Page 17 of Devious Kingpin
My brows furrowed and my hand froze midair, my phone still in my hand. Something flickered in the back of my mind. Something important. Something that had been bugging me from the moment I’d met Juliette.
My phone buzzed, vibrating through my palm. I shook my head and checked my phone.
*Brandon Dole.*
The name Nico sent meant nothing. And I hated it simply because he was sitting at the table in a romantic cafe with her.
I glared across the street to where the fucker smiled at and chatted withmygirl. Their table was right at the window, giving them a view of Central Park. So fucking romantic, I couldn’t stand it. I wanted to pull my gun out, aim, and end him. Right here and now in the street heaving with tourists.
My anger simmered. Jealousy burned. Something inexplicably dark rose in my chest and refused to ease. No matter Juliette’s refusal. No matter her stubbornness. She wasmine.
My phone buzzed. Another message from Nico.*Rest of the information is pro bono. Can’t wait to see her cut your balls off.*
“Fucking bastard,” I muttered. “I hope his daughters fall for heathens.”
Nico sent the guy’s entire background. A tattoo artist. A lousy one by the number of lawsuits pending against him. My eyes skimmed over the page and then I saw it. He and Juliette went to high school together.
Taking a deep breath, I prepared for a long evening. My car parked illegally, I found a spot across the street from the cafe and leaned against the wall where I had the best view of the two of them. Pedestrians threw me glances as they rushed to their destinations, but I ignored them all. My eyes were zeroed in on my woman.
Juliette would bolt if she heard me say that out loud.
As if she could sense my thoughts, her eyes darted out the window. Glossy. Darker than ever. And it was then that it hit me.
The little girl I rescued almost a decade ago didn’t have that look in her eyes. Even in the face of the thug, her eyes were bright. No burden or secrets in them. But now, there was a darkness in those depths that she was desperate to hide. How had I not seen it before?
Before I could ponder further on it, a hand came to my shoulder.
“I see you’re in full-blown stalker mode,” my brother muttered as he leaned against the wall next to me.
A groan vibrated in my chest. “Aren’t you supposed to be in Philly?”
Priest just shrugged. “With the Corsican mafia gone, I’m the king there. So not much happening lately,” he noted.
My own father had started dating Wynter’s mother. We learned Priest was in fact my half brother and shared a mother with Wynter, explaining why my mother was always harsher with him growing up.Not that she was ever gentle with me.
It was quickly becoming difficult for even me to keep track of the ties that bound my fucked-up family.
Mother had hated both of us and used her belt to show just how much. The skin on my back tightened and I resisted the urge to scratch it. I hated her; Priest hated her even more, even now eight years after her death. It was the reason my brother couldn’t move past the revelation that he shared a mother with Wynter. She could have saved him and she didn’t. But then, neither did our father.
“Maybe we should invite them back?” I said. “You know, just to keep you busy.”
Priest chuckled. A rough sound since he rarely laughed. “My big brother ensured they left the city. Even the East Coast.”
I shook my head. It didn’t surprise me he’d learned of my deal with Byron Ashford. Alessio came through. He didn’t even take long… nobody could claim that man wasn’t efficient. I guess he just wanted his woman back and would have given up his entire empire—and hers—for it.
My eyes found Juliette again and realization sunk in. I would give it all up for her, too. If only she’d let me. Instead, she held her walls firmly, keeping me at bay.
“Shouldn’t you thank me and go enjoy your peace?” I asked with sardonic amusement.
“Nah, it leaves me nobody to kill,” he deadpanned.
I gave my head a shake. Sometimes I wondered whether his need to punish was the result of my bitch mother or whether it was just part of his DNA.
“Well, don’t kill anyone in this city. Basilio won’t be happy.”
Priest just shrugged. “He’ll deal.”
“Or your sister will save you if he refuses to deal.”
