Page 4 of Torched

I’m so glad Callie turned out to be adopted.

“You set me up with Ronnie Distucci, knowing he was gonna force my hand the second he found out it was me. You arenothingto me.”

“We just needed you out of the way for a while. Couldn’t risk you dying with that big inheritance waiting for you at the end, now could I?”

Callie snorts. “I thought you were better than Junior, but you’re just as manic as he was.”

“It was just business, Callie girl. Nothing personal.”

“You gave me a job that drove me into the hands of the biggest mob boss in New York, so he could keep me as his until I turned twenty-five, all so you had access to my billion dollars after youkilledme. It doesn’t get more fucking personal than that, you bitch!”

“Oh, that’s right.” Cristina rolls her eyes. “I forgot how touchy you always get. You know, if you had a little less morals, we could’ve been a great team.”

Callie takes another step forward, her sea-green eyes shooting daggers while her hands ball into fists. I notice how my brother’s entire stance grows more tense. His energy is heated like lava, ready to destroy anything on his path to protect Callie.

“Theyare my team.” She points at Kane and I, without looking back before snapping her finger forward. “Imogenis my team, and if you don’t fucking release her within the next ten seconds, I swear I will throw you half dead in the ocean, enjoying the sight of the Mediterranean sharks finishing you off for me.”

“Oh,” she purrs. “Dark. I love it.”

“Yeah?” Kane charges her with lightning speed, pulling his gun from his waistband with a vicious glare as he aims it directly at Cristina’s head. I quickly trail his move until we’re both standing just two yards in front of her, both ready to end her in the blink of an eye. The sudden motion has her jerking Imogen a step back, and she shuts her eyes in agony as Cristina pulls her hair in the action. The scream of Callie, along with the sounds of Jeremy replacing our team strategically, makes my heart race until the silence returns. Callie’s idea of feeding her to the sharks sounds like something I’d highly enjoy under the delight of a bowl of popcorn and a good glass of Bourbon, but I’m not going to risk Gen’s head on it.

“What about a bullet between your eyes? Will you love that too?” Kane rumbles after a few moments of silence. This time it’s deep, threatening, and just as menacing as his reputation.

Cristina’s smile is replaced with a firm stripe as she holds Kane’s glare with narrowed eyes, her nonchalance simmering down a few levels even though she holds a straight spine. It doesn’t surprise me, but it makes me suspect holding Gen hostage isn’t the only thing she’s got up her sleeve. She’s outnumbered; she knows that. These ports are guarded, both with a dozen of our own men and half a dozen men of harbor security. There is no way she got us surrounded by her team, but some could be outside our perimeter.

“Careful, Kane,” she muses with a tiny sneer that ignites an uncomfortable feeling in my gut. “I suggest you take a step back if you want to keep your wife happy. And you know, I don’t know?Breathing?”

“I’ll take my chances.” Kane’s finger tightens around the trigger, his permafrost eyes acting like invisible lasers as he peers at theshe-devil in front of us. His way of telling her he’ll shoot her before she can blink.

“Kane,” I warn as I keep my eyes locked with Cristina’s smug glare. Whatever he’s feeling, I’m feeling it ten times worse, considering she’s holding my girlfriend in a headlock, so I get it. But he can’t take any risks. I won’t allow it.

“Kane.” Callie’s uncertainty tells me she has the same feeling before she takes another careful step forward. “Take a step back.”

“Why would I do that, baby?” His growl replies to Callie, but his attention stays fixed in front of him as the three of us watch Cristina’s wide grin before she finally shows her hand.

“Because I got your preciousBabushka.”

2

LIAM

TWO YEARS AGO

Myeyescaptureherthe second she steps over the threshold, casually flipping her black hair over her shoulder. When I run the length of her body, I part my lips at the luscious curves that sway their way to the bar. Her brown eyes are dark, framed by thick lashes that are naturally hooded like she’s born to seduce. Like a Greek immortal, her entire posture filled with allure and elegance. A vixen, like Peitho, Goddess of Seduction.

Unintentionally, I fixate on her as she slides down on a vacant stool at the bar, gracefully pulling down her black pencil skirt before she does. Long legs make my dick twitch while I lick my lips. I watch without shame as she takes off her black trench coat, then orders a glass of Blue Label whiskey, which has my brows lifting in surprise.

I expected her to order a martini or a glass of red wine, but her order makes me wonder what sorrows she needs to drink away.

“Boss, are you still there?” Jeremy waves a hand in front of my face.

“What? Yeah.” I snap my attention back to him. He purses his lips, an amused smile hidden in the corner of his mouth as he rears his head to whatever caught my attention in the first place.

“She’s hot,” he muses.

“Fucking smoking,” I agree. Like a brunette Jessica Rabbit.

“You wanna cut this meeting short?”

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