Page 49 of Isle of Beauty

Tears stain Mr Berg’s cheeks and he whimpers weakly. I unholster my gun, pull it to his face and pull the trigger, spattering blood and brain matter across our clothes. I don’t miss Pierce’s flinch and my heart tightens.

I turn myself away from him so I can get myself under control and avoid the emotions that must pass on his chiselled face. Revulsion. Loathing. I can’t face that right now.

I just killed four men in less than four hours and I feel so fucking raw, like my flesh is being torn from my bones. I’m not ashamed of what I need to do to keep the people that matter safe and keep my business prospering but he has no clue who I am and seeing disgust in his whiskey eyes would be worse than hate.

When I turn back around, he’s already there. I gasp at his sudden proximity, my hands landing on his chest. His breaths are laboured, his nostrils flaring. His hand lands on my hip to keep me rooted in place, the other one fisting my hair.

“Don’t hide from me,” he simply says and his lips crash to mine in a brutal kiss.

I moan, relief flooding me. I open for him, letting his tongue glide against mine in a sensual motion that heats my blood then press myself harder against the plane of his ribcage. Our hearts connect through clothes and skin, syncing up to the same beat.

That’s all I needed. The reassurance that if he saw me in all my ugliness, he wouldn’t run for the hills. I’ve avoided Pierce not only because he makes me feel untethered and raw but also because on the off-chance that he did come back to embrace this life of ours, I didn’t want him to see me. To really witness what I do to keep my family safe and my business thriving.

I’m not a good person but he is and I refuse to taint him with my sins. But he’s here now, kissing me with as much fervour as he did before, like I’m precious. Our kiss tastes like potential and it’s the most dangerous thing.

Too fast, Pierce breaks the kiss and puts his forehead to mine. His eyes are closed, as if he needs a moment to gather himself, as if he can’t believe what he just did. When he opens them again, the brown seems to swirl with agony; kissing me is all he wants and all he hates but I don’t care as long as it happens again.

He steps back and turns around to leave the room, without another glance at me and I’m left wanting and breathless.

TWENTY

LANA

… AND HORS D’OEUVRE

After the clean up crew shows up at Lady in White, I make my way to my father's house. Time has finally come to let the whole world know of our engagement and upcoming nuptials.

I’m glad for the reprieve I get while driving there. Despite my confusion and the amount of lust coursing through my veins, I haven’t forgotten that Pierce owns a private cyber security company. For all I know, he could be selling information to the government and working to have us thrown in jail.

What my brain knows and my body wants are vastly different. The buzz of adrenaline still threatens to spill over. Fuck, the way he stepped in and demanded answers made my blood thrum and my pussy clench in desperate need. But we still have no clue who’s targeting us and nervous energy upturns my stomach.

I arrive at the house to shed my bloody clothes and get ready with my mother, sisters and Giulia.

It’s going to be too short notice for the main families of the European underworld to join us, which was calculated on our part, but the London Bratva and Italian Mafia sent ambassadors. We all need to play the part of a united family. Vultures can smell dead meat and conflict from a mile away.

I sit at my dressing table, my sisters working on my hair and make up. I could do it myself but I see their bright eyes shine with pride anytime they do something for me. They need to remind themselves I’m here and I survived. I do too.

“We saw Pierce arrive, Lana. Gosh, I can’t believe you’re marrying him, he’s so hot,” Marie gushes and I roll my eyes at her, though I have to bite my lip not to agree with her.

Giulia saunters into my room, startling me out of my thoughts. “Cugina, what’s taking you so long? The reception has already begun and you’re expected downstairs in fifteen minutes.”

“We’re done, G,” Lisa chimes before she sets the curling iron down and she and Marie leave us alone. I need a shot or three because I’m not sure my nerves can take the immensity of this moment.

“What the hell are you wearing?” Giulia sounds horrified by my choice of a simple black silk dress with organza puff sleeves. “Babe, you look like you’re going to a funeral, not your engagement party.”

“I’m not gonna pretend I’m happy when we have a wolf in our midst that could fuck everything up.”

“Lie to my face all you want, Lana, but I know you’re excited to have him here. Maybe not as your husband. I know you never meant to marry again after…” She doesn’t finish her sentence and I’m grateful for it. My previous husband has no place here. She clears her throat but continues her pro-Pierce campaign. “You could do much worse, you know. He’s kind and he wants this life.”

“You should have seen his kindness today in the basement,” I scoff. “We can’t trust him.”

“Bitch, stop interrupting me!”

I burst out laughing because Giulia’s tantrums are legend but I definitely don’t want to be on the receiving side so I shut my lips and motion that they're sealed until she continues.

“As I was saying, he’s a good man. You have the right to enjoy this moment. I know you think you’re protecting us but you deserve happiness and comfort too.”

She’s right. I always think about the family and our empire. Letting my guard down is not an option if we want to stay alive, but Pierce has a way of breaking down all my defences with just one look. And now that I remember vividly how he tastes on my lips, I’m not sure I won’t let him, brick by brick.

---