Page 123 of Tease Me (Dark Odyssey 1)

“What else is there? What else did the message say?”

“There was a note in the package. It said mind your own business. We don’t know who sent the message but that day Zivelle was sent to spy on some Fontaine guys.”

I ball my fist. “Fucking hell.” When the enemy start sending messages it means we’re all in fucking danger.

“They’re trying real hard to protect their drugs. They don’t want us or anybody screwing with their plans, or finding out where the drugs are. Shit’s getting real now.” Gabe sighs. “And for the record Ma might have organized her own rounds of watching you but I’m here on my own accord. We’re not just brothers Nick, we’re friends. I feel I reach you more than the others and you for me. I’m here to reiterate the warning to keep your head out of it. We’re all being watched.”

I put my cigar out. I’m about to answer when I see Mia at the door. She has that look on her face again when she sees Gabe. She looks like she’s interrupted.

“I’m so sorry,” she apologizes quickly and backs away to go back in.

“Baby come back here,” I call out to her.

She’s wearing those yoga pants again and one of my shirts.

Gabe looks shocked to see her and it’s the first time he hasn’t looked at her like I see every man at the club who’s seen my girl without her mask.

She looks nervous as she pads over to me. They’ve seen each other before and he knows her name, she knows his and knows of him and Salvatore. For the very few times she’s seen Christian and Georgiou she knows them too. Never been introduced though.

When she gets to me I slip my arm around her tiny waist. She’s swamped in my shirt and has her hair up in a high bun. She has that Disney look again. Like one of the little fairies in Peter pan or something. Tinkerbell.

“Baby this is my brother, Gabriel, we call him Gabe.” I’m talking like she’s my girlfriend I’m introducing to the family.

Gabe still looks shocked, but it’s intensified now because he knows what it means for her to be at my house.

“Hi,” he says standing up and being gracious enough to shake her delicate hands. “We’ve met before, I won’t act like we just met. Salvatore might though when Nick introduces you to him so humor him.”

Good. He’s cool with her.

“Okay, I’ll do that.” She looks back to me. “Do you guys want me to get you anything? I could get drinks, or something?”

We both look at her now. Such a simple question, but it fucking scares me.

I have this house and it’s like she was the missing part of it to make it feel like a home.

“Or… not.” She says when we don’t answer. She mistakes our silence for a no to her question.

“It’s okay Angel Doll, you go back to bed. I’ll be up in a little while,” I tell her.

She nods and looks back to Gabe. “It was good to meet you properly.”

“Likewise doll,” Gabe answers, tipping his head with the same reverence and respect he shows the wives in the family.

We both watch her go back inside. He turns back to me and I already know what he’s thinking.

Yes it’s true.

We aren’t just brothers we’re friends. Tommy is like a brother to me and my best friend, but the person with the strongest connection to me is Gabe.

He even knows what I think or what I’ll do before I do it.

“Nick,” he breathes. “I can’t say I’m not happy for you. She’s here in your home. I don’t have to ask you more than that.”

I nod. “Yeah well, I guess my damn little game blew up in my fucking face right? Met my match and I don’t know what to do about it.”

“The only thing you need to do now is be careful. That’s the only thing that matters. Do not think the Fontaines won’t know it was us three who killed Snade. They’ll know he talked too. Sure as shit they’ll know. Those guys are evil bastards. They won’t fuck around to teach any of us a lesson. I don’t have anybody who can get burned when the shit hits the fan… You do.”

I was listening and heeding.

Understanding. Understanding with dread that if we were being watched they’d know about her too.

“Be careful Nick. Keep your friends close, your enemies closer, but your woman right next to you.”

I for damn sure would.

I absolutely fucking would.

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