Page 140 of Paid In Full

I coughed, covering up my laughter.

“Are you laughing at me?”

I batted my lashes. “No, sir.”

“You little shit.”

I ran, my laughter filling the house as Giancarlo gave chase. It was freeing.

I am free!

One monthlater

My fingers flew across the keys as I returned Ash’s text. Yes, I was still on my groveling tour a month later, but I was okay with that. Ash seemed to be too. Expensive dinners, races, movies, outings, letting him renovate the house to erase my ex, and even more dreaded driving lessons; I was doing it all. For him. If risking my life didn’t prove I was sorry and that I loved him, I didn’t know what would.

“Tex says there’s money in your backyard. A lot of it,” Enzo said. “You want it in the house?”

I shook my head. “Nope.”

Benito raised a brow. “Why not?”

I groaned. “It’s a whole thing. We got into a fight, money was involved, he tossed it out the window.” Benito’s brow shot up even more. “Don’t ask,” I begged. “The short story is neither of us is going to pick it up. He’s too stubborn to ever touch it again, and I refuse to collect it up like an idiot after what I did. So it’s going to stay there.”

My brothers both looked at me like I was insane, but I was used to that expression. I shrugged. Ash and I were both stubborn as hell, digging our heels in on the issue. The truth was I was sure neither of us wanted to relive that night. We’d almost lost each other forever. My chest ached just thinking about it, feeling as if it would cave in from the weight. I couldn’t be without Ash, not for a single day. He was as bad as me, needing to be close every second of every day until we melted into each other. Until there was no space between us to even breathe.

“Earth to Giancarlo,” Benito grunted. “We doing this or not? I have a meeting.”

“Right.” I texted Ash back.

Gin: I have to do this thing, and then I’ll be right back. Have fun with Tex and Pen. Love you. I’ll be radio silent for a bit.

Ash: How long is a bit?

Gin: A bit.

Ash: I don’t like that!

Gin: Sorry. Give me at least three hours? Watch a movie and play with the pretty kitty. I know you like him.

Ash: Fine. I miss you.

Gin: I miss you too, baby.

There was so much more I wanted to say. I could write paragraphs about how much I wanted to pull him onto my lap, shove my hand between his thighs, and jerk him off while we watched anime and he asked me a million goddamn questions. At least the jerking off might stop them for a while.

“Focus,” Benito said as he put his foot on top of the panting man on the ground. “Are we doing this?” he asked again.

“Yeah.”

I put my phone away and took out the red leather gloves. The tag displayedPuppy!,and I laughed as I slipped them on. Flexing my fingers, I made sure they were on securely before I glanced down at the man.

“Take the gag out. I want to hear him.”

“What the fuck!” Roger shouted as soon as Benito ripped it free. “Let go of me!”

I clicked my tongue. “You’re still as loud and annoying as always, I see. All that bravado when you’re practically pissing your pants is hilarious.” I crouched down over him. There were already a torrent of bruises on his face from the three of us having to get his ass on the ground and talk with our fists since he didn’t want to cooperate. “I would tell you to stay away from Ash, but I doubt you’d listen.”

“He’s my son,” he bit out. “I have a right to him.”

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