Page 28 of Under His Control

“Regardless of your choice of being one of the men in our organization,” Dante said as he stood and shook my hand, “I appreciate your quick thinking and selflessness to protect my niece. She’s the daughter I never had, and I am grateful for your unflinching instinct to keep her safe.”

“No problem.” It wasn’t. Keeping others safe was simply part of who I was. The only problem that could complicate things was if I got caught up with the desire to be the only man she looked to for protection.

I had no right wanting Eva. I shouldn’t have been thinking about her this much. Hell, I was wrong to ever pull her aside and fuck her, no matter how much she’d wanted me.

Working for her uncle would be another facet of complications between us. Sleeping with the woman the boss considered his daughter? That was only asking for trouble.

“And it, uh,” Franco said, stalling as he rubbed his chin and glanced at me, then Romeo and Dante, “it goes without saying that you don’t need to call the cops or anything…”

I rolled my eyes. “I think I picked up on the fact that you police yourselves and handle this side of justice.”

Romeo nodded. “Correct. We have a few individuals we suspect might be behind this. And we will investigate this incident accordingly.”

I should hope so.I nodded and left, knowing these men would have the resources to look into who put a hit on Eva. IfDante killed a dozen bikers to rescue Nina and if Romeo killed Tessa’s rapists, it seemed like a given that they would extend that same executioner attitude toward whoever wronged Eva.

And it was strange how much their brand of law and order was starting to make sense. I couldn’t tell if it was my call with Ethan—who considered doing hit jobs—or if it was something else, something like… loyalty.

I shook my head, thinking about it all as I headed to the guest room.

When I got there and didn’t see any sign of Olivia, I frowned and glanced at my phone. Nina would’ve called if she took her anywhere.

Instead of a message from Nina, I saw a text from Tessa in a group chat she’d started with me and Nina. The picture of them holding my daughter in the water reassured me that she was in good hands.

Tessa:Auntie Nina and Auntie Tessa wanted some more pool time with Liv!

She looked happy—all of them did. Both women were all smiles in the selfie, and Liv looked content to splash around.

I sighed, glad that she was accounted for. I didn’t want to depend on them too much, and I hadn’t been. All week, I was with Olivia, getting both of us more used to each other in our new little family. Today, though, I was damned grateful for the babysitting.

Even though I was “home” or back again, I wanted a moment to shower and decompress after the danger. I pulled my shirt off as I padded toward the bathroom and turned the shower on. Kicking off my shoes came next, but I didn’t get further than that.

With my hands on my jeans, the zipper halfway undone, someone knocked on the door. I bit back a groan that it might beTessa and Nina with Olivia already, since that text was from ten minutes ago.

So much for having a moment to myself and relaxing.

I headed toward the door, realizing my shower would have to wait. But it wasn’t my babysitters bailing on me and returning Olivia. Instead, I accepted the surprise of finding Eva there.

She pressed her lips together and stared up at me. If she had something to say, she was trying her best not to blurt it out. Under her attention, I realized I’d paused halfway through undressing.

I raised my brows, wondering if she was more shaken by the incident than she’d revealed. Perhaps she wanted to check on me after my report to Dante.

“I…” She shook her head, cutting herself off. Maybe she needed to search a little more for her words and phrase her thoughts.

When she stepped in, forcing me further into the room as she closed the door behind her, it seemed that she wasn’t in the mood to talk at all.

She reached for me, sliding her hand up my bare chest until she gripped the back of my neck. As she pulled me down, I let myself get lost in the heated look she gave me from beneath her hooded lids.

“I…” She furrowed her brow, staring at me with such bold need. Damn, she was sexy when she was aroused and desperate.

“Me too.” I wanted her just as badly, but I was determined to fight it.

Yeah, right.

We leaned in together, meeting in a crushing kiss.

10

EVA

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