Page 35 of Enforcer

“Her service was at St. Andrews, wasn’t it?” I ask him, steeling myself for his reaction.

His eyes open, and they’re glassed over with tears on their surface. He nods.

“I’m so sorry.”

That’s the thing that pushes him away, and he shoves away from the counter. I grab his hand and tug him back.

“This thing you’re doing for Slate and Brynne, even if only Slate knows how big it is, is so amazing. It takes a strong person to be selfless to such a magnitude, Dante. Thank you. On Brynne’s behalf, thank you.”

His lids cover his beautiful, sad eyes again, and two tears drip down his cheeks. I capture them both with my thumbs, lean on tip-toe, and seal my lips to his.

It’s not hot and all-consuming like the kisses we shared before. It’s a little inky and heavy.

He breaks his lips away and heads for the door without another word.

I don’t know what state things will be in tonight when I get back, but I know that Dante Ricci might be the best fucking man I’ll ever know.

It’s a damn shame I can’t be the woman to sweep him off his feet because he deserves it.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

DANTE

“What are we doing here again?” Marco shifts beside me, peering into his binoculars as I sigh and take mine away from my eyes.

“Slate said someone’s been using our docks for something at night without approval.”

Marco lowers his binoculars. “We think they’re using Lucio’s same route to traffic again?”

I shrug. “I don’t know. But I bet he will know.” I point toward what used to be an abandoned guard shack. We’d stopped watching this place weeks after Lucio died; we own it.

And what dumb ass would be stupid enough to be using something owned by one of the five families?

“Want me to go get him?” Marco asks, bloodthirst souring his tone.

“No. I want you to get the warehouse ready. I’ll be working late tonight.”

“Slate’s old room?”

I nod. “Yeah, that’ll do. I’ll meet you there in twenty.”

Marco slips away and climbs down from the warehouse roof that overlooks the docks below. We’ve been here all day.

I check my phone again for no reason at all and see I have no new notifications. I don’t know why I keep checking. It’s not like I even have her number, nor does she have mine.

I growl and shove it back in my pocket. It takes a bit to stealthily climb down from the roof without getting spotted. But I do so and go out front and down to where I parked. Getting into my Maserati, I sink into the leather seat as I turn over the engine. It purrs to life as I drive toward the gate that’ll lead me into the shipyard.

Once I roll too close for the guard’s comfort, he opens the gate and comes out, waving his arms for me to stop and turn around.

I get out, feigning ignorance. “Isn’t this 221 1stAvenue? I have a meeting, and I can’t be late,” I tell him.

“No, sir. You’re lost, but in your fancy ride, I’m certain there’s GPS. Use it to find your way out of here. You don’t want problems.”

I act confused and shocked as I reach into my pocket for the small syringe hidden there. “No, this is where I’m supposed to be; you’re confused.”

I round my open car door as the man continues to try to get me to get back into the car.

“Can you at least give me directions? Come on, man, help me out. I’m running late,” I plead.

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