Page 54 of Highball and Chain

I glanced at the door joining the main cabin to the master suite. The last thing I needed was Shanna overhearing bits of the conversation. “What do they want?”

“Time and money…the usual.” He cleared his throat.

What the hell is he hiding?I stared at my cell as if it had the answers.

Gabe had to expect the Lazios to ask for time to find other means of laundering their dirty money. Replacements didn’t come cheap. None of this should have come as a surprise, and yet he seemed rattled. “Is that it?”

“No. They want you.”

“Come again?” My entire world tilted.

“They want a Marchionni-Lazio marriage before they will agree to my terms.”

“Fuck.” I sank onto the couch. My brain spun like a roulette wheel. Damn it, Nico. What did you do? “Have you given them an answer?”

“What the hell do you think I told them?” He laughed, but it lacked humor. “You don’t even like Nico. You honestly think I’d force you into an arranged marriage with her?”

If it meant he’d succeed in taking the family legit…yes, I did. “No. Of course not, but Pops—”

“Wants to use you as a peace offering. I know, but he’s not calling the shots. I am.”

We’ll see. “Thanks for not selling me off like cattle.”

This time he laughed like he meant it. “I love you, bro. Don’t ever forget it.”

I wanted to believe he’d stick to his guns, but Gabe was a married man. A married man with a house full of kids to think about. They were his first priority. Between our father and the Lazios, it wasn’t a question of if the shit would hit the fan. The question was when and how many walls would be covered in it.

Where will that leave me?

“I need to go. I’ll text you when we get to the house.” I leaned forward to stop the room from spinning.

Shanna walked into the main cabin with her bag slung over her shoulder. “What’s the plan?”

I tucked my phone into my pocket and put on a happy-fucking-face. “Should take us about a half-hour to get to the Garden District.”

“We’re staying at your parents’ house?” She glanced from me to the door as if planning to bolt.

“It has better security than my place. Besides, no one’s there except the staff.” I took her carry-on from her. Push comes to shove, I wasn’t above holding it hostage to force her to accompany me. “We’ll have guards until we reach the house. We won’t need them after that, unless we go out.”

“Do you really think someone would take a shot at you here?”

Anything was possible once Nico learned her little plan hadn’t worked. “No, but better safe than sorry. Ready?”

She nodded and exited the plane.

The ever-present odors of brackish water and fish assaulted me the moment my feet touched the tarmac. Thirty seconds after I left the air-conditioned plane, the thick Louisiana air clung to me like wet linen. It’s good to be home.

I held Shanna’s hand as we walked to the waiting town car.

Eyeing our bodyguards, she whispered, “I wouldn’t want to run into one of them in a dark alley.”

“The only thing you need to worry about running into in the dark is me.” I nudged her side to lighten the mood. It didn’t work for either of us. I needed to get a grip or I’d screw things up with her before they started. “Would you feel more comfortable if I drove and they followed in the second car?”

Her eyes widened. “Yes. Please. I didn’t know that was allowed or I would have asked.”

“They work for me. I’m the one who decides what is and isn’t allowed.”

Shanna smirked. “I guess I’ll take the devil I know over the devils wearing black fatigues…since I have the choice.”

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