Page 31 of Indecent Villain

“Tell your daughter I hope she learned her lesson today,” I say in greeting.

“How was tossing her into your lake teaching her a lesson?”

“I protect family, Aldo. Just like you do. Kinsley, who cannot swim, is my family. Your daughter pushed her in. I was returning the favor. Perhaps have a word with Veronica about family values. I think she has forgotten them.”

The man growls and hangs up.

Something that I should have spent more time thinking about is Aldo Rossi and his daughter, Veronica. What if they are the ones behind the attempt on Kinsley’s life? Veronica is more unstable than her father. I quickly shoot Saul a message from Salem’s phone. There will be a connection somewhere between the dead shooter and who hired him. We just need to find it.

I glance at the quiet girl and ask, “Are you all right?”

She smiles and takes a huge bite of the cake in her hand, grinning around the food. “I am now.”

I laugh. She is full of surprises after what she has been through.

As we enterthe Lake House, I know something is wrong. Jock silently passes me a note, his eyes holding mine. Kinsley frowns and steps close enough for her chest to press against my arm.

Flipping the note open, my heart drops.

Mr. Beckett,

Dinner tonight. 8:00 p.m. sharp. Dress smart.

Aldo Rossi.

“Oh crap,” Kinsley mutters.

“That about sums it up.”

“Do I get to go?”

“Fuck no!” I wince. “I don’t want you in the enemy’s camp, Kinsley. I can’t be worrying about you while I’m there.” I stride upstairs, furious that I don’t have a fucking choice about tonight.

I sense Kinsley on my heels, but I don’t slow down. I slam into my bedroom with Kinsley following behind me. “I’m going to take a shower,” I warn her.

“What’s the summons about?”

“Kinsley, you need to leave.” I toss my sweatshirt into the hamper. “I’m about to get naked.”

In the bathroom, I turn on the shower and curse when I notice Kinsley in the doorway.

Holding her gaze, I drop my sweatpants. She narrows her eyes and gives me her back, but not before I catch her taking a quick peek at my cock.

I grin and tease her. “Scared, Kinsley?”

She shoots me the bird over her shoulder.

I chuckle and climb in under the spray. “You need a shower after being in the lake,” I tell her.

“Is that an invitation?” she responds.

Well, fuck. My cock floods with blood, especially as the image of a very naked and soapy Kinsley comes to mind.

Kinsley clears her throat, and says, “Tell me what’s going on with the bitch’s father.”

“Wait in the bedroom, and we’ll talk.”

She hovers for a moment before leaving and closing the door behind her.

---