. “We have an issue to discuss. Something we’ve just become aware of.”

Jason’s eyes flicked from me to Gabriele and back. “And that would be?”

“Franklin and Marco are working together.”

“That’s not exactly uncommon. The French are weak and Moretti isn’t.” Jason looked at Gabriele.

Gabriele gave a sly smile. “This ain’t the kind of partnership most of the Moretti family appreciates.”

It wasn’t my place or story to tell, so I stayed quiet. Gabriele shot me a look. “Jason’s family or will be soon enough.”

He leaned back in his chair and began with the events that took place the night he found Marco with his granddaughter. I didn’t like the tale the first time, and I didn’t like it any better the second.

Judging by the look on Jason’s face, he was equally disgusted. “A thirteen-year-old?” He exchanged a look with Thomas. The man was red-faced, and I was surprised he wasn’t already throwing chairs or punching the wall.

Thomas’s lips twisted. “That scumbag’s recruiter tried to solicit my sister’s little girl. I didn’t realize you weren’t of the same mind.”

---