Page 91 of Salvatore

“Take her,” Lorenzo repeats. “I will advise Catarina to prepare for your arrival. And once Gabriel’s daughter issafelyinside the confines of my home, you will return to discuss this mess. Is that clear?”

Restrictions have never worked well on me. Dictatorship either. Problem is, there’s only so far I can push my uncle and I have a feeling he’s currently teetering on the edge of the cliff.

“I said—is that clear?” he cuts out.

“It is,” I snarl.

“Good. I will expect your return before sunrise.”

I grind my teeth. “And I expect that you’re aware of what it will mean if you go back on your word.”

The call disconnects, leaving my statement unanswered.

Son of a bitch. I clench a fist, my jaw locked tight enough to crack molars.

“Is everything okay?” Ivy blinks up at me, her gorgeous face leveled with unease.

“Yeah.” I step around her and start for the gates leading onto the tarmac. “Come on. Let’s get you out of here.”

We’re in the air within fifteen minutes.

It takes another hour-twenty-five to arrive at Virginia Beach.

We don’t talk on the flight. It’s too loud, even with the noise-cancelling headphones, but I suspect the waning adrenaline has her in the same state of punishing exhaustion that’s curling me in its grip.

I’m the first to disembark once we land, extending my hand to assist her out.

She glances around the airfield as the chopper blades circle ahead, her expression filled with uncertainty.

“This isn’t Charlottesville,” she yells over the raucous sound.

I don’t bother competing with the commotion. I usher her safely in the back of the waiting SUV with one of Lorenzo’s guards driving us across town.

“Salvatore, why didn’t we go to Charlottesville?”

“Lorenzo suggested I put you up at his place.”

The warmth of her complexion turns ashen in the car’s darkened interior. “You sold me out?”

“No. I weighed our options and found this to be a better choice.”

Her attention darts to the door handle. She’s clearly weighing a quick escape.

“Don’t fucking think about it.” I don’t care if I’m jumping at shadows. I release her belt and grab her waist, sliding her along the bench seat toward me, her squeal ignored as I drag her onto my lap. “You’ll be safe.”

“Sure I will.” She shoves at my arms. “Get your hands off me.”

I hold tighter, leaning my mouth close to her ear. “It’s been a long day, troublemaker, and the way you’re wiggling your ass against my crotch isn’t helping ease the situation.”

She levels me with a malicious stare. “I swear to God, if you get hard?—”

“Then maybe stop dry-humping my dick when I know you’re not wearing any panties.”

She stills, her expression slackening for the briefest second before rage glares back at me. “I’m going to?—”

“I’ve pissed off Lorenzo,” I cut her off, too tired to fight with her. “And as the saying goes, you catch more flies with honey. So we’re going to do as he requested and hide you on his property.”

She leans closer, right in my face, her nose almost touching mine. “I can assure you I’d catch more flies with your rotting corpse,Sally.”

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