Page 18 of Desperate Decisions

Amara let out a whine of distress. “Don’t go back. How am I supposed to function as a human being if you die? I was a fucking mess just because we were apart for a few weeks.”

I gathered her close, though I couldn’t really comfort her. Time was running out. The flight details I’d given Bianca would show I’d landed ten minutes ago and I could only make excuses for so much time for customs and luggage pickup. “Promise me you’ll get out if I don’t come back?”

I wasn’t expecting the fire in her kiss when she brought her lips to mine. “Don’t fucking die. Because I won’t leave; I will storm that fucking compound and put a bullet in Bianca myself.”

Amara melted when I slipped my hand over her throat. “You’ll do no such thing. You’ll keep yourself safe. Promise me.”

Defiance filled her eyes.

I squeezed a little tighter. “Promise. Me.”

“Fine. But I’m not gonna be happy about it.”

I hated to leave her, but I had one stop to make before the compound and I was running out of time. I indulged in one last kiss, memorizing the sweet tartness of her mouth before departing.

Tim was waiting for me when I arrived at the law office, the documents laid out and ready. “Nothing’s changed since you approved them.”

I glanced over them anyway, just in case, before signing my name. “You remember the protocol?”

“I have all the documents ready to go with the account information she’ll need if I don’t hear from you by midnight.”

“Good.”

“You’re sure you want to do this? Who even is this girl?”

“That’s not your concern right now, but I appreciate your help.”

He tucked the signed forms into an envelope after scanning them, and I left the office to head to the compound in a taxi that would drop me off nearby.

The gate guards greeted me with familiar half smiles and ushered me through the moment I arrived. The next set of guards at the door whistled low. “Glad to have you back, sir. She’s been in a mood.”

Fuck. I’d been hoping Marco’s report would’ve improved things.

I dropped my bag off in my suite and showered quickly, erasing as much of Amara’s scent from my skin as I could before changing into something fresh and making my way to the war room.

Bianca looked up when I entered. “About fucking time. One of our dockworkers turncoated and gave our shipment to the Rossis. He’s dead, of course, but I need you to go down there and make it extremely fucking clear that if any of them even consider that again, I’ll be turning that port into a mass grave and then going for their families.”

“Let me go,” said Santo. “Give El a chance to get over the jet lag.”

Bianca rolled her eyes. “He wouldn’t have to get over anything if he hadn’t left.”

“What a greeting, and when I brought you the best wine Italy has to offer, too.” I moved directly to her, trying not to let her mood sway things. “Have a glass with me before I spill blood for you.”

“Santo, go,” Bianca snapped. “Marco, go with Enzo and deal with that fucking Cafaro upstart. I don’t have time for his bullshit when I have a war to prepare for.”

“We’ll handle it,” Marco promised. He grimaced at me as we passed, patting my shoulder in a wordless good luck.

Then it was just Bianca and I.

“What did you bring me?”

“Giacomo Conterno Monfortino.”

That got a smile out of her. “Spoiling me.”

“I had to do something to make up for leaving.”

Bianca chewed her lip and ushered me to follow, fetching wine glasses from her personal quarters along with a corkscrew. “It’s all settled, then? Did they actually need you?”

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