Page 38 of Isle of Pain

“Lana’s gonna kill me,” Giulia mumbles, raising her eyes to the ceiling like it will give her strength to deal with this family drama.

“Lana isn’t my keeper. We talked about this, Gigi.”

Attagirl.

My cock jerks to attention as Marie establishes her demands. She’s soft in her immovability, her lush curves almost resting against my front, taking strength from me.

Giulia shakes her head lightly but concedes. “You’re right. You’re an adult, you do what you think is best for you, exactly like I will when this blows up in your face, Marie. I won’t take sides between you two.” Marie nods and I can’t see her face but her energy shifts to one of glee and empowerment. I can almost see her tap her feet in a little dance even though she isn’t moving at all.

“Fratellino, Dobrev called last night,” Andrea starts. “He and Ventura are on the trails of one of Misha’s handlers in the country. They think they can find him and bring him to your workshop soon.”

“How soon?” I ask as I take in the information that Aleksei Dobrev has been working closely with Dante Ventura, his enemy for decades. I don’t necessarily care for their feud. They both hire me for side projects, and as long as no one in London or West Hill asks me to kill a rival, I take these easy contracts gladly. They scratch the itch and help me stay in touch with theunderbelly of the country, collecting favours and information as effectively as Giulia does with her club.

“This week,” Giulia answers for him. They always end each other’s sentences. You wouldn’t believe they started off as a marriage of convenience when you look at them eating each other up with their eyes. These two are the horniest people I’ve ever met and I know I need to end this meeting soon because with or without us present, they’re about to go at it until the sun comes up.

“I’ll handle it,” I say.

“What does it mean?” Marie asks, turning to look at me over her shoulders. The light catches in her dark locks, giving her hair a midnight-blue hue. She knows what I do. Everyone knows. But I look into her eyes as I lay down the ugly truth of who I am.

“Dobrev and Ventura will catch the man who finds the women Misha’s organisation abducts and sells into his traffic ring. They will bring him to my workshop, a barn a few hundred meters off my property. I will torture the information we need out of him, over hours or days depending on my mood and needs, and then I’ll end his life.”

Our eyes stay locked but there’s no grimace on her precious face. “Good,” she states before turning back her attention to her cousin and my brother, who both raise their brow at her. “What? Did you think that because I’m younger than you and have been kept in the dark all my life, I’d be disgusted by violence? That man deserves what’s coming for him.”

A large smile spreads across Giulia’s red lips. “Maybe we were wrong to keep you apart all this time, Marie.” She plops herself on Andrea’s lap, dismissing us.

My blood pumps fast in my veins, echoing in my ears as Marie’s words sink in. Her acceptance tastes like salvation on my tongue and the need to touch her, to show her how grateful I am for what she just gave me, threatens to unravel me.

21

MARIE

SUBTLE VIOLENCE IS A TURN-ON, APPARENTLY

Nico’s pace is urgent as we walk back to his house. He carries the little basket Ember is sleeping in in one hand and holds mine in the other, our fingers threaded together.

For the first time in my life, someone stood up for me and empowered me, made me feel like I was a part of the family. Even more than that, he made me feel like I was part of the business. I clamp my lips shut to avoid smiling like a silly girl, but my cheeks hurt nonetheless.

When we reach the living room, Nico hands me my daughter and I place her on her bed in my bedroom. She doesn’t rouse and I’m grateful she’s such a heavy sleeper. I need time with Nico. Alone.

To do what, I’m unsure. Anticipation and desperate need to show him how grateful I am replaced any anxious energy I felt at dinner.

When I make my way to the living room, legs like jelly, Nico’s seated on a chair, elbows resting on his thighs. The dark tee-shirt he’s wearing leaves the skin of his arms on display, the blackand grey tattoos painting a striking picture. The Fallen Angel on one of his forearms, what seems to be the ecstasy of Saint Theresa on the other, mixed with a demon chasing an angel and a murder of crows taking flight on the other side make up a gothic composition within which fits random smaller ones. It’s stunning and mesmerising.

With measured steps, I walk to him until I stand shy of a foot away from his opened legs. I take my time devouring the sight in front of me. His dark hair looks soft to the touch and I bite my lips, thinking of how much I want to run my fingers through his scalp until he purrs under my hands. The metal of his piercings glints in the yellow light of the side lamp. What kind of noise would he make if I pulled on the lip one with my teeth until it hurt?

Curious to know, and turned on for probably the first time in my life—or second if we consider what happened in my bed the other night—I reach forward and gently let my right hand wander from his cheek to the back of his head, gliding my nails down to his nape. Nico shivers underneath my touch. I don’t know how to interpret it.

“Do you want me to stop?” I ask.

“Don’t.” His voice is low, the sound going straight to my already heated core. “Please.” He watches me intently, his pupils so large I can barely see the amber I like so much anymore. He looks desperate. And I love it.

I continue my exploration until my hand reaches the column of his throat. The whimper that comes out of his chest threatens to make me come on the spot.

“Oh, baby,” I gently mock.

I might not have much experience but Nico wants me. I dip my eyes down to his crotch and the confirmation stares right back at me. He’s hard underneath the dark jeans. Liquid need fills my veins, more potent than any alcohol I’ve ever tasted.

With a hard shove against his throat, I press his body against the back of the chair and straddle him, lining myself against him. A needy sigh leaves my lips and Nico parts his as though he wants to swallow it.

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