Page 46 of Merciless Attraction

“When I got here, two cops were waiting for Ronan. The good news is they think Frankie is still alive. The bad news is they think he came to see Ronan. I believe I was successful in planting the idea Frankie skipped town and hope that Ronan isn’t hanging around anywhere close.”

“Where would Ronan go?”

The question makes me pause. “Now that I think about it, I should start reaching out to his usual spots. I don’t think he’d go back to Vegas, and Atlantic City is out of the question. He might try Mississippi for a high-stakes poker room. He’s under the impression our mob ties won’t follow him there.”

Gemma scoffs and shakes her head. “He’d be wrong. If he doesn’t clash with amotorcycle club,he’s definitely in Dixie mafia territory.”

“Fuck, I forgot about them.”

She tips her head side to side with a slight roll of her eyes. “A lot of people do.”

“I’ll leave a message for Ronan. He should check his hospital extension and voicemail. Shit, I should check to see if mine is still active. He might have left a message for me there, but he doesn’t know I’ve quit.”

“Once everything is said and done, would you try to get your job back? I’d hate for my situation to be the reason you can’t work in San Francisco anymore.”

I stroke the side of her face gently. “I don’t want to go back there. I told you the director’s holding my past over me and I don’t need anyone like that in a supervisory role. Professional blackmail is no way to live. Speaking of which, was there anything else that came with those pictures? A number to call or anything?”

“Not that I know of. Casper is outside printing my car like he’s on fucking C.S.I. I told him there’s going to be too many to pinpoint who left the envelope, but I learned long ago not to tell my brothers whatnotto do. I wish we had a little bit more time here, though. The distraction was great, and relieved enough stress and anxiety to help me relax. We could even play with that blood pressure cuff.”

“I don’t want to use clinic materials for our kinks. I do know of a store. It’s a boutique of sorts which can give us a private shopping experience. Nina’s Boutique looks like a very expensive lingerie store, but there’s some items we can look at. It’s not too far from my building, and I think you’d like it.”

“I love shopping, and I’d love it even more if we could finish what we started,” she says with a grin. However, her grin fades when she glances at my finger. “Fuck, it’s getting worse, Antonio. Are you sure you don’t want to bandage it?”

“I’ll wrap it up for you,” I tell her with a wink.

She giggles and shoves me playfully with her eyes dropping down to my crotch. “You’re insatiable, but what if I don’t want you to wrap it up next time?”

“We’re in a clinic and we have a doctor here who can run the panel for us. We’d have to wait a few days if we’re giving blood but there’s a rapid test available, too,” I tell her.

“That works for me,” she agrees and we head out of the exam room.

After we finish giving our samples to Camilla, we head outside where Casper is still hovering around Gemma’s car. We approach him as he holds a mini flashlight in his mouth and a look of frustration on his face.

Gemma doesn’t wait to laugh at her older brother as she pokes him in the shoulder. “I told you it was filthy and there would be a million prints to sort through.”

Casper groans, “I figured out a better way to get what I need. If this is the same guy from the garage and your bedroom, I’ll work with the security company today to get prints from your apartment.”

“He wasn’t inside my apartment,” Gemma says.

Casper and I share a glance, and I shake my head for him not to say what we’re both thinking.

Gemma catches it though, clicking her teeth, and folding her arms across her chest. “Just say it.”

“Gem,” I say her name softly, “he was probably inside, and you just don’t know it.”

Casper interjects. “Don’t worry. Everything will be fine after I get done here. I can compare the stuff I got and use my actual tools at your place to get something definitive. By the time I’m done, you and Natalie will be safe to move back in. Take care of her, Antonio. And don’t give him too hard of a time, Gem.”

Casper walks away. Gemma and I split up to meet back at my place. Once we’re inside my condo, I experience a wave of relief and slight exhaustion as I make us lunch. Fucking, food, and the events of this day have us passing out on the sofa with the TV watching us as we sleep.

Chapter 21: Gemma

Darkness surrounds me when I open my eyes. My body feels at ease, warm, and I realize I’m no longer in Antonio’s arms. There’s a soft blanket on top of me. The moon is high in the night sky as I push myself up to sit. My phone is charging on the nightstand beside me. The time shows it’s close to six in the evening.

A quick swipe through my phone shows that nothing’s happened since leaving the clinic except for our test results coming through earlier than expected. At least we have a clean bill of health. An overwhelming sense of belonging and security washes over me as I stretch and yawn before swinging my legs over the edge to get out of bed.

The sun set nearly an hour ago and the large window closest to the bedroom has its curtain drawn shut. There are long rods holding the light fixtures above the living room to keep its light from streaming into the open bedroom area which is far cooler than any New York City apartment I’ve been in. I love it here.

The rough shuffling of furniture from over the railing draws me close to it. I peek over the edge of the loft to see Antonio standing in the center of the living room area scratching his head. His finger is wrapped, thankfully, but he’s in nothing but a pair of loose-fitting pajama pants. I realize it’s the bottom half of the shirt I’m wearing. He changed me out of my clothes before putting me into bed.

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