Page 17 of A Game So Reckless

I learned it too.

But I’m not here for Deirdre. As much as I hate to lose, I plan to honour my deal. Elio won her. Her father, the one who stole from me, is dead. I have no further interest in the O’Malley girl. Or should I say Titone girl, now that she’s married.

No. My current interest lies with another Titone girl. The one with the name bestowed by blood, not by marriage.

The one lying in the bed mere feet from me now, nothing but glass and a fluffy bathrobe between us.

The moon is huge behind me. Lights up the night like a fucking beacon. Sends my shadow crawling through the glass towards her and illuminates the curves of her face.

She looks different like this. Sleeping. No makeup. Not choking and crying and begging me with those sharp little nails to save her. Her brow is smooth, her full lips slightly parted. Masses of dark hair spill around her on the bed. She must have collapsed on top of the blankets and fallen asleep right away. Her head didn’t even make it to the pillows.

How the hell is she sleeping so well when I couldn’t? It’s why I’m here at three in the goddamn morning when I have a million and one better things to do.

Like get some fucking sleep.

But I couldn’t do it. I was just lying in bed with my heart beating hard inside the scratches on my arm, staring at the ceiling and feeling like I wanted to peel myself out of my own skin.

Two shots of whiskey didn’t help.

Jerking off didn’t help either.

So. Now I’m here. With nothing to do but stare through the window like some fucking ghoul while she snoozes, blissfully unaware. I kick a little patio chair out of the way so I can get even closer.

Pretty little Titone. She doesn’t know that the monster isn’t under her bed.

He’s at her door.

I won’t open that door, though.

Not tonight.

I need to figure out what the hell I want with her.

How exactly I want her to repay me. What she can do for me.

She has done one thing for me so far, at least. I didn’t have police showing up tonight. Nor did I end up with any Italians shooting down my door. The news is already everywhere. All reports are positioning Fabbri’s death as a suicide.

She didn’t tell anyone I was there.

The youngest Titone can keep a secret. I can’t help but wonder what other secrets she’s holding onto, hiding behind those sharp nails and soft lips.

Something tells me she’s going to have more secrets than she knows what to do with by the time I’m done with her.

Something tells me she’ll be fucking choking on them.

Chapter10

Valentina

As soon as I crack open my eyes in the morning, I know that something’s off. I blink against bright sunlight pouring in through the French doors, trying to account for this sudden skitter of dread down my spine.

Nothing’s wrong. Nothing’s changed. It’s a beautiful morning, the sun is shining, and-

And the chair on my balcony isn’t where it’s supposed to be.

Heart in my throat, I sit up so fast it makes my robe slip off one shoulder. Grasping the fluffy fabric and clutching it tight to my bare chest beneath, I stumble out of bed to get a closer look.

It’s such a cute little bistro set. A small, circular table and matching chairs made of metal painted white, with pink and white plaid cushions on the seats.

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