Page 19 of Velvet Cruelty

“Shit. Here.” Basher rushes forward with the plastic wrap.

“Jesu Cristo. What’s the point now?” Morelli says, pinching the bridge of his nose. “You’re supposed to lay it out beforehand.”

I can’t help but laugh.

“You think this is funny, Valente?”

“Obviously.” I take my hand off January’s mouth. “What about you, Tits? Do you think this is funny?”

“Please! Please don’t kill Kurt.”

“Thank you, Janie,” Cooper slurs, dripping blood. “Thank you!”

Adriano kicks him again, and there’s an audible crack of ribs.

“Nice one,” I say.

January gives a yipping little scream. “Mr. Morelli, please let Kurt go!”

Ell frowns. “Bella, this man was assigned to protect you and not only did he fail miserably, he just betrayed you. He doesn’t deserve to live.”

“But you can’t kill him!”

I lower my mouth to January’s ear. “What do I get if I help you? Will you blow me in front of your bodyguard while everyone else watches?”

She squirms and I tighten my grip around her.

Morelli clucks his tongue. “Doc, stop teasing her. Basher, get the plastic under Cooper before the carpet becomes even more fucked. Adriano, kill this idiot.”

“What about me?” I ask Morelli. “Why can’t I kill Cooper?”

“Because I’m not staying up all night, watching you flay this moron. I need some fucking sleep.”

“Killjoy.”

January lets out an ear-splitting scream. Adri looks murderous. If there’s one thing he hates more than women crying, it’s women shrieking. I clap a hand over her mouth. “Sorry about that.”

Adriano shakes his head and turns to Morelli. “Make Basher do it.”

“Fuck off,” Basher says at once. “You fucking do it.”

Morelli holds up a hand. “Why Bobby?”

Adriano jerks his head at January. Morelli looks from her to Basher, who’s too slow to get the look of righteous horror off his face.

Morelli inclines his head. “Bobby, kill the bodyguard.”

All the color rushes from Basher’s face. He glances at January. “Can she go in the other room?”

“No.” Morelli reaches into his waistband and hands him his Walther PPS. “Now.”

“But—”

His nostrils flare. “Think of your mother. Your sisters. This is everything. Ten years of planning. Don’t fail us.”

Basher’s face hardens. He’s a cute kid. A nice guy. But that’s not all he is and no one struggles with that more than him. He gives January one last look and then his shoulders slump. “Fine.”

She struggles against me as Bobby approaches Cooper, her ass rubbing against my jeans. I press into her, and she bites me. Hard.

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