Page 78 of Sins of the Orchid
“You sure did,” I told her. “I’ll join you.”
She watched me pensively. “Did something happen, Adriano?”
“Why does something have to happen?”
“Well, you disappeared yesterday, and I haven’t heard from you.”
Guilt ate at me. She was right; I disappeared on her yesterday and the day before.
“I know, and I’m sorry.” Though somehow I wished I was out there with Santi making the Venezuelans pay. “But I’m here now. So, are you ready for Ben & Jerry? Or are you too good for those men now that you’ve lived in Italy.”
She chuckled.
“I’m always ready for Ben & Jerry. Now, give me my men.”
CHAPTER24
Santino
It was almost noon when I finally walked through my home entrance in Brooklyn with blood on my hands and a knife gouge in my left forearm. I strode directly to my bathroom on the first floor and pulled out a first aid kit. The water ran red as I washed my hands and my forearm.
Red like Amore’s mane.
Blood and death had been part of my upbringing. It had never bothered me. It still didn’t. It was just a way of life. Though I had to wonder whether it would bother Amore. I knew from her brothers they hid their wounds and cleaned up in their city apartment or the guest house at the edge of the property. They didn’t want her upset. I didn’t think they did her any favors by doing it though.
That kiss two years ago had changed me. I couldn’t put my finger on it, butsomethinghad shifted within me. The girl with shimmering green eyes disappeared, and in her place was a beautiful woman. A woman that consumed every inch of my soul and my heart. She consumedme,without even trying.
Once the water ran clear, I turned off the faucet and pulled out a needle and thread, then started sewing my flesh together. Good thing it was the left arm and not the right, otherwise this would have been a bitch.
Or I could call Amore, I mused. She was excellent at sewing. There was no point in sheltering her if she became my wife. More often than not, this was bound to happen, and I’d rather her fix me up than any other woman. She was the woman I wanted to share everything with—happiness and sorrows, past and present, fears and strength. And most of all love because there would be no hate between us. We might disagree and banter but we’d always have each other. I’d always protect her, no matter what.
It took me five minutes to finish stitching myself up with my mind and chest working overtime. Amore was inching deeper and deeper into my chest.
Putting the first aid kit away, I slid my phone open and shot a message to Amore.
*Is my monster awake?*
The bubbles showed, and I grinned to myself.
*I prefer badass, goddess, heiress. Anything along those lines.*
I chuckled and typed back.
*You are all that. And an insatiable sex monster.*
I chuckled when an instant reply came back. Rolling eye emoji.
*Better behave if you want me to swing by.*
Next message was a saint emoji. Then more bubbles showed on the screen.
*Having lunch with Grandma and Dad at the restaurant.*Another smiling emoji with cold sweat.*Guns still not drawn.*
Ah, fuck! Bennetti wouldn’t be suspicious if I showed up at his house, but it would cause alarm if I swung by while she was with her grandmother.
*Give me an open window so I can come taste your sweet pussy.*
She was turning me into a horny teenager, but I didn’t give a fuck. Her pussy was a heaven I never wanted to leave. Bubbles appeared, and I could only imagine the next thing she would say. Then nothing, the bubbles disappeared, and I put my phone down on the bathroom counter and got into the shower. If she was with those two, she might be busy for the foreseeable future.
