Page 84 of Married With Malice

Creed scowls and slides a glare at his brother. “I should have smothered you when we were all in the womb.”

From the way the other man gleefully grins, it’s clear this is just a typical interaction for them. “Too late now. Now stop blocking the door or I’ll have to move you.”

“For fuck’s sake, Chase, I’m not blocking the door. You are.”

Chase turns around, notices this is accurate and flings the door open with flourish. “After you, my friends.”

There’s a frisky, animated quality about him that reminds me of Luca.

Or the way Lucausedto be.

The lobby is as welcoming as can be. Amid all the countrified dark wood, deep sofas and walls of bookshelves, there’s a fire crackling in a huge stone fireplace. Three women are relaxing by the fire with wine glasses and they’re in the middle of laughing when we walk in.

Luca leaves the bags and walks over to the front desk to check in. Behind me, the three brothers tumble into the room and two of them are still trading insults over who was responsible for blocking the door while the third brother, the obvious peacemaker, catches my eye and shakes his head with a chuckle. He crosses the room and stands behind the chair of one of the women. She glances up and touches his hand with a smile.

“I didn’t say I wasn’t having a good time,” grumbles the deep voice of the man called Creed.

“You made fun of my coupon,” Chase says. “My feelings are hurt.”

“Your feelings arenotfucking hurt.”

“Truly.” Chase snaps his fingers. “Make your husband apologize for wounding my pride.”

A woman with shoulder-length black hair streaked with stately grey turns around. “Do you both really need another time out?” Her bemused voice is tinged with a melodic southern accent. “I thought we agreed on the plane you two were gonna behave yourselves for the rest of the trip.”

“You know my troublemaker doesn’t follow instructions.” The third woman stands, tosses her curly blonde hair and points a finger at Chase. “Imagine if your high school students could see you now. What kind of example would you be setting?”

Chase closes the distance between them while holding his arms out. When he reaches her, he cradles her face in his hands and murmurs some soft words that make her melt. She laughs and hooks her arms around his neck, pulling him in for a kiss.

I’m so engrossed in watching this family that I jump when I feel Luca at my side.

“All checked in?” I ask.

He nods and surveys the people in the lobby. “I’ll bring the bags up to the room and then I’ve got a few calls to make.”

“All right.” I swallow the hurt over his lack of excitement. We just got here. It’s been a long day. “The restaurant has excellent reviews. How about I’ll meet you there for dinner in an hour?”

Surely, he’ll relax at dinner. I’ll wear something sexy. No bickering allowed. We’ll have a nice evening. And then we’ll spend the night together.

I’m already feeling giddy over these plans. I’ve missed being touched by him. I’ve missed sleeping next to him.

“That works,” is his short reply and he promptly collects the bags.

Before I follow him, the brunette who seems to be the wife of the tattooed man has noticed the way I’m avidly watching her family. She has a lovely smile.

“Congratulations,” she says with a wink. “Now you’ve had your first encounter with the Gentry boys. You’ll find they’re not easy to forget.”

18

LUCA

Back in New York there’s some trouble.

Nothing major, but my phone keeps blowing up with messages from Richie and from Monte.

It’s a drag to keep putting my head back in the dark place that conducts Richie’s dirty work but for now I’ve talked Richie out of going scorched earth on some local politicians who have been slow to fulfill promises to him and to Albie. A political hit comes with way too much attention.

As for the Castelli brothers, they’ve been tussling with some Bronx bookies guilty of nudging past their territory. I gave Monte the green light to do whatever needed to be done.

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