Page 47 of Under His Control

“Yeah.” I sighed, relaxing with Olivia’s weight against my chest. She sure looked comfy, so much so that I tried not to move with her this close to falling asleep. “When the Dominos were taken out, Stefan lost a lot of money. He lost manpower, he lost product, but most of all, he lost a ton of money in backing the Dominos against the MC. Stefan wanted to get Dante’s backing, to claim the Constellas as an ally, but Dante wanted nothing to do with the Giovannis.”

“Or the MC, right? Since he took Nina from Reaper?”

I winced. “Try not to word it like that.”

He furrowed his brow. “What do you mean?”

“That Reaper ever had Nina to begin with. He didn’t. The night Nina’s brother lost that bet was the first time she ever saw the man. He neverhadher, and Dante hates the idea that he ever could’ve had her.”

He nodded slowly. “Noted.”

“Stefan has joined with Reaper, though, in retaliation to the Constellas’ actions.”

“Like not giving Nina up?” he guessed.

“That and the way Dante told Stefan to fuck off when he wanted our backing with gun routes. And Romeo, uh, Romeo got a little ahead of himself and pissed off the MC even more when he killed one of their lawyers.”

He narrowed his eyes. “Why?”

“Because that lawyer was supposed to marry Tessa.”

“Damn.”

I nodded, hoping all of this wouldn’t intimidate him. “If anyone were to want my opinion?—”

“I do.” His tone wasn’t mocking, and I appreciated that.

I smiled. “Thanks. In my opinion, Dante is hoping they’ll piss each other off to the point that they’ll kill each other off. We can’t take on both groups at once, but neither of them has staying power to remain a valid threat for long. The bikers, especially. They’re new to wanting power and likely won’t last. The presidents change over quickly.”

“Lots of infighting,” he guessed.

He sounded distant, like he was just saying something because it was his turn to speak.

I glanced up from gazing at Olivia sleeping on my chest. He was watching me with something soft yet potent stirring in his eyes. Adoration and desire. The gentle smile tugging at his lips was sexy as hell, and at once, my libido was kicked into overdrive.

“What?” I asked quietly. “What are you looking at?”

“You.” He gave in to a slow smile, a full one that tugged at my heartstrings. He was always so guarded—like I was—and it felt like a rare treat to see him at ease with me.

“You really calmed her down.”

I nodded, quite proud of myself. “I’m not sure how. I don’t exactly have experience with babies.” As I stroked her soft hair and relished the steady rhythm of her sleepy exhales, I swore I fell in love that much more. “But I’m wondering if it’s just something that clicks.”

“Maybe.” He reached over to rub her back, staring at her with the same feeling of gratitude, like he couldn’t believe he’d beenso blessed. I was so glad that this little girl had reached out to me, that she saw my face and knew she could count on me.

“I still struggle with the newness of it all. ThatI’mher dad. That I’m a father at all. I feel so damn clueless, but I’m figuring it out. She’s figuring me out.” He glanced up at me. “Like you are with her too.”

And what about me and you?I swallowed down the urge to ask him that, but when he looked back up at me a moment later, I was convinced that he was wondering the same thing.

He gave me an apology and I accepted it.

I told him not to play games with me, and he started to suggest that we stop playing altogether and get serious.

But how? In what capacity?

What’s next?

In this cozy, comfortable moment we were sharing, I felt like I was ready for anything more that he wanted to give me.

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