Page 48 of His to Possess

No one likes Carmine or his methods, and no one wants him as part of the Five Families. Thank God, we’re all on the same page. But, I’m still no closer to finding Blake and I’m worried as shit.

Where the hell is she? And when the hell can I get out of here and go find her before something terrible happens?

19

BLAKE

From my perch up in the rafters, I stay out of sight and listen closely to the meeting happening below me. Sound echoes quite well in the empty warehouse and I hear every word about how Carmine Gallo wants to insert himself into the ruling Five Families. And, of course, they’re all angry and stewing about it.

Hovering above the table, slightly angled, it occurs to me how easy it would be to take Miceli Rossi out with one bullet. Sure, there’s security. I counted at least ten enforcers on the property—some indoors and some circling the perimeter of the building outside—but that didn’t stop me from getting inside. I’ve always been crafty and fast, so sneaking past the enforcers, climbing up the fire escape ladder and slipping in through a window was barely a challenge. After all, this isn’t my first rodeo.

It is, however, the first time someone expects me to kill someone. My gaze moves around the table, pausing on Angelo. He looks even more handsome than I remember and my heart skips a beat.Dammit.I never planned on this happening—me falling for him. But here we are and I’m in quite the dilemma.

“Kill Miceli or Angelo dies. Your choice.”

Gallo’s words ring loud and clear in my ears, and I reach down and lay my hand over the gun in my holster. My focus slides to Miceli, so big and strong. The man oozes authority and confidence. I have a clear shot of him and I could easily take it. But there’s no way that’s happening. I don’t care how Gallo is trying to corner me. Angelo’s older brother has a wife he loves and he’s father to a baby boy named Nico. I refuse to destroy something so beautiful.

Besides that, he’s Angelo’s blood, his family, and they’re extremely close. I would never intentionally hurt him like that. Even if it means refusing Gallo’s order. So where does that leave me?

In quite the pickle.

I don’t think there’s anything I can do except reveal myself and inform the table about what’s going on. I think the only way to defeat a common enemy like Gallo is by working together. And, even so, I am not letting Angelo out of my sight. My main objective is to have eyes on him at all times and make sure he’s protected. Because, yeah, maybe Gallo took him off the Kill List which means every bounty hunter and assassin in town will back off. But, at the same time, if I renege on my deal to kill Miceli then Gallo will turn his forces on Angelo.

And I can’t let that happen.

Guess it’s time to drop in on this little meeting. I have no intention of revealing my presence to everyone at once because someone might get trigger happy. So, instead, I pull my phone out of my jacket pocket and fire off a quick text message to Angelo.

I’m above you in the rafters and have intel to share with your people. Please don’t let anyone shoot me.

I include a blowing kiss emoji for good measure and an arrow pointing up.

Angelo’s phone lays facedown on the table and he flips it over and opens my message. I see the confusion flash over his face as he re-reads it then looks up. Our gazes connect and I give him a little wave.

“Holy shit,” he exclaims, standing up, and everyone’s attention focuses on him. “Don’t move, Blake, or you could fall! Someone get a ladder or something. How the hell did you get up there?”

Everyone is looking up now and I point to the window. “I can get out that way,” I call down. “Just call your guards off, please.”

“Hang on! Do not move!” Angelo rushes out to inform the enforcers that I’m coming down. Meanwhile, I slowly stand up and see his family all grinning up at me.

“You must be Blake,” Enzo calls up, and I smile.

“Uh, yeah. Nice to meet you.” I send them another little wave and turn around, walking carefully along the dusty beam. Below me, I hear Miceli’s laugh boom and Carlotta exclaims something about loving me already.

The idea of these strangers accepting me into their family is a crazy notion. They don’t know me, have never even met me, yet strangely enough, I can feel their acceptance already. I wonder what Angelo told them because clearly they know who I am. And, I can’t deny it—that makes my lonely heart swell.

I scoot back out the window and start climbing down the ladder. Angelo appears, head tipped back, closely watching my descent.

“Careful,” he murmurs.

Right before I can step off the last rung, I feel his hands at my waist, pulling me down and straight into his arms. Relief floods his face and then he hugs me tightly to him. His lips brush my ear as he whispers, “I am spanking your ass for running off on me like that. What the hell were you thinking?”

I can hear people moving up behind us and he sighs.

“We will be discussing this later,la mia farfalla.” His hold reluctantly loosens and we turn around to face his family who came running out right behind him. But, he still has his hand on my lower back and it’s comforting, possessive. “Blake, I’d like you to meet Miceli, Vin, Enzo, his wife Gabriella, and my little sister, Carlotta. Everyone, this is Blake Serrano.”

I’m immediately pulled into every set of arms and hugged. It’s so surprising that I’m taken off guard, but in the best possible way. I’ve never received such a warm reception—literally, with open arms—and my heart is so full I’m scared it might explode.

“Hi,” I manage to say, feeling immediate acceptance and a crazy outpouring of warmth. “It’s so nice to meet you all.”

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