Page 103 of Fortress of the King

I tip my drink to him. “Truer words have never been spoken.” I let the words hang.How much underage sex have you paid for this week?I wonder.

He excuses himself as I turn to stare at Tiffany.

“What the fuck are you doing here with Mendes?” I bark when he’s out of earshot. Usually, I wouldn’t give a shit who she’s with, but I have to draw the line somewhere for her own good.

“Hold your horses, Angelo. I’m notwithhim, we just got talking.”

“Well, just be careful around him. He’s bad news.”

She looks confused but knows better than to question me. “You miss me or something?” She pokes me in the chest.

I move in and put a hand on her hip. “Settle down, I just came to make sure that fuckface wasn’t stepping over the line.”

And also to see my sweetheart’s reaction. She’s still watching us.

“You up for it later?” She goes straight there. “I need a Medici fuck.”

I turn briefly and look over to the buffet where Rayne is still standing, watching us. My sister of course, is blabbing away with Melody in her ear. The look on her face says it all.

“I don’t think so, honey. My date might be a little pissed.” I nod over towards Rayne, and Tiff follows my drift.

She pouts up at me. “Seriously, Angelo?”

I feel like an asshole for openly flirting with Tiffany, but it’s the only way I’m going to know Rayne’s reaction to me flirting with another woman right in front of her. The fucker in me has to know.

“Don’t fucking start.” I pull her to me before she knows what’s happening, and we embrace. Though it pains me, I add, “Keep your ass on ice.”

“Promises, promises,” she muses as I let her go and stalk towards the bar.

I see Allegra from across the room, she looks away the minute I see her. This is going to be awkward at our family get-togethers from now on, but she’ll get over it. I order three glasses of champagne and take them back to Rayne, Melody and Valentina.

I throw the entire glass down my throat as Rayne watches me. “Not thirsty, baby?”

“We need to talk,” she says, her voice shaky. “In private.”

I turn to Valentina. “Just going to get some air,” I tell her. I give Melody a curt nod.

She nods as Melody smiles, and I lead Rayne out to the double doors, holding her elbow.

“What are we doing here, Angelo?” She shrugs out of my grasp the minute we’re outside.

“With what,Carina?”

“Angelo, you stalk me to the bathroom, ravage me senseless, tell me all those sweet nothings, and then go and eye fuck the first available woman who comes your way.”

I laugh. “Me, playing games?”

She starts to stumble a little, and I reach to steady her; she looks up at me with wide eyes. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

What she doesn’t know yet is that I just slipped half of a roofie into her drink and I’m delighted that it’s taking an immediate effect.

“You sure you’ve got nothing to tell me?”

She frowns as my grip on her wrist tightens. “Angelo, you’re hurting me.”

I lean toward her ear. “I know everything, Rayne. The question is, why didn’t you jab me with the needle while I fucked you one last time?”

Her lips quiver as her wide gaze meets mine. She opens her mouth and then closes it again.

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