Page 90 of Charity's Redemption

She took the drink from my hands and sucked down every last drop. Her pink tongue slid across her plush lips, inflaming salacious thoughts.

Charity hid her smirk as she tipped her head towards her chest, burying her green eyes beneath her thick lashes.

“Well, it appears we have handled everything,” Max said, clapping his hand, then bounding towards the liquor stand.

“There is… one more thing.”

Charity looked back up at me with shimmering eyes.

“We have a family cookout to plan, and I invited your parents.”

Now he was justtrying to provoke me.

He wanted me angry? Or he was only trying to help the relationship between my father because the one with my mother had long since sailed, and it sank in the middle of Marianas Trench.

“Are you still with us,bella?”

Max sipped on the aged liquor rather than downing it like he had of late, while I stared daggers at Luca.

“Hmm.” I nodded. “Yeah.” I cleared my throat, then gulped down every feeling that ripped me apart, locking it away on an imaginary shelf and throwing away the key. “Anyone in the mood for a movie and popcorn?”

I rose from my seat with a fake smile on my face. I wouldn’t let this bother me. How could I? I needed to concentrate on what was really important right now, and that was killing the senator, getting our lives back to normal. Then, and only then, would I concentrate on this bullshit he had going on with my father.

“What about the BBQ?” Max said, poking the bear.

“What exactly do you want me to say, big guy? The boss man wants a family dinner, he’ll get one. I just hope he knows it’s going to be a shit storm topped with drama, and a little dash of murder.” I plastered on a Joker-style smile and walked around Luca to exit the den. “Come on, boys. I’ve been meaning to watch this movie about a female assassin who gets revenge on her previous employer.”

“You broke her. I hope you’re happy,” Max said with a laugh, which had me chuckling down the hall.

It was only a coincidence that this movie had that plot, but it couldn’t have been any better. I had every intention of watching it at some point, but now, it seemed like as good a time as ever.

“Charity. No movie tonight,” Luca said, sticking his head out the office door.

“What? I was really looking forward to it.”

“You and Max have a little something to bury.”

Groaning, I folded my arms across my chest. “I can’t, sorry. I have a concussion, and the doctor ordered me down. Must go do that now.” I speed-walked down the hall, gaining distance.

“If you ever listened to the doc’s orders, I’d believe that.”

I spun on my heel to face him with distance as my friend. “Aww, come on. Isn’t there a rule where you take care of your own kills?”

“Weren’t you the one who killed Harding? Besides, you ignored me. Face the consequences.”

“Uh, hello? Barbie and her Ken doll took me hostage.”

“No excuses. We all know you ignored me before that.” He slapped the door jamb. “Take Max and the van. They’ve been sitting on ice for you.”

I grumbled my displeasure under my breath as I walked away, disappointed I wouldn’t get to that movie after all.

“But I wanted to watch the movie,” Max said as Luca shoved him out of the office.

“You and me both, big guy.”

He met me at the end of the hallway, then opened the garage door for me. Before walking out, I snatched the keys to the white utility van we’d used for situations like this before, then tossed them to him. I wasn’t in the mood to drive and bury two bodies in one night. “Let me guess… La Famiglia?”

“Yep. It’s the only place that has two large walk-in freezers downstairs.”

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