Page 125 of Handsome Devil
An excuse to stop myself from slipping into her bed and fucking her again while we drowned in each other’s eyes.
I had vowed the day Apollo died to never love again and managed to keep my promise to myself, even with Daniel. Gia wasn’t about to destroy my perfect streak.
The car stopped in front of a warehouse. We chose a neutral place to meet, and the Ferrantes suggested they act as mediators for the modest fee of $10K from each party. This was Camorra territory, which meant no one was about to get murdered.
At least tonight.
As soon as Gia and I made it to the door, two burly Camorra soldiers confiscated our phones and gave me a thorough pat down. When they turned toward Gia to do the same, I smiled cordially.
“Touch her, and I’ll break your trachea and make her a sustainable coffee straw out of it.”
“Leave her be, Primo.” Achilles appeared at the entrance, wearing his usual smart combo of a black shirt and matching slacks. Shame about that face, because his style was impeccable. He motioned for us to come in. “The Callaghans are already here.”
We walked through a vast, open space to a side door that led to a basement. I grabbed Gia’s wrist and held it firmly. She laced her fingers through mine and started tapping her index finger over the back of my hand in a familiar pattern.
Two, six, two.
Two, six, two.
Two, six, two.
A jolt of panic rushed through my spine, followed by immediate orgasmic relief.
She knows.
She understands.
She cooperates.
She soothes.
My muscles loosened. And in that moment, I needed her more than I’d ever needed anything else in my entire fucking life.
At the end of the stairway was a dimly lit room with a long table, a built-in kitchenette, and an overhead lamp. At the table sat Vello, Luca, an older Irish man, Tiernan, and Tierney. I recognized the twins. They both had dark red hair, almost radioactive-green eyes, and sharp, cunning features.
Luca swiftly made the introductions. The older man was Tyrone, the twins’ father and the retired boss. It was my understanding Tiernan took the reins some time ago. We all sat down.
“I see you brought your sister along.” I lit a cigarette.
“For the same reason you brought your wife.” Tiernan’s cold gaze could frost over the sun.
“Because you want to wine, dine, and fuck her afterward?” I cocked an eyebrow.
Enzo barked out a corroded laugh.
“Hey, listen, no judgment here. I’m a man of decadent tastes. You do you, buddy.”
Tiernan’s glare told me we were off to a catastrophic start.Good. My strategy for today was to show them there’d be no negotiations. Each of their soldiers who killed my father deserved to die. And anyone in my way to them was destined to a similar fate.
“Tate,” Tiernan said easily.
“Tiernan,” I answered in earnest.
“How much do you like your Mediterranean yacht?”
My eyes tapered to slits. “No.”
Don’t tell me he touchedUrania. I’d only had her for three years.
