Page 40 of Blood & Loyalties
“Is there a reason there is only one plate and one bowl?”
Jag grabbed my hand, his eyes penetrating mine. “How else am I going to feed you?” His smooth voice slid through me. I shivered, remembering the last time he had fed me. That warmth in my body spread like wild fire.
“Do you have a thing for this?” I raised both brows in question, trying to play it off. I liked this, really liked this. The fact he was taking time to care for me, again, was almost too much for me to take.
“Doesn’t your father feed your mother?” He already knew the answer.
“On occasion. Not so much anymore.”
“That you see. You no longer live there. I bet you he does it very often.” Jag picked up the spoon and blew gently on the soup, cooling it slightly. Then he extended the spoon to my mouth, and I opened willingly as thoughts swirled in my head at the ramifications of his previous words. Did he really feel this way toward me?
As the spoon slid into my mouth, I closed my eyes, and the taste of the soup exploded on my tongue. I opened them to see him watching me intently. He took a bite himself and then gave me another. The sexual and emotional tension was so thick I didn’t think a damn hacksaw could get through it.
He continued to feed me bite after bite of food, and each time the fork or spoon touched my lips, sounds escaped my throat that I hadn’t known existed. The food was impeccable, and the company was even better.
“I want to know more about you,” I whispered quietly.
“What do you want to know,dolcezza?”
I quivered at the endearment.
“Mother, father, siblings?” Might as well start simply.
“Mother is back in California. Father—well, you know about him. My mother is a wonderful woman, very straight forward and doesn’t take a lot of shit from anyone. She’s an amazing cook, and I love her to death. No siblings.”
I smiled, feeling the same way about my own mom.
“Let’s try this. What’s your favorite movie?”
“Ah,dolcezza, now the hard questions.” His smile filled up the room, and my heart exploded in my chest. This one was gonna hurt; there was no stopping it. I inwardly cringed and jumped for joy at the same time. It was like I had a little flag inside me that readBring on the Pain.
The light conversation continued to flow, and more than once we laughed. It was one of the most enjoyable meals and nights, excluding last night, I had ever had. Relaxed. Calm. Fun.
“Are you ready for dessert?”
I raised my brow. “What are we having?”
He grinned. “You if I had my way.” His finger swiped over my lip, fire igniting. My body did a full shiver. “Instead, I have tiramisu for you.” He snapped his fingers and a waiter brought out the dessert.
My mouth watered. Maybe I would just have a little.
“Ah. You like? I can tell by your flushed face.”
“Yes.”
The fork was right at my lips, the taste of the confection on the tip of my tongue, when all hell broke loose. The side door burst open, and everything happened so quickly it blurred.
“Floor. Now,” Jag barked.
I immediately listened, climbing under the lonely table for minuscule cover. Jag stood in front of me, and all I could see through his legs was a man with designer loafers and pressed dress pants stepping in front of him about four feet away. My thoughts flickered to Scraper and Hulk. Why the hell hadn’t they warned us? Shit. I hoped they were all right. Thoughts of blood seeping from Scraper’s body crept in my head, and I quickly shook my head to clear the mental images, listening intently to every word.
“Jag, boy, how’ve you been?” The low voice was one I recognized yet couldn’t place. Then the distinct sound of the cocking of a gun had my ears perking up.
“Damian, nice to see you again. To what do I owe this pleasure?” Jag’s calm voice spread inside of me, easing a bit of the tension I was feeling. Jag sounded as if he were talking to his best friend and not a man I assumed had a gun pointed at his head.
I racked my brain, trying to come up with who the hell this Damian guy was. Then it hit me. I had two of his accounts over at Lambardoni Enterprises. I had actually spoken to the fucker several times. I had never seen his face, but the voice was now unmistakable.
“Oh, the pleasure is all mine. My father paid a little visit to your ex-whore. I don’t know how you put up with that stupid bitch.”
