Page 13 of Hers to Rule

“Who do you think was responsible for it?” Rio asked.

“A very good question I don’t have an answer for yet.”

“Father was always concerned about Esmé,” Mari said. “Do we think going to meet her is still a good idea?”

After a moment of thought, Cisco responded, “I don’t believe she’s a threat to us, but we’ll take precautions.”

“My money is on Argento,” Rio said with venom in his voice. Mari didn’t know what that was about and wasn’t sure if she should ask.

Cisco considered him soberly. “He will come for us for sure, but I wouldn’t have thought it would be this early.”

The manager of her father’s club hadn’t even occurred to her as a possible enemy when there were so many people who hated her father in Las Vegas. “Why would he want to cause trouble for us? I never thought of them as particularly close.”

“They weren’t. Grudging allies at best. But with Basilio gone, he might have designs on taking it all over himself,” Cisco said. “And there are personal reasons he might think we’re after him.”

“He would be right,” Rio growled.

Cisco nodded. “The fact is there are dozens of possible options. I’ll put out some feelers to see if I can get more information.”

“So what does this mean for us right now?” Mari asked.

“Primarily, it means you’re on compound lockdown except in situations where I can set up a security detail.”

Mari sighed dramatically. “This is all just a ploy to make sure I don’t go shopping for myself, isn’t it?”

Cisco grinned, showing his fangs. “I’ll never tell.”

“You’re lucky I don’t mind being your own personal dress-up doll.”

“The only thing I enjoy more than dressing you is undressing you,” Cisco said with an approving glance over her. “In all seriousness, though, if there’s something in particular you would like, just let Giselle know. She has control of all the house accounts now.” He turned to Rio with a smile. “That goes for you too.”

Rio shrugged. “I don’t need anything but what you buy for me.”

The revelation that Cisco dressed Rio, too, made her aware that he did it as an act of devotion. She realized she hadn’t told him she appreciated the gesture. “I love what you’ve picked for me.”

The bashful smile that softened his face made Mari think if he was capable of blushing, his cheeks would be red. “I need to take a few swoops around the compound to make sure everything is still quiet, but I’ll join you soon at the pool house.”

Rio stood and then ducked to pick her up with her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist.

Cisco leaned to kiss Rio briefly. “You can give her whatever she needs until I get back.”

She rested her head against Rio’s shoulder, once again so thankful for Rio and everything he did to help her. “What if I need his cock?”

Cisco chuckled and leaned in to kiss her as well, his lips upturned in a smile. “He knows the rules.” He winked and headed out the door, bounding into the sky as soon as he was outside.

“What did he mean by that?”

Rio held her closer. “I’m not allowed to come without permission. But you can use my dick for whatever you want short of that.”

“Mmm,” she murmured into his neck. “He really does want you to beg later, doesn’t he?”

“I told you. He always does.”

They got to the pool house, where the windows and blinds were already closed and the bedroom was blissfully dimly lit.

“How long do you think he’ll be?”

“I don’t know.” He smiled. “Probably not long.”

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