Page 86 of Salvatore

He’s tried to make amends with this trip and by leaving me to solely guard Donnie lately. But I can’t let go of the shit he pulled with Aedry. He crossed a line that night. I can’t forget it and I can’t forgive.

“You okay?” Aedry asks, tracing my jaw with her fingertip.

“Fine. Just thinking it’s good to be here.”

“It’s amazing to be here,” she emphasizes. “Thank you for all of it.” She looks behind her. “And for inviting Autumn. She never gets to have fun.”

“She’s going to have fun tonight.”

“Why?” She tilts her head. “What are you up to, mister?”

“Mister?” I prompt. “What does that make you?”

“Someone who’s happy to love you,” she says.

My smile eases. I wish I could sit back and enjoy everything she gives me, but there’s that part me that knows this woman is too good for me, and that what we have can’t last. No matter how much I need it to.

Instead of complimenting her in return or maybe spewing some of that lovey-dovey crap pussies would say, I clasp her knee and rub it. It’s my way of feeling close to her and letting her know I like her with me. “I’m sending them to swim with dolphins.”

“Are you serious?” At my nod, she beams, but then she frowns. “Wait, then what are we doing?”

“You get to skinny dip with a shark.”

“A shark?” At my nod, she starts laughing. “Does this shark’s name happen to be Salvatore?”

“It’s like you can read my damned mind.”

I kiss her temple when she shakes her head. “They get dolphins and I get a naughty shark?”

“A naughty shark who has something nice planned. Trust me,” I add, when she tries to argue.

She leans against my shoulder. “I do trust you,” she whispers.

I know that. Which is why if she ever knew the type of man I worked for, it would be over between us. But I don’t think about that now. I glance over my shoulder to where Autumn and Apollo are having it out over who made the best Spiderman.

“Christ,” Gianno mutters. “It’s like I died and went to Nerd Hell.”

He slips out first when we reach the villa. Aedry stays with me as I pay our guide. As much as we’re in paradise and have our own suite, our alone time hasn’t been enough and I’m finding it hard to keep my hands to myself around my brothers.

I lift her for a kiss as the driver pulls away, lowering her slowly before leading her down the brick walkway. She glances around the garden as we step onto the front porch. “This place is so beautiful. I wish we could stay here forever.”

To think what’s waiting back for me in Jersey, with how bad Vin has screwed up, I can’t say I don’t wish the same damn thing. We step into the tile-covered foyer. Goosebumps spread along her arms as the air conditioning hits us hard.

She huddles closer to me, shuddering. “I’ll admit, I miss the heat down South.”

I almost suggest we move back to where she’s from. Damn, I’m so tired of Vin and all the shit that comes with this lifestyle. But for now, the best thing I can do is keep putting money aside and investing like I have been.

In another year, I’ll have enough in Gianno and Apollo’s trust funds to get them through college. And the way my investments are taking off, one day, I’m going to take her and my brothers far away and open up my own MMA gym. But one day is still far away. And Vin isn’t letting anyone leave. For now, I have to keep doing what I’m doing until I figure a way out.

The family room opens up to a wall of glass leading out to the lanai. Her eyes widen. The crew I hired already placed lit candles to float around the pool, and set a table of with white linens with fine china. Two chefs, one preparing appetizers and the other the main course, are already working hard to finish the elaborate dinner, while a server rushes to fill glasses with champagne.

“Hey,” I call out when Apollo and Gianno head for the table where an older woman is placing jumbo shrimp cocktails on a tray. “You’re taking your stuff to go.”

Autumn pauses in the middle of reaching for a glass of champagne. “What’s up?” she asks, looking at Aedry.

I motion with a tilt of my chin, so she can tell her. She grins at Autumn. “Salvatore arranged for you and the boys to swim with dolphins.”

A round of “omigods” from Autumn follow a slew of “holy shits” from my brothers. They might have seemed hungry, but they scramble out the door when their cab arrives.

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