Page 79 of Penance

I’m sure if Nox wasn’t so focused on trying not to choke the piece of shit mafia Don, he’d probably have had a stronger reaction to Kyla-Rose calling him her boyfriend. Although the words must have penetrated his thick skull somewhat because he grinds his teeth, his gaze softening ever so slightly when he locks eyes with her.

“Two of?” Vito questions for confirmation.

His eyes narrowing slightly on her, probably calculating how easily he could dispose of us.

“Yeah. Two of three,” she says, straightening her spine.

She peers over her shoulder, searching around the room, looking a little like a meerkat. Her delicate hand stretches between their two chairs, her body twisting dangerously close to the mafia prick. She points out the big blonde fucker standing at the buffet.

“That’s Kacey, he’s my other boyfriend,” she emphasises with pride in her voice, a glint in her eye.

Kacey catches sight of her and when their eyes lock, he throws her a smirk and a dirty wink, causing a pale blush to tint her cheeks.

“It takes a few men to entertain her,” Charlie rasps, dropping into a chair on the other side of Gambino, a seat separating them on the curve of the table.

Brandishing a knife between his tattooed fingers, his shirt open, the sleeves torn off, his bare chest on display, he stares at Vito.

Is he never cold?

Vito’s head practically does a three-sixty at the sound of Charlie’s husky growl in such close proximity.

“Oh, I’m sure,” Vito smirks, regaining his relaxed, over-confident composure. He rakes his filthy eyes all over our girl, “you’re a very impressive woman, Miss Swallow. I would expect nothing less from thequeenof the underworld,” he smiles, his gold tooth glinting in the chandelier light as his smile widens.

“Mm,” Kyla-Rose hums, tapping her long, black nails against the wood of the table.

My hand slides down her thigh, my fingers squeezing her knee. She turns into me, a coy smile on her face. I wink down at her, placing a kiss to the bridge of her nose. She inhales deeply, rolling her neck, turning back to the table.

“It was good to see you, Vito,” she smiles gracefully but I don’t miss the dismissal in her tone and neither does he. “I look forward to the new year and the business prospects we will endeavour to pursue,” she bows her head slightly.

He stands, Charlie watching him like prey, he flicks the gold steak knife between his fingers.

Tongue in cheek, Vito says, “me too, Miss Swallow, me too,” before walking away and approaching Dee.

“I don’t like him,” Nox announces on a hiss making Charlie release a gravelly laugh, I smirk in agreement.

“He’s a creep,” Kyla-Rose hums. “But he knows his place, he’s a dog, I’m the hand that feeds him. He won’t bite it off unless he wants to starve,” she murmurs casually.

Her beautiful storm-green eyes lock on mine, her delicate fingers sweeping across my cheek.

“We’ll have to watch him,” Charlie growls as he and Kyla-Rose share a look.

“Kyla-Rose,” a deep, gruff voice speaks from behind us, “Charlie.”

The entire table looks up at the stranger. Kyla-Rose spins in her seat, her eyes finding the owner, she squeals. Like, literally squeals, the noise makes everyone cringe including the ridiculously tall stranger, he must be nearly seven-foot. She dives out of her chair, flinging herself at him, anoompfescapes him as he catches her.

“Dominic! What in the fuck are you doing here! Where’s Scarlett? Did she come, too? Ashlee? Gabriel?” she rattles off without taking a single breath.

“Dom,” Charlie greets, moving up and out of his seat to greet the newcomer.

Seeing the three of them together, you can instantly see the similarities. Dominic is possibly the tallest man I’ve ever met, he towers over everyone, standing at least a foot above the rest of the room. Tall and lean, icy white skin, just like the Swallows either side of him, grey eyes and pale blonde hair. Everything about him is right on the Swallow family brand.

“I came with Ashlee,” he states emotionlessly, dropping Kyla-Rose back down to her feet. “She’s around here somewhere, you’ll probably hear her before you see her.”

“You’re a dick, Dom,” Kyla-Rose laughs before turning back to us. “This is Huxley,” she introduces, a big beaming grin on her face. “Hux, this is Dominic Montblanc, our cousin.”

Another cousin,interesting.Just how big is this family?

“’Sup, dude,” I greet, reaching over the back of my chair, offering my hand.

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