Page 9 of His to Honor

“Yeah, sneaking in here like that. I could have shot you.”

I return his dark glare. “That might have been preferable to being beaten and pawed like that.”

“I did not beat or paw you.”

“Okay, then, spanked and fondled.” I viciously tear the end off my croissant and dunk it in my cappuccino. “Whatever you call it, your behavior was reprehensible.”

“That’s why you were so wet for me? Your cunt practically swallowed my fingers.”

Matteo’s words give me way more of a thrill than they should. I’m supposed to be outraged by him, not turned on. To distract myself from the troubling tingle in my lady parts, I focus on eating my breakfast.

“When are you leaving?”

I set my croissant down and smile pleasantly at Matteo. “When you agree to come with me.”

He shakes his head. “Not happening.”

“You have to come home, Matty.” I try to soften him with the use of his pet name.

“No.”

“Then I’m staying.”

Matteo slaps his hand down on the table. If another man had done that, I’d have been startled, but if there’s one thing I know about Matteo Volante, it’s that he would never hurt a woman. Well, not physically. He’s left a string of broken hearts and shattered egos behind him.

“Giulia, you cannot stay here. It isn’t safe.”

Ah, it isn’t safe, the go-to excuse of any mobster who wants to tell a woman what to do.

“Is this something to do with the girl who got shot?”

Matteo’s jaw clenches. “What do you know about her?”

“Not much. Antonio told me a girl was killed.”

Matteo sits back in his chair. “They were aiming at me. She got in the way.”

It sounds as if it was a tragic accident, but the turbulent look in Matteo’s eye tells me he doesn’t see it like that.

“And you blame yourself?”

“The Rossis wouldn’t have come looking for trouble if I wasn’t here.”

“The Rossis?” I purse my lips as I try to recall a dispute the Volantes might have with people of that name. I come up blank.

“Yes, they were allied with the Contis. You know, Emilia’s family.”

Now them, I have heard of. Emilia Conti married Matteo’s older brother, Alessandro. Then she found out her grandfather, who’d just been murdered, was a mob boss here in Italy. I’d already ended my friendship with Matteo by the time Emilia came to New York, so I don’t really know her, but I have heard plenty of gossip.

Apparently, Emilia was the primary beneficiary of her grandfather’s will and her uncle came after her as a result. The Volantes got rid of him in their usual fashion and assumed control of his empire. Matteo’s cousin, Damiano, is running the criminal side of things here in Italy, while Alessandro and Emilia have taken over her grandfather’s legitimate concerns, moving operations to New York.

“But the Contis are no longer a threat. Your cousin took over, yes?”

“He did, but the Rossis aren’t happy with the new arrangement.”

“They want power for themselves?”

Matteo nods. I shake my head in disgust. It’s always about power with these people. They’re prepared to wipe out anyone who gets in their way.

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