Page 80 of Claimed By Desire

He softens and pats my ass. “Soon, baby, you won’t have to worry about coming and going. When this shit with the Italians is over, you can go visit your friend whenever you like.”

“I have a feeling you’ll still make me ask permission, you sick bastard.”

This time, he grabs my ass and squeezes. “No, baby. I’ll make you beg.”

I laugh and kiss him, and he grins down at me as he holds me in the kitchen, and for the firs time in a while I don’t feel that constant, aching hole in my core.

Chapter 31

Alexander

Iglance at my phone. Natalya’s in the living room with that crazy old lady still. I can’t hear what they’re saying, but Natalya’s sitting at the piano and occasionally playing, and I’m betting they’re talking about her music.

She seems happy. That’s the important thing.

I put my phone away and crouch down lower in my truck. It’s late in the afternoon, but the Velvet Echo isn’t open yet. It’s an exclusive place in deep South Philly in a big brick warehouse structure that must’ve been closed for decades. Now it’s a fancy club owned by the Marino’s and it’s allegedly Adriano’s favorite place in the world.

I can almost see why. It’s got a good reputation from what I heard. I did some digging, and Velvet Echo’s supposedly legit. Which means it isn’t just some cheap mafia front—Adriano probably takes running it seriously.

I spot his SUV before he even steps out of it. I push open my door and walk in his direction, my hood pulled up, a black mask over the lower half of my face. From his perspective, I’ll look like anyold random homeless guy, in my beat-up jacket and my ragged jeans, and I’m faking a pretty good limp too, though that’s not hard since the wound on my calf still hurts.

Adriano steps onto the sidewalk. I’m fucking lucky—the guy’s alone. He barely glances in my direction as I pick up my pace, and he only pauses to frown over when I turn suddenly and draw my gun.

His eyes go wide in surprise. I hold it steady, aimed at his chest.

A moment passes between us.

He’s dead. He knows it. All I have to do is pull the trigger and he’s dead. For what he did to Lev, I’m fucking tempted.

But I took this risk for a bigger game.

“Hello, Adriano.” I pull down my mask.

He shows me nothing. No fear, no anger. “Alexander. I was wondering if you were still alive. I heard rumors.”

“Still breathing.”

“I assume you’re not here to kill me if I’m not dead yet.”

I tilt my head to the side. “That’s a good assumption.”

“How’d you know I’d be here?”

“You take this place seriously. I guessed you show up before everyone else does and opened the place alone. Looks like I was right.”

He smiles very slightly. “Clever. Maybe you really are as good as they say.”

“Let’s have a talk inside.”

Adrian shrugs. “If I turn and open the door, are you going to shoot me?”

“Not yet. Just go slow.”

It’s an agonizing process. Adriano unlocks the door and takes me down a hallway. He hits lights as he goes and talks like he’s giving me a tour. I watch his hands very carefully for any sign that he’s going for a gun, but he’s a smart man and he knows how to keep himself alive. He makes no fast movements, and he keeps his hands away from his body at all times. He starts to take me toward his office, but I steer him into the club itself instead.

The place has a good vibe. Even empty, I like it right away. Upscale without being pretentious. Lots of space, a big DJ booth, and a serious dance floor. Not a place to come bullshit, but a place to party.

He sits at the bar. I go stand behind it like I’m the server. I lean back against the counter and keep the gun trained on him.

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