Page 18 of Revenge & Ruin

Where I count every single second until Teo returns and falls asleep on the couch.

I’m brutally ignoring the fact that I might have just made the biggest mistake of my life.

5

TEO

The bed is empty when I wake up, and I’ve never wanted to punch myself in the face before.

Because, of course, it is. Because what was last night, if not a way for her to make me lower my guard?

Every time I think I’m in control of a situation, she goes and flips the narrative somehow. One second, she's a fearless mafioso’s daughter willing to jump out a window; the next, she's a sniveling coward in need of comfort and protection. The next…

Fuck. Kissing her had been a terrible, terrible idea.

I really thought, for a moment at least, that she’d felt it, too. It was because of the way my heart seemed to jumpstart under the sheer force of electricity that exploded between us.

Her face, her longing…she’d made a fool out of me. Distracted me with that kiss, that open invitation to take her, to own her.

I don’t know where the sex ended and the attraction began, but every time I think about it, that line gets blurrier.

And now? I’m left with an empty bed and one hell of a lot of explaining to do.

I openly threatened her and her brother, Gave away my intentions with the Prince’s Hand, then lost my only bargaining chip because I’m a sucker for mouthy blondes who know how to put me in a chokehold.

God. If she wasn’t a Natali…

I cut off that train of thought. It won’t get me anywhere good, and I have more than enough things to do today without thinking about all the ways I would let someone—who looked exactly like Isabella but absolutely was not Isabella—fuck me.

“Yeah?” Dante picks up the phone after only a couple of rings.

“Call a meeting at the compound in two hours. I don’t care how hungover everyone is, they’ll be there.”

If Dante groans, he does an exceptional job of hiding it. “Sure thing, boss.”

“Don’t call me that. I don’t get off on it like Rocco did.”

“You’re sure already giving orders like him.”

I hang up without another word, scrubbing some life back into my face with my other hand. This is going to be a long day.

Only the bridal party was staying at the Plaza Hotellast night, so I’m not surprised that I recognize a couple of bleary-eyed faces having breakfast when I head down to the reception area to check out.

Most of them send me a respectful nod before turning back to their coffees. But one breaks away from the pack to approach me.

“Martino,” I greet the giant of a man warmly.

“I’m sorry I didn’t get the chance to congratulate you last night.” Martino slaps me on the arm, Entirely unaware that the gesture feels like getting smacked by a truck.

“Wouldn’t want to distract anyone from the bride.”

Martino’s smile wavers slightly. “Listen, Teo. I, er…I’ve been working for Rocco for five years now, and without him, I?—”

I raise my hand to stop him. “I’m going to need all the muscle I can get. You want to be my driver? Job’s yours.”

His face splits into a familiar grin. “You in deep already, boss?”

Yes,I don’t say. “Don’t call me boss.”

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