Page 196 of Traitor

I lose it. Full-on cackle.

"You're such a little shit, Fang!" I wheeze between laughter. "There is no way in hell you thought that would be the right move. No fucking way!"

Fang mutters a curse under his breath. Domino's face shifts from murderous to victorious.

"I told you, fucker!" He claps Fang on the back. Hard. "I'm breaking your fucking bones in the ring tomorrow for this!"

Fang immediately starts backpedaling. "Okay, okay, let's not be hasty—"

I cut in, grinning. "Why break his bones? Maybe you should just make him read a dirty passage from one of those books of yours. Out loud. In the middle of the common room. With all the brothers gathered around."

Domino's eyes go wide. Then he starts laughing like a man possessed. "Holy shit, that's much better!"

"I'm not fucking doing that!" Fang yells, panic creeping into his voice.

Domino just smirks. "It's either that or I rearrange your pretty face. Let's see how many chicks fall at your feet when you're bruised and bloody."

Fang groans and stalks off, muttering about betrayal. Domino follows, grinning ear to ear.

I shake my head, still chuckling when a low voice rumbles behind me.

"You really are a vicious little creature."

I turn in my seat to find Luca Romano, sitting beside me, a fresh drink in his hand. His dark eyes are narrowed, studying me like a puzzle he can't quite figure out.

I smirk. "Yes, yes I am."

I watch him for a second, then I tilt my head slightly. "How the hell did you become a member of this club? I thought the mafia was for life."

His lips curve, amused. "It is. Bones got that pesky deal back. And me along with it." He takes a sip from his drink and then looks at me again. Analyzing. "Does it bother you? That he got it back?"

I frown slightly. "No. I never cared about it. Not really. I just wanted to hurt him back then. Any way I could."

He watches me closely, searching my face. It makes me squirm a little. This guy is way too intense.

"He's lucky," he finally says, voice quieter. "That you gave him a second chance."

I blink. Where the hell is this coming from?

Luca exhales, looking away for a brief second before continuing. "He's never going to admit this. Not to you, not to anyone. But he was making arrangements. It was fucking obvious. The rest of us could see it clear as day. He got that deal back because he was planning to leave the club. For good. He wanted to leave his brothers with all the advantages he could get for them before he made his exit."

I freeze.

"What?" My voice is barely above a whisper.

Luca makes a gun with his fingers, presses it under his chin, and my stomach plummets.

"Don't tell him I told you." He mutters something under his breath that sounds suspiciously like"he'll probably order my spanking again"before looking back at me. "I just thought you should know the full power you hold over him. Like I said, he's lucky that you gave him a second chance."

He downs the rest of his drink in one go, voice raw when he speaks again. "Some of us don't ever get that lucky."

Then he stands up and walks away.

That night, I hold Bones tighter than ever.

I know his choices are not my burden to bear. But I also know I would've mourned him my entire life.

The next morning, I'm settled in the clubhouse kitchen, coffee in one hand, a sandwich in the other, minding my own damn business. It's Monday, but I cleared my schedule — because I can. I'm ahead on my projects, my clients are happy, and I decided to gift myself a guilt-free pause. Bones had to step into his office for a call, leaving me alone with Mama, who practically force-fed me breakfast.

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