Page 80 of His Property

“How?” she asks.

How will I make it up to her? No idea. I forgot to think about it.

I could fuck her. I know she likes that.

But that’s not exactly romantic, is it?

Does shewantromance?

I shrug. “What do you want?”

She looks to my right and bites her lip. “Hmm.” Her eyes move back to me. “I don’t know. I’d have to think about it.”

I smirk and nod absently. “You do that then.”

An idea occurs to me.

“But in the meantime,” I add. “Come with me to dinner at a friend’s house tonight. I could use you as a buffer against her husband’s terrible small talk.”

Mae smiles. “Are you talking about Blade?”

I narrow my eyes, and Mae chuckles.

“Emily told me you and Blade are frenemies. If it’s their house you’re inviting me to, then yes, I’m down. I’m glad you’re finally talking to her.”

Not yet. Almost.

“I’m not sure how I feel about you being so chummy with the other women in my life,” I say.

She smirks and leans into me before kissing me on the lips. She pulls back too soon, and my hands hover when she pulls away.

“What time are you picking me up?” she asks.

“Seven?”

She smiles and shuffles toward the door. “See you then.” She winks then turns and throws open the door. She disappears, and I’m left staring after her.

I sigh and pull my phone from my pocket. I bring up Emily’s number and hit the call button.

22

MAE

“They know I’m coming, right?” I ask Victor as we walk up to the Bianchi’s front door.

Victor smirks at me and squeezes my hand. “Nervous?”

“No.”

Or, I wasn’t. Not until we arrived at this farm in the middle of nowhere. The one Victor waited until we were at the armed gate to tell me Emily and Blade live at the mafia’s drug processing site. Occasionally, like now, it hits me that I’ve involved myself with serious criminals. Over the phone, Emily seemed sonormal.

Victor chuckles. “Yes, they know you’re coming. They’re excited to meet you.”

We step up to the front door, and Victor rings the bell before glancing at me.

I force a smile and nod. “Likewise.”

“Just relax. Emily’s husband is a capo, but he’s harmless.”

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