Page 118 of Crazed

I take a sip of the sweet drink. "It's good."

"What do you think, sir?" he asks.

Massimo shrugs. "Honestly, I'm not a fruity-drink guy. By any chance, do you have a beer?" He sets the coconut on the table and sits on the double sunbed mattress. He pats the seat.

Dekel replies, "I'll be right back." He scurries away.

I sit near him then take another sip. "I'll drink yours. This is super-yummy."

He chuckles. "Might want to see how you feel after that one. I have a feeling that coconut's going to hit you hard."

I take another large mouthful and then set it on the table. I roll into Massimo and place my hand on his chest. He palms my ass and tugs me closer. I open my mouth to speak, but his phone rings.

He groans. "I thought I turned it off."

"Who is it?" I ask.

He glances at the screen. "Tristano."

"Aren't you going to answer it?"

"Nope." He hits the red button.

I tilt my head. "Why don't you want to talk to him?"

He slides his hands on my cheeks. "Because I'm here with you in the sunshine. The last thing—"

His phone rings again.

I grab it and hold it out to him. "I think you should get this. It must be important."

Massimo sighs and answers, "Make it fast, Tristano."

I whisper, "Don't be rude."

Annoyance flashes in his eyes, and he sits up, then rises. He walks to the edge of the bungalow and freezes. He barks, "What the fuck are you two doing here?" Red flies into Massimo's cheeks. He scowls at me and then walks down the dock.

I get up and follow him. When I turn the corner, Tristano and Pina are strutting toward us. She has a coconut drink like mine.

We meet in the middle, and Massimo repeats, "I asked you what you're doing here. And why are you with Pina? No offense, Pina," he says, glancing at her.

She waves her hand. "Dante owed me a vacation. Tristano said he needed my assistance. I make things happen."

"What are you here to make happen?" Massimo seethes.

Tristano motions for Massimo to follow him. "Let's talk in private."

24

Massimo

"Spit it out, Tristano,"I order, perplexed about how he knew where I was and why he and Pina are here.

Tristano crosses his arms. "I want to know what's going on. Why are you and Katiya halfway around the world?"

"One, it's not your business, little brother. Two, you could have called to ask me this. Three..." I glance back at the ladies. Pina is waving her hands around, and Katiya looks as bewildered as I am. I pin my scowl on Tristano, snarling, "How did you know where I was?"

He sniffs hard, assessing me.

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