Page 165 of A War Around Us

“Then it’s settled.” Salvatore stood with a grunt and dipped his fedora. He was done with this meeting even before offering any council.

“I’m not leaving,” I stated.

He turned and walked back to the chessboard. His slender fingers slid the knight by the queen, making a move, and as always Salvatore’s words struck deep.

“You always protect the queen.”

When he left, his words hung on and bounced inside the room like a recording.

“Get out,” I ordered.

Viktor and Ilias walked out quietly, but Arlo stood by the door. Waiting until we were alone to speak his mind.

“You can’t be here after Tino’s death, not for a few days at least. If she dies, so will Ilias and Davina.”

I was fucking aware.

“It’s not hiding, Lucca. On the contrary, it would be placing Miami first.”

I didn’t want to talk, I wanted silence. I wanted peace to brew from the chaos I envisioned. Instead, I thought of her and her safety.

My eyes slid from his and to the open door that filtered high heels walking straight toward our direction. The menace of my thoughts and Miami had arrived.

Arlo’s demeanor lifted with a wicked smile by seeing her.

“Well, it seems you have healed. Ready for another round?”

He jabbed, insinuating another match between them as her footsteps approached. Once they stopped, her voice was clear and strong as she bit back.

“How’s the shoulder?”

Any other time I would’ve smiled at her quick reply.

“Oh, the graze?” Arlo scoffed. “That bitch was hardly a scratch.”

“Arlo,” I warned.

Katia walked past him with a smirk, and I stared at the elegance and wit she carried with her. “Really? I could’ve sworn your shirt was drenched by thatscratch.”

Mio dio,these two. When will they stop?

“You need something?” I asked, breaking the dangerous tension and banter, and motioning Arlo to leave us.

Katia watched as the door shut before facing me. Her long legs were bare as her dress was a few inches shorter than most, hugging her body in sophisticated seduction. Her fingers slipped away from the tablet she carried to tuck her hair behind her ear. She then looked down and unlocked the screen.

“No, I don’t need anything.” She bit her lip, and my dick reacted.

“Then what is it?” I couldn’t hide the short and curt tone of my words.

She leaned over my desk placing the device on it, but my eyes zeroed in on her tits peeking through its heart-shaped bodice.

So much skin, glowing and in plain sight for my taking.

“Are you busy?” she asked in an innocent tone.

Games, she was playing them now, while all I wanted to do was let my shaft play inside of her. I knew Katia felt the dark pull of the meeting I’d just finished. Yet, she decided to enter and toy with my mind. Why she had to make things so difficult was beyond me. But the small smile in the corner of her mouth, and the light in her eyes, wasn’t foul. She was…happy?

My palm caught the curve of her leaning neck, bringing her closer to me.

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