Page 48 of Savage Rule

“He does.” Really, it was our hustling before he took over the Sinacores that paid for this. Before his brother died, Luca and I had our own business. Luca’s uncle liked to call it a little gang, but really, it was a powerful organization with our own drug and weapons trafficking contracts. We gave the Sinacorefamigliatheir due, and made sure everyone else did too.

Back then, Luca and I paid visits to anyone that didn’t comply with the rules and we took a percentage of what we collected. Now, we still get paid without having to do all the dirty work.

I kind of miss it. Miss the thrill of the chase. Could that be why I’m so fucked up over this girl?

She sighs and her chest rises and so does my dick. Nope. I’m just fucked up. Period.

Completely unaware of my sudden need, she asks. “You guys known each other long?” She tries to hide the curiosity from her tone, but it’s there, in the side glance. There are some things no amount of investigating can find.

“A long time,” I tell her. “Since we were about ten, I think.”

“How did you meet?”

“Well,” I lean against a covered piece of furniture. “I was living in a foster house at the time. I’d slipped out the window when I spotted a kid around my age walking down the street. It was late, around midnight, and any kid on the street at that hour couldn’t be up to any good. Of course, I wanted to meet him. So, I followed him into Troy’s Video Store.”

I recount how I watched him go into the little room in the back, the one separated by a beaded curtain. When he came out, looking all suspicious as he tucked something into his brown leather jacket, I knew he’d stolen a dirty movie.

“Hey!” I whispered right beside him. “Who are you?”

He yelped and the movie fell out of his jacket. The store owner had us by the scruff of our necks before we could take another step.

I’m not sure why I told him it was me, that I stole the movie. I think it was because Luca literally turned green. I didn’t think he’d make it in Juvie. Not that I would have either, if they’d have sent me. They didn’t.

Instead, our parents were called. Luca was dragged away by his scary as fuck father, but not before he could tell me where he lived. And I was sent back to the orphanage.

“He cost you a chance with that family,” Scarlet says with a tinge of indignation.

I chuckle and go sit by her. “He actually saved me. Turned out those people had some sort of scam, fostering kids just for the money.”

“Did you get another chance?”

“Nope. Believe it or not, I was a bit of a troublemaker in my youth.”

Her mouth drops open in mock surprise. “You don’t say!”

“No one wanted a troublesome teen. I grew out of the system.” I bend my head far enough to capture that mouth. When I slide my tongue over hers, she moans and I breathe itinto me. Pulling away, I grin. “I’d say I’ve changed, but it would be a lie.”

“Wouldn’t be here if you had.”

“Mmm.”

She bumps shoulder. “Is your real name Gunner?”

“Yup.”

“Gunner Sinclair is a Scottish name, isn’t it? I mean, you don’t exactly look Scottish.” She studies my face, my dark skin.

I laugh again. “Because I’m not wearing a kilt?”

Rolling her eyes, she says, “I mean, did you come with that name or did they name you here.”

“My name has been Gunner Sinclair since birth. At least, that’s what it said on the note left with me at the church I was abandoned at.”

She averts her gaze and swallows. “Have you searched up your biological family?”

“I’ve been too afraid. If they didn’t want me then, why would they want me now?”

Scarlet seems to think on that. “They loved you.”

---