Page 79 of Savage

“We’re not going to be late. And even if we are, Father Vitale won’t care.”

Alessio grunted and shoved his hands in his pockets. “Can we talk about something other than him?”

And there it was, the reason for the clenched jaw and surly attitude—Father Rafael Vitale.

“Sure, you got a topic in mind?”

Alessio’s eyes found mine in the shadows. “Yeah. How about your journalist? And don’t tell me there’s nothing going on there.”

Of course he went right back tothattopic. He was the king of deflection.

“Tell me, are you fixated on what’s happening in my love life because you don’t have one of your own, or?—”

“So you admit it, then.” He raised a brow, and I knew there was no use in denying it. Like I’d told Cooper, there were eyes on every inch of Libertine, and if it pertained to any of the Kings, it was usuallythisguy’s eyes.

“You saw us, didn’t you?”

“On level five? Yeah. So don’t even try to play dumb with me.”

I sighed and ran a hand through my hair. On the plus side, at least I’d had the forethought to get Cooper out of there before I had his pants off and my dick inside him.

Something I probably shouldn’t think about while on my way to church.

I glanced at my best friend, my brother, and for the first time in as long as I could remember, I found myself saying, “I think I’m in trouble with him.”

“Oh?”

I rubbed a hand over my jaw and looked up at the rest of the guys chatting amongst themselves. “Have you ever found yourself wanting to let someone in? To talk to someone other than the seven of us about who you are and what you do?”

Alessio stared, and I could’ve whacked myself upside the head, because of course he had. The only problem was that he wasn’tallowedto talk to that person the way he wanted to.

“How about we stay focused on you. Do you want that?” he asked.

“I never have before, but lately…”

“Lately?”

“My worlds are colliding. One minute he was a stranger I saved in an alley, and now he’s the gorgeous guy sleeping in one of the beds upstairs?—”

“A bed you’re sharing with him.”

“—and asking questions I can’t answer.”

Alessio looked up at the head of the group where King was chatting with Benoit. “Well, he’s gotten past the first hurdle.”

“Which is?”

“King. How often has he let a non-vettedjournalistinto Libertine?”

“Never.”

“Exactly. So maybe he seesthat, sees that you’re looking for more here, and now thathe’shappy, he’s of the frame of mind to give you a chance to be, too.”

I snorted, the thought almost ludicrous after the last dressing-down I’d received from King.“I doubt it. The last few times we’ve talked, he’s?—”

“Given you everything you asked for. Does that sound like our normal hardass leader? Usually he’d tell you to pull your head in and send this guy on his way.”

I thought about that for a second, and just as I was about to respond, I heard up ahead, “Let’s go, you two—we’re here.”

---