Page 41 of His Angel

Spent, I collapse back against him, my body buzzing, blood humming, pussy throbbing, and I’m nothing but pure sensation.

“Is this…” I start, catching my breath. “Is this how it’s always going to be between us?”

“And how’s that?” he pants, warm breath coating the skin of my neck.

“This…intense,” I finish, so breathless I can barely get my tongue to roll the word.

His arms tighten around me, holding me close as he tries to catch his breath. “Oh, baby girl,” he drawls. “I’ve barely begun to show you just how fucking intense it can be.”

Chapter13

ISAIA

Alexius leans by the window, arms crossed, blue eyes giving me the sharp once-over. Smoke curls from his cigarette into the bourbon-thick air.

“You sure about this?”

I stare at the footage on my laptop screen, rubbing a finger along my chin. “Yeah. I am.”

“Don’t get me wrong, I know why you’re doing it. But this plan of yours has a thousand ways it can blow up in your face.”

“You have any other ideas?” I challenge, flicking my gaze to him.

“I think your feelings for her cloud your judgment.”

I slam my laptop closed and shove my chair back. “Don’t you think it’s time you and your wife leave? It’s been days. Go home to your kids. I’ve got shit covered here.”

“Do you?” His tone sharpens, stepping closer to the desk.

“Yes,” I blurt. “I’ve got her all snuggled up and safe on this rock, and Talon’s spreading word on the streets that she’s in Italy. You saw the footage of them leaving Rome’s airport. They’re digging. Running in fucking circles.”

“All you’re doing is buying time. How long you think before they’ll figure out every lead’s bullshit?”

“I’ve got plenty of red herrings to throw their way.”

“What’s your endgame, huh? You and Everly holed up here forever, hiding behind guards, waiting for the bomb to drop?”

I scoff. “They’ll never find us. Find her.”

Alexius stubs his cigarette, smoke trailing as he levels me with a look. “Don’t underestimate them, Isaia. Especially not Tony.”

Tony Paladino—or rather, Daddy Paladino.

“There’s a reason he’s been able to keep his thumb on Rinaldi all these years,” he continues. “He’s been in this game longer and knows the gameplay better than any of us. There’s no end to this man’s connections, and with Anthony?—”

“What are you trying to do?” I cut him off. “You want me to just fly her back to the mainland, wave my little white flag, and hand her over to him?”

“Of course not.”

“Then what the fuckareyou saying?”

“I’m saying it’s her choice,” he snaps. “You can’t keep her here forever, tucked away like some prized possession while you lie to her.”

“That’s rich, coming from you.” I shoot to my feet, palms slamming the desk, leaning forward. “I remember you lying to Leandra—fucking with her pills to knock her up so she wouldn’t bolt. Don’t preach to me about right and wrong.”

“Careful, brother.”

“No.” I lean closer, heat pouring off me. “Don’t act all high and mighty when you locked Leandra up like your prisoner, playing God over her life.”

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