Page 15 of His to Claim

“Yeah, but I want my stuff,” she insists.

“Lottie, please go with Archer. He’ll keep you safe and under the radar while I deal with Gallo. It’ll only be for a couple of days. Three tops. Can you do that for me?”

Carlotta sighs. “Yes,” she finally agrees, and I frown.

What’s the big deal? A few days off the beaten path with me isn’t going to kill her. Besides, I thought she liked me. Well, I guess she did before she knew my identity.

After assuring Miceli I’ll keep her safe and secure in a remote location, I disconnect the call and start the car. I have a cabin in upstate New York that will be perfect to hunker down at for a bit. It’s nothing fancy, just an old hunting cabin surrounded by woods, but she doesn’t need the Ritz-Carlton. Just a quiet place to hang out, far away from the dangers of New York City and Carmine Gallo.

Tightening my hands on the steering wheel, I turn toward the highway, trying not to breathe in her sweet candy smell. Because now that I know who she is—Carlotta Rossi—I know that she’s off-limits.

I just hope my dick understands that he will be staying in my pants.

7

CARLOTTA

Iturn in my seat and study Archer’s ridiculously handsome profile intently now that the mask is long gone.

Archer.

God, never in a million years would I have guessed that the man I had a steamy make out session with at the party was my brother’s elusive contact. From what I’ve heard Miceli say, Archer is like a ghost and most likely former military. But he doesn’t know anything for sure. Not even the man’s full name.

“So you’re the mysterious Archer…” I murmur thoughtfully. “Is that even your real name?”

“Sure,” he responds vaguely.

I let out a snort of disbelief. “That doesn’t sound very convincing.”

“I can be whoever you want me to be, Carlotta,” he states smoothly and turns the car onto the freeway.

“How do you know my brother?”

“I know all your brothers.”

He’s so evasive and I cross my arms. “Where exactly are we going?”

“Upstate.”

Frustration fills me. He’s answering my questions, but at the same time, he’s not giving me any new information. For the next ten minutes, he focuses on driving and I chew my lower lip until it starts bleeding.Dammit.

I can feel him pulling away, closing off to me. And that’s the last thing I want because I’m so attracted to him. We were hot and heavy, but now he’s cool as a cucumber. And I know exactly why.

It’s because I’m Miceli Rossi’s little sister.

“Why does it matter that I’m Miceli’s sister?” I ask, going for bluntness and laying my cards out on the table. Because the man sitting beside me is nothing like the one I met at the masquerade party. My steamy stranger is now a distant memory. In his place is a man who won’t even talk to me much less look in my direction.

For a long moment he doesn’t say anything. Just sort of mulls over my question. Then he sends me a quick side glance and says, “It matters a lot.”

“But why?” I press, not letting him off the hook so easily.

“It’s not a line I want to cross.”

“Don’t you think we already crossed that line?”

“Not the most important one. No.”

My face screws up in a frown. He’s basically telling me he regrets what we did and now he won’t touch me with a ten foot pole.Thanks a lot, Miceli.God, talk about clitorference. Why is everyone so damn scared of Big, Bad Miceli Rossi? I mean, yes, he’s huge and intimidating, but Archer is no slouch. He’s got a dark intimidation factor working in his favor, too. Not to mention he’s well over six feet and solid muscle. I suppose he’s built more slimly than my brother, but still very athletic.

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