Page 61 of Dangerous Devotion

“He has quite the reputation for being into the lifestyle,” Iset deadpanned.

And I almost choked while all three women stared at me and waited. “I’m not discussing our sex life with you,” I said.

Mira grinned. “So he is kinky. I knew it.”

Fee stared at me, then looked down at her plate. “It must be in their DNA,” she murmured under her breath.

My gaze snapped to hers. In their DNA? Was she talking from experience? Did she mean Alex and Gabe, or was she talking about Vince’s brothers? But how would she know…apart from Matt? Alex and Fee were really close with Matt. “DNA?”

Fee shrugged.

“He’s definitely intense,” I admitted, fiddling with my napkin. “But he’s also surprisingly gentle and considerate.”

Isa nodded approvingly. “That’s good to hear. You just need to stand your ground; otherwise, he will steamroll you.”

“Tell me about it,” I muttered, thinking back to our first encounters. “But he’s different now. Or maybe, I just understand him better. We’re a team.” I took the glass of OJ, ready to hide the sudden outburst of feelings behind taking a sip.

Fee cocked her head, a soft smile on her face. “It’s nice to see you happy. After everything that’s happened, you truly deserve it. We all do.”

“Thanks. It’s all still a bit surreal, isn’t it? A week ago, we couldn’t even be in the same room without almost killing each other. And now…”

“Now you’re the queen of the Salvini empire,” Iset finished with a dramatic flourish.

I snorted. “Hardly. I’m just trying to figure out where I fit in all of?—”

Fee’s sudden coughing startled me mid-sentence. I turned to look at her, expecting to see her recover quickly, but instead, her face contorted in pain. She gasped for air, her hands clawing at her throat.

“Fee?” I put my glass down, reached out, and touched her arm. “Are you okay? Did something go down the wrong pipe?”

She shook her head, but her eyes widened in panic, unfocused and glassy. She tried to speak, but only strangled sounds escaped her lips.

Adrenaline shot through my system, and I jumped up as I watched her struggle to breathe.

“She’s choking,” Mira screamed, looking around wildly. “Somebody help!”

Fee’s body began to shake violently, her limbs jerking uncontrollably. She slipped from her chair, and I grabbed her but couldn’t prevent her from hitting the floor with a sickening thud.

I dropped to my knees beside her, unsure of what to do. What the hell was happening?

Footsteps thundered across the room. Someone pushed me aside. Alex and Matt pulled her out from under the table. “What happened?” Alex barked while kneeling beside Fee’s convulsing body.

I shook my head, unable to form words.

Alex’s hands hovered uselessly over Fee, afraid to touch her but desperate to help. He pushed her to the side and made sure she wasn’t choking on her own tongue.

Matt pulled out his phone, his fingers shaking as he dialed. “We need Max, and start the helicopter, now!” he barked into the device.

I watched in horror as Fee’s eyes rolled back in her head, her body still seizing. This couldn’t be happening. Not Fee. Not now.

My mind raced, trying to make sense of what I was seeing, but I sat there, on the floor, paralyzed by fear and shock.

Hawk, followed by Max, burst into the room. His eyes scanned the scene quickly before he dropped to his knees beside Fee’s convulsing body.

“Everybody move back,” Hawk ordered, his voice steady. “Give us some space.”

Iset and Mira moved aside, and despite the fear in his eyes, Alex did the same.

I scooted back mechanically, my eyes never leaving Fee’s face. The room spun around me, voices blending into a cacophony of panic and confusion. I felt like I was underwater, everything sounding muffled and distorted.

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