Page 71 of A Game So Reckless

Valentina looks so good when she’s in a wet swimsuit that it should be classified as a goddamn criminal offence. Outside of what has now become my nightly habit of pulling myself up to her balcony when she’s asleep, I haven’t seen her during the daytime for two weeks.

It’s been two weeks of preparing for this meeting with her da. Two weeks of gathering information, shoring up intel, and making plans.

Two weeks of jerking off to that red ribbon I stole and the memories I hoard like a miser.

I’m not pining.

But I am in fucking pain.

I called this meeting with Vincenzo Titone so I can hopefully,finallyput myself out of my misery.

Or just throw myself headlong into it. Who the hell knows at this point? Valentina is the suffering, at the same time that she’s the salve.

Rowan is waiting in the hall already, as is one of Vinny’s men. I don’t know the guy’s name.

“What a shame,” I say as the four of us enter Vinny’s office. “I was so looking forward to seeing Elio again.”

“So you could put his kidney out of commission again?” the Titone boss says sarcastically. “He almost died of that infection, you know.”

“I didn’t know, actually,” I say with a smile. “But I’ll certainly treasure that little tidbit of information now that I’ve got it.”

He stiffens as he reaches the chair behind his desk. He’s not a tall man, but he’s got presence. Bulky shoulders, thick black hair and brows, and one hell of a glare.

“What the fuck do you want, Darragh?” he snaps. He waves his hand in a vague gesture indicating the room we’re in, and I realize I’ve seen Valentina do something very similar. “I’ve invited you into my office. My home. You said this was something important.” He sits in his chair, his hard eyes never leaving me. “But if you’re just here to fuck around and insult my family, you can take your pale Irish ass right back out my fucking door.”

“Not that pale,” I insist, glancing down at myself. “Been working on my tan. Bought myself a cottage recently.”

“I really hope you didn’t come here to tell me about a fucking cottage. I don’t let anyone waste my time. Not even another boss like you.”

“You’re right, Vinny,” I reply easily as I lower myself into one of the leather chairs across from his big wooden desk. “I’m not here to tell you about my cottage.”

He clasps his hands together on the desk, his biceps bulging. He’s not a young guy anymore, but this life must be keeping him young.

“Only people in the family call me Vinny,” he warns me.

He doesn’t know it yet, but I’ll be his family soon enough.

As his most precious and despised son-in-law.

“And what about allies?” I ask coolly. I watch Vinny’s guy position himself beside the desk. Rowan stands on my left. I know that both of them are ready to reach for a gun at a moment’s notice.

“Allies?” Vinny’s brows pinch together, creating a deep furrow on his forehead. “You nearly killed my heir. Your men shot at Elio in public last winter. And you threatened my daughter-in-law.”

“Daughter-in-law. You mean Deirdre.”

“Of fucking course, I mean Deirdre,” he scoffs. “Elio and Curse are sons to me. So she’s a daughter to me now.”

He’s bullshitting me, of course. Not about Elio and Curse being like sons to him, which I’m sure he means. But I know he doesn’t give two shits about the O’Malley – now Titone – girl. From what I heard, he objected strongly to the marriage.

But she’s part of the Titonefamiglianow, whether he likes it or not. And his protection extends even to her now.

“I’m no threat to Deirdre anymore. Especially in light of the proposal I have for you.”

Proposal. Even the word sounds matrimonial.

A part of me still can’t believe I’m doing this.

“Give me your terms,” Vinny says, gruff and straight to the point.

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