Page 43 of Loyalties & Longings

It’s a great tactic. Often people are so uncomfortable with the silence that they feel the need to fill it. More often than not, they offer a confession as they think he already knows what has happened. Better to admit and suffer consequences like a man than lie and be shot dead on your knees, right? Enzo will probably shoot you either way.

The only issue right now, though, is that he’s sure as shit making me feel uncomfortable, but I have nothing to feel guilty about or to conf...

Oh shit.

Lake?

Could he know about us?

My mind is racing overtime. We’ve been pretty sloppy about hiding our relationship. At least, we could have done better. I walk to the sofa and sit on the edge, leaning forward, facing him with my elbows on my knees. I try to shake my thoughts of being caught out. This cannot be about his daughter and me since he was talking shop and has had everyone check in today.

Enzo continues to watch me, his eagle-like eyes honed in on my face, looking for any telling signs of lying. He takes a sip of his whiskey before finally breaking the silence.

“Vlad called this morning. They’re pulling out of the deal,” he says, stone-faced.

The muscles in my jaw start to hurt, and my teeth are clenched way too hard.

“But they’ve only done one exchange.” I’m starting now to catch on to what’s got him seeing red.

I don’t blame him. I’m starting to feel the same.

If those fuckers have done a dirty on us, there is going to be hell to pay.

I’ve been craving a good torture and kill. It’s been so fucking long. I’ve been out of the game for far too long. I miss the thrill of the kill, the adrenaline coursing through my veins. The metallic smell of blood as it leaves the body. The squelching sound as I slice the person open. The sticky, slippery feeling of their blood on my hands as it starts to coagulate and dry.

My dick gives a little twinge.

Fuck yeah, it’s been way too long.

The reminder of what the experience does to my whole body has me as hungry as a starved, savage wolf.

Shaking my head to stop my mind from running too far away with the idea, I look over at Enzo.

“So, what did he say exactly?” I ask, reconsidering the drink he offered me earlier.

“It was a rough night, and I’ve been nursing a sore head, but the last thing I was expecting or needed this morning was a call from them,” he starts, then turns around to pour himself yet another two fingers of whiskey. Hair of the dog and all that, I guess. All I can think is that he’s already well on his way toanotherdrunken night.

“I was just getting settled in my office to organize another meeting with Nico about our grappa exports after finally convincing him to stay in business with us, even if I had to use his family as leverage, before running over some numbers when I got a call from Dimitri Orlov. At least, that’s the number that came up on my cell phone. When I answered, it was Vlad on the other end. Said he was calling because Dimitri had no time for me now. That they no longer wanted to do business, and they’re busy planning other, bigger things.” He pauses to down his liquor in one big swill.

“I just have this strange feeling that—” He’s cut off by the front door slamming open.

Lake comes in, looking dazed and frazzled like she has justcompleted one massive run or maybe even had a good romp in the sheets. I guess only I’d know that’s how she looks after good sex, though.

Her eyes lift to meet mine, then find and land on her dad. There’s definitely fear in her eyes as she steps a little further into the room. I finally notice that she is shaking and has grazes on her body.

Did she fall?

Something has happened to her, and I am going to kill anyone who has done anything to her.

“Blaze. Dad.” Her eyes look glassy and wet with unshed tears. Standing quickly, I make my way over to her. Wrapping an arm around her back and holding on to her waist, I guide her to the sofa I’d gotten up from.

“Dad, I have a message for you.” She swallows hard, and I hear the click of her throat as she does. As her adrenaline fades away, her tears begin to spill over, silently running down her cheeks, andI see red.

Someone. Is. Going. To. Die.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Blaze

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