Page 146 of Vicious Addictions

“Yesterday, you pulled your gun on a man who has loved you like you were his own flesh and blood,” Vincent starts, my gaze instantly flickering over to a mute Dominic. “Not only that, but you also pulled a gun on your own brother—the same brother who idolizes you and would follow you to the ends of the earth. Your actions didn’t go unnoticed, Jude. Not by a long shot.”

“Understood, boss. And I’m ready to take any punishment you see fit,” Jude responds with his head held high.

“I doubt that you are, son. I doubt that you are.”

I can’t explain my next reaction, but before I can stop myself, I take a step forward, closing some of the space between me and Vincent.

“In regard to yesterday’s… misunderstanding, I will be having words with Rolo and Romulus about their conduct. It was never my intention to disrespect you in your own home.” I hold his gaze, steady and unflinching. “That being said, I don’t fault my cousins for being protective of me. Yes, they overstepped, but I would have handled the situation peacefully if you hadn’t intervened first. They simply reacted like any family member would when someone they love is threatened.”

Silence settles, thick and suffocating. Vincent’s stare sharpens, assessing the situation, his presence commanding the entire room. He then exhales a quiet chuckle, but there’s no humor behind it.

“But that is the crux of the matter, is it not,Lady Crane?” His voice is smooth yet weighted with something dangerous. “I saw two families at that table yesterday—together yet divided. And what troubles me,” he continues as his gaze shifts, slow and deliberate, settling on his son like a dagger pressing against flesh, “is that some of its members looked out of place.”

The tension in the room coils tighter, suffocating, waiting for the inevitable to happen.

I don’t dare look at Jude. I don’t need to.

I can feel the weight of his silence, the storm brewing behind it.

With one last lingering glower thrown at his son, Vincent leaves the room, and I finally let out the breath I had been holding in.

My father was right—Vincent Romano is in a league of his own when it comes to being a boss.

Not everyone has the stomach to lead the kind of life where fear and unquestionable loyalty must be commanded the moment he steps into a room.

It must weigh on him. Having to be so demanding, even to his own children.

It must weigh on them, too.

I know it does for Jude.

“I can take care of this,” Dominic says, pointing to Dimitri’s corpse. “Looks like you guys had quite a night anyway. Go and have some rest. I’ll find you if there is any new development.”

“Dom,” Jude starts rushing toward him with a heartfelt apology on the tip of his tongue.

“Don’t even sweat it, kid. I knew you’d never pull the trigger on me.” Dominic gives him a warm smile.

Jude adds nothing to the remark, though.

Truth be told, I don’t think there is a person in this room who can be a hundred percent certain of what he would have done if things had gotten out of hand, Jude included.

The only thing I know for sure is that when Vincent ordered him to stay put, Jude followed the order obediently like a good little Outfit soldier.

That stung.

I walk out of the room without looking back, aware of Jude following close behind. I can feel his heavy gaze on me, and I hate the way it sends a delicious shiver down my spine.

Jude Romano has always had this uncanny ability to take my breath away just with one look. And it pains me that my body reacts to it even after all these years.

It’s like it hasn’t forgotten how his hands felt on my skin. How the pad of his fingers loved to run up and down my back, creating goosebumps in their wake. Though my heart has permanently rid itself of the vicious addiction that is Jude Romano, my body doesn’t seem to feel the same way.

It yearns to be touched by him.

Craves it.

Needs it.

“Mina,” he calls out behind me, his voice rough and commanding.

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