Page 106 of Carnal

"Yep."

"Why?"

She shrugs. "I don't know. Something different for you to try. It'll make you step out of your comfort zone."

"And why would I need to do that?"

"To appease me." She smirks.

I cross my arms. "Is this a joke?"

Her face turns serious. "Nope."

"Fine. If it makes you happy, I'll wear it. But if you breathe a word to anyone at home, you're in trouble," I threaten.

Amusement floods her expression. She bats her eyes, innocently purring, "Does that mean you'll have to punish me?"

I lean over her, buckle her seat belt, and then put mine on. I reply, "Don't look so excited about the possibility."

"Who? Me?" she taunts.

"Don't play innocent." I take several large mouthfuls of beer and ask, "Why did you pick Miami?"

She turns in her seat, putting her knee on the couch. "The weather is usually a guarantee."

"Have you been before?"

She answers, "My sister and I went for a long weekend. It was a few years ago."

"You stay on South Beach?"

She rolls her eyes. "Duh! Is there anywhere else to stay?"

I rub my jawline. "I'm not sure."

The pilot comes over the speakers. "Please buckle up. We're ready for takeoff." In less than a minute, we're racing down the runway.

The plane lifts, eventually reaching the desired altitude and leveling off.

Pina scratches her throat. I've noticed she does it when she's trying to figure something out.

I roll my head, facing her. "What are you thinking about?"

She drills her gaze into mine, hesitates, then asks, "Why was Biagio near Dante's office building?"

The hairs on the back of my neck rise. "I don't know."

She pins her eyebrows together. "Was he there looking for me?"

I sniff hard, not wanting it to be true or scare her but not able to deny it. So I answer, "I'm going to find out."

There's a ding, and the seat belt sign turns off.

She unbuckles herself and flips off her heels. She turns so her back's against the wall and hugs her knees, confessing, "Not once have I ever worried about anyone when I was at the club. The rules were in place, and I always felt protected. After today, I'm questioning my safety."

I scoot closer to her and put my hand on her knees. In a firm voice, I vow, "No one, especially that thug, will harm you."

She doesn't look convinced, and I hate it. I don't want her to feel unsafe. She gazes out the window then says, "Dante told me he was working on security for me."

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