Page 29 of Widow's Walk

Without waiting, I open my own door and step out, not missing the subtle, vexed exhale behind me. Chauvinist ass. His need to open my door isn’t out of chivalry, it’s out of pompous superiority.

I meet him around on the other side of the vehicle, ignoring the heat of his gaze as he buttons his jacket. His hand finds the small of my back as if it has a right to be there, and we move together.

Flanked by two meat suits behind and one in front of us, we walk into the most old-money Italian restaurant in the state. The owner greets us personally and escorts us to a secluded table in the back. The lights dim with every step we take, the air heavy with wine and pleasant aromas. It’s a setup for lovers, not for power plays.

Blackwell exchanges pleasantries with the owner in perfect Italian, and I swear I’m not impressed. I’m not. In addition to English and Farsi, he also speaks Italian. It's just useful information to me.

He pulls out my chair for me, and I resist the urge to roll my eyes before sinking into it. I look around and it’s exactly as I remember it, though wrapped in an uglier lie. Feels a lot like my old bedroom. Dark and deceptively safe.

Red wine is poured, and I don’t hesitate to reach for the glass. Anything to avoid speaking. I lean back and sip, trying to let the sweetness of the wine give me the ease I’m becoming desperate for.

“So, who are you meeting with at the casino?” I ask, finally making eye contact with him, and I find him already staring at me.

He takes a drawn-out moment before answering me. “No one from the inner circle, but those close to it,” he murmurs.

“Will your father or your brothers be there?”

“Dane will.”

“Not your father?” I raise the wine glass to my lips to drain the rest of what’s left.

His eyes flick away for half a beat, and I find it very telling. “He won’t be there tonight.”

“Is he out of town?”

That earns me a sharp look. “My father doesn’t always need to be present at every meeting.”

I frown. “Why not? He’s still the head of the family, is he not?”

It’s obvious the question hits, and just like that, he smooths his expression. “He is, but he trusts me to fill in for him when needed.”

“And it’s needed?” I press, arching a brow. “Is he gone, or just…”

He sighs as the tension in his jaw builds. It only provokes me more. But before he can give me his rebuttal, the owner comes back. They talk quietly, keeping it in Italian, then after he pours me another glass of red wine, he disappears again.

I squint at him over the rim of my glass. “Did you just order for me?”

He quirks a brow. “You speak Italian?”

“No, but I’m not daft.”

One side of his mouth tilts and goddamn he wears a smirk well. “Just hush and drink your wine.”

My mouth pops open in indignance, but before I can fire back, something unexpected happens. My head falls back as I burst into laughter. I laugh harder than I have in so long. I can’t even remember the last time I genuinely laughed.

It hits me so fast, I barely register the shocked look on his face. It has me sobering, and I bring the glass to my lips to try and hide the leftover giggles.

There’s a charge sparking between us. The heated glare taking over his handsome face is so familiar I can feel it move through me like molten lava, heating me to the point of melting me.

His unabashed look says we’ll be fucking in the car on the way to the casino.

He doesn’t ask me about dessert, not that I would eat any anyway. And when we walk out of the restaurant, he walks with urgency.

The closer we get to our blacked-out getaway, my skin dances with exhilaration, and my nipples are tightening. I have the strongest urge to cross my legs to stave off the desire burning between them.

I’ve grown silent as he opens the car door, and I slip inside first. Those fucking unwarranted nerves are back. This time, it has everything to do with what we’re about to do. Fuck. I haven’tbeen nervous about sex since I found out how much I liked it. Since I knew exactly how to weaponize it.

“Drive around back,” Blackwell says to our driver, then pulls me into his lap with one smooth motion.

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