Page 19 of Rise of Temptation

“Thank you, Jack. I’ll get you something. I promise.”

He nods and turns back to his computer, signaling that the conversation is over. I get up and walk out, feeling even less interested in small talk with my coworkers than I did on my way in. Unfortunately, word of my presence has spread, and there’s a small crowd waiting for me down the hall from Jack’s office.

I brace myself and put a fake smile on my face before stepping around the corner and into view of the gossipy women and curious men. Another hour passes before I’m able to escape from their clutches. I can’t count the number of happy hour invitations I turn down, but I know they just want to ask me about my big case. Even if I were allowed to talk about it, I’m not in the mood.

My shoulders drop in relief when I slide into the driver’s seat of my car, and I make my way back to Enzo’s house. Not before stopping for a milkshake at my favorite diner, though. I’m getting as much out of this brief taste of freedom as I can, and that includes a large dose of sugar. I’m going to need it to step back into that version of my reality.

Chapter 15

Enzo

While I wait for Elise to return from the office, I invite the guys over to talk about the ambush in more detail than I’m ready for her to know. If they ask about her, I’ll just tell them she’s out with one of the girls from the club, but I’m hoping they’ve realized she’s off limits in every way and won’t bring her up.

Sal stops in the kitchen on his way to my office and joins us with an armful of beers. He’s always been a natural host, which is why the club is such an obvious place for him to work. Joey too. It’s hard to imagine them in another part of the day-to-day operations of the Family. Not that they can’t get their hands dirty when they need to, but they’re not like most of the other soldiers, constantly fighting against a natural thirst for the blood of our enemies. They’re more likely to spike someone’s drink and then drag them to the basement to torture information out of them. Deadly, but more subtle about it.

“Do you think they liked our message?” Joey asks.

Sal grins and says, “I wish we could’ve stayed to see their reaction. I bet it was a thing of beauty.” He closes his eyes andtips his head back, as if he’s basking in the fury of the Bratva when they realized we outsmarted them.

“Anyone know who that guy was?” We all look at Frankie in confusion. It’s not like him to care who we kill, as long as it’s justified. He clarifies, “I just don’t want to be surprised by a revenge strike because we accidentally offed their most promising recruit.”

“Nah, nothing like that. He was a new soldier but nothing special.” Joey shrugs. “I can’t even remember his name anymore, but I found out everything I could about him the next day.”

“What about that thing Dimitri said?” I ask. “‘This’ll teach the Italians not to interfere in our shipments. They’re getting sloppy under their new leadership. We almost caught them last time, but we’re definitely one step ahead of them now,’” I recall.

“I still think it means that someone else is playing us against each other,” Sal muses. “There was no ‘last time,’ which means someone else must’ve been out there and planted evidence to make it look like we were there.”

“Or it could be that we need a better guy on the inside. Maybe his cover was blown, and he either doesn’t know it or doesn’t want to tell us.” Frankie is always slow to trust the double agents, and with good reason. You never really know where their loyalty lies.

“But if Sal is right, then why would this unknown third party want to turn us against each other? Unless they want to clear the field and make room for a new organization to take over. And if that’s the case, are they the ones really behind the trafficking?” Joey takes a drink of his beer while we all ponder his questions.

“It definitely makes me less confident that it’s the Russians,” I admit. “But until we figure out who else it could be, I don’t know what we can do about it.”

“We’ll have to keep tabs on them like we have been, but Ithink we also need to start putting feelers out for a new player on the board,” Frankie proposes. “We don’t want to be caught with our pants down because we’re focusing too hard on one possibility and ignoring all the others.”

We all agree, then finish our beers while we move on to more mundane business.

Later in the afternoon, after we’ve finished off several beers each, I hear the door open and the clacking of Elise’s heels as she walks inside and heads upstairs. While none of us are tipsy, the alcohol has given me plenty of ideas and removed a few of my inhibitions. Plus, I’ve been stewing all day over the fact that she immediately got around my panty ban. Deciding it’s time for her to repay me for my generosity, I pull out my phone and text her.

Enzo: My office. In uniform.

She responds with a gif of Jack Black saluting, and I can feel the sarcasm dripping from the video as it replays endlessly on my screen.

“Gentlemen, you’re in for quite a show. I have a punishment to dole out and a debt to collect.”

Frankie smirks. “Let me know if you need any help. Punishment is my specialty, after all.”

“That won’t be necessary.”

I see Joey and Sal exchange a look, but Elise strolls in before I can ask them what it means. She fucking strolls into my office after sending me that ridiculous gif. Does she have a death wish?

She must, because she smiles and winks at Joey when he makes eye contact with her.

“Elise.” My voice is firm, and the unspoken command is clear. She looks up at me with a challenge in her eyes. Disapproval and arousal battle for control while we stare each other down.I make the slightest motion with my head, gesturing for her to join me on this side of the room, and she slowly makes her way to me.

“Let me see.” If looks could kill, I’d be dismembered and tossed to the pigs by now. Luckily for her, the others can’t see her face, so I’m not obligated to add her disrespectful attitude to her current list of sins.

Still, she knows that she doesn’t have a choice and lifts up her dress, exposing her bare pussy to my waiting eyes. I hear movement behind her but don’t break eye contact to see what they’re doing and how they’re reacting.

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