Page 22 of The Merciless King

I’m impressed by her compassion. Not that I expected her to be a cold-hearted killer just because her father is.

She might be, though.

Mia bites her lip. “No, I can’t do anything. Braxton is here. We haven’t caught up in forever.”

“You should go,” I tell Mia. “I will stay with Gianna until she finishes her drink.”

I lift the bottle from the ice bucket and fill her glass.

Gianna’s green eyes are full of fire and I’m not sure if she’s going to tell me to fuck off or is still thinking about me tearing her lace panties off with my teeth.

I’m not sure I’m not thinking about those things either, if I’m honest.

But I know why I’m here.

To get Amy.

“I’ll make it up to you,” Mia says, reaching across the table and taking her hand. “You’re in good hands with Braxton.”

She shoots me a glance and I’m surprised she’s sending me a warning.

Mia cares for this girl.

“Make sure she gets home safely,” she adds.

Gianna squeezes back. “Do not worry. I have my security team, who are twice as big as Mr. Russi.”

No, they’re not.

I know exactly which two men they are.

Glue them together maybe, but they’re both soft around the edges from driving Miss Baldassare around for coffees and shopping. I’m fresh home from the front lines of the Middle East.

There is nothing soft about me.

GIANNA

FINDING MYSELF ALONE with Braxton was the last thing I expected to happen when I first saw him enter the bar.

His comment about ripping off my panties certainly surprised me, and I’m still trying not to fan my face.

Few men grab my attention like this one has.

I still don’t understand who he is.

He was involved with the Mancini crime family and knows Mia’s husband. Everyone knows who Connor Barrett is—he’s a billionaire known the world over. But it seems Mr. Rossi has done business with all of them.

He could be a contractor, and from what I hear, men like him are extremely dangerous.

Which explains his aura.

And why my body is quietly shuddering with need. It’s doing things to my panties, which means if I do let him inside them, they’re going to be soaked.

I want him to show me just how powerful and dominant he can be. Which is why I’m still sitting here.

Poor Mia. I could see she felt torn about leaving to see her friend, but I wouldn’t want her sitting here feeling like she couldn’t leave because she felt obligated.

Hopefully, we will catch up again.

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