Page 59 of Pain and Possession

"His grandma and I have no fucking clue."

"And your apartment? Do not avoid the question this time or I will throw a-“ She stops talking suddenly, the air in the room thickening letting me know he's here long before I feel his hand slide gently up my back. The rings he wears adding to the sensation making me break out in goosebumps.

"Everything okay little doll?" I don't miss the threat in his voice as I lift my head nodding.

"Yeah, I'm good." He just stares at me, not buying it and honestly again he's not wrong.

Laney must pick up on it too, the vast amount of time she spends with men like him. She quickly sucks down the last of her tea standing, "I'm officially two hours late for my shift so I'm going to head out. Wanna come with?" She asks, giving me a chance to escape. Only this time I'm not here as a captive. I stand up brushing his hand off of me, as I hug her again. She leans in close to my ear, "Never do that to me again. Please. And text me the details. All of them."

I nod, giving her a small smile as one of the guys in the room step up to escort her out. I start to head out with them when Noè grabs my hand lightly. A suggestion to stay, not an order.

He's trying.

Laney turns around raising her eyebrows, "Oh and the next time you need to blow off steam, call me. Don't trash your apartment." I chuckle, letting her draw her own conclusions there. Noè's grip tightens on mine his body tensing.

He turns to me making my skin prickle, "Explain."

I make an exasperated sound, getting really fucking tired of people expecting me to have answers ready for them. I brush past him not giving a single shit that it's in front of his men.

"Very well. Jackson, Briggs and Rem you're on me. Get the cars pulled around." They all nod, I only now notice the woman who was rude to me earlier, her eyes trained on the floor. Probably hoping I don't narc her out to Noè.

"Hang on, it's probably just some crackhead that broke in and trashed the place. Wouldn't be the first time, there's no reason for a tactical response. I don't remember locking up before we left." I note, kicking myself for being so stupid. A slight tinge of worry hits me, it could be the police I guess. But this is NYPD Noè has most of them on his payroll so unlikely. I scoff again thinking about my stuff, as if I can afford to replace anything I own. He grips my wrist, this time forcing me back into the kitchen.

"And when exactly did you plan to tell me that?" The commanding tone in his voice both irritates and arouses me. Which just irritates me more. I try to remove my wrist but he jerks it up, I close my eyes tightly readying for the violent outburst, but it doesn't come as he presses his lips to the skin there.

"Someone stole a large shipment from me. An entire damn barge actually, it's impressive and stupid. Hock thinks the Riviera family is behind it…"

Riviera… her.

A sick feeling builds further in my stomach, "So you think she had something to do with my apartment?" He shakes his head as if he's still putting the pieces together himself.

"Not directly. She's too lazy for that, I wouldn't put it past her to have one of their men do it just to send a message. Things have been tense for years, it's time to end it. Everything has changed."

"What do you mean everything?" I ask, even though I already know the answer. He just smiles capturing my lips in a deep kiss, I melt into him. It's nice, not fighting my body and mind for once. He pulls back leading me into the large, attached dining hall. A group of men look up from their plates even though it's long past dinner time by now.

"She doesn't leave, and nobody outside the family enters the compound under any circumstances until I'm back." I whirl around facing him directly, anger now burning hot inside me. Such an abrupt change in emotions I nearly sway on my feet.

"What happened to equals? My voice comes out wrong, sounding like a petulant child making me cringe inwardly. He kisses me again, making my cheeks heat hoping everyone in the room averted their eyes as he slips his tongue into my mouth.

"Equals doesn't apply if your life is in danger."

I scoff, pulling away from him, "You seem to forget how we met. I've never been afraid to die." He just nods, his eyes roaming over my body. Something akin to pride in his hazel eyes.

"And that makes me afraid. I'll be back soon." With that he turns away heading back outside of the dining hall. The black button down is buttoned lower than usual showing off the family crest on his neck. The peek of scars underneath. I don't bother following to argue. It won't do any good.

Equals…

I scoff to myself, turning to peek at the group behind me who all quickly pick back up conversation as if they weren't all completely enveloped in our little exchange.

"Smooth." I mutter before heading back into the kitchen, clearing our cups and taking them to the sink. I turn on the water, watching it roll over my hands my mind going back to the night at Costa's. So much has changed since then.

At least it feels that way.

Maybe nothing has changed at all. Maybe I'll wake up after my appointment tomorrow. Come to my senses once I'm removed from him.

"Are you going to wash the cup or hold it there?"

I jump slightly at Hocks voice, "I haven't decided yet."

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