Page 116 of The Devil's Den

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After we showered, we put on clothes and ready to head downstairs for breakfast. Sex in the shower was another thing I crossed off my very long bucket list. It’s something Enzo said I needed to have.

“I can really get used to this,” Aida says with a smile curling over her mouth, her hand holding mine as we climb down the stairs.

“Which part?” I smirk.

“All of it?” She bites into the edge of her lower lip.

“I like all of it too.” With a thumb, I rub a circle over the top of her hand, unable to stop looking at this woman who gave me a new life. A new purpose. A drive to live.

As we make it down, we hear the distant voice of Dom, and he sounds angry. Aida looks up at me with a narrowing of her gaze.

“Let’s go check it out,” I tell her.

We find my brothers gathered in the dining room.

“We’ll get Elsie back,” Dom says to Jade. Everyone seems to be here too, along with multiple men who work for my brothers.

As soon as Dom sees me, our eyes meet, and I can immediately tell he doesn’t want us here.

“Who’s Elsie?” I ask, and in a flash, all eyes are on us. I hope they realize, if they’re going to be looking for someone, they won’t be doing it without me.

“Hey!” Enzo breaks the awkwardness. “Baby bro is here!” He comes over, giving Aida a hug, then clapping me on the shoulder before leaning into my ear. “You need any more condoms yet?”

I smirk.

He chuckles low. “I got you, killer.” He smacks me on my back before he pushes a step away.

“We’re just talking business,” Dom explains. “Nothing for you to worry about.”

“I’m not eight anymore,” I tell him, glancing at each one of my brothers. “You don’t have to treat me like I am.” With gradual steps, I move toward the center of the room, my woman beside me. “Whatever you got going on, I want in, especially if it has to do with those bastards.”

“Matteo…” Dom runs a hand over the top of his short-trimmed hair. “I’m just trying to keep you alive. I can’t fucking lose you again. This fight, it’s not yours.” He treads toward me. “You two have been through enough. You should be here, enjoying your lives.”

“I know you’re trying to protect me,” I say. “And I understand why. But look, the shit that I saw at that club…” I flex my jaw. “One thing I know how to do is hurt people, so let me hurt those who deserve it, for once in my life.”

Dom gives me an unsure stare, the indecision weighing heavy in it.

“Who’s Elsie, Dom?” I ask again, needing this. It’s a way to fight back, to help innocent people for once, instead of hurting them.

He blows a breath. “She’s a friend of Jade’s. They were taken with another friend. Trafficked. Elsie got away, escaping into this guy Michael Marino’s car. He’s the son of Giancarlo, the don of the Messina crime family, and rumor has it, he’s set to take over soon.”

“And you’re bringing the fight to him?”

“If we have to.”

Dante chuckles, holding Raquel in his arms from behind. “He’s probably got his panties twisted because we killed the Bianchis.”

“No,” Chiara adds, and Dom peers over at her. “They never liked my father or my uncles. Big surprise.” She rolls her eyes. “That was the reason my father wanted me to marry Michael, to unify the two families. But I would never let that happen and Michael wasn’t interested either.”

Dom’s attention wanders back to me. “Are you sure you want to join us if we have another enemy to fight?”

“I do. I need it.” If I could help save someone else, I will.

Dom sighs, deflated. “Okay. I won’t stop you.” He grips both my shoulders and levels me with a stare. “But you better not die.” He smiles wide and shakes his head. “I love you.”

“Yeah, yeah.” I shake him off with a chuckle. “Me too.”

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