Page 86 of Of Desire And Deception

“Get down, Neretti!” He shouted, motioning with his pistol, his eyes wide with excitement.

I slowly slid from the booth, kneeling on the floor. Madden kicked me in the back with a booted foot, knocking me to the ground. I didn’t block my fall, hitting my face and feeling blood pool in my mouth where my teeth split my lip.

“It’s over this time, you worthless fuck,” Madden hissed beside my ear as he yanked my hands behind my back and cuffed me. “Your brother can’t help you out of federal charges for kidnapping and murder.”

I wanted to speak, but I knew better than to open my mouth without a lawyer present. The family representative would show up soon enough. Until then, I’d pretend I was mute and let the verbal abuse wash over me.

A few minutes later, I was hauled out in front of Deception to stand with the other detained men. Female agents led the dancers to the other end of the sidewalk. One of them looked familiar, dressed in a black pantsuit that looked painted on her body and wearing short, heeled boots meant to turn heads. She turned, and my cock hardened instantly. Remi had chopped off her long blonde hair and dyed it nearly black. It was cut close on the sides, with longer pieces on top. Now she looked like a femme fatale, and I’d never wanted her more.

Fuck. I looked away, trying to ignore the object of my obsession. There was plenty of time to deal with her later. First, I had to get through the shit with the club.

“Want to give me the code to your dungeon, or should my boys break down the doors?” Madden asked, sneering.

“Do you have a warrant?” I asked evenly.

“I do.” He reached into his bureau jacket and produced the document, opening it so I could read. “What do you say?”

“I want my lawyer present for the search,” I responded. “I’m sure somebody has called him already.”

“You’re not running the show here,” Madden spat. “You’re on my time, now. Either give me the code, or we’ll take the doors off. The damage won’t matter much while you’re rotting in a prison cell.”

“I know you’re not speaking to my client without his legal representation,” Grassi said, approaching with his briefcase in hand.

Madden rolled his eyes and crossed his arms like a petulant child. “Wouldn’t dream of it, Grassi. I should have expected you’d show up here.”

“Where’s the warrant?” Grassi asked, all business. He looked over the paper Madden handed him, then folded and returned it.

“I’ve been trying to get your client here to give me the codes to the basement, but he’s refusing to cooperate with the investigation,” Madden accused.

“I simply asked for counsel,” I clarified.

“My client is happy to cooperate in whatever way he can, since he’s innocent,” Grassi said with a smile. “Go ahead and give them the code. Your men will be careful, I’m sure. More than you were with my client’s face. I’d hate to sue the Bureau for damages.”

I offered the code to Madden, and he stalked off, leaving me waiting next to Grassi. When he returned, Remi was at his side. I might not be able to wrap her long blonde hair around my fist anymore, but that didn’t dampen my attraction. I could barely take my eyes off her.

“So you’re the reason we’re here today.” I chuckled, shaking my head. “Did you tell your boss he’s doing all this because of a lovers’ spat?”

Remi’s jaw dropped. “What the fuck are you trying to pull, Cosimo?”

I had Madden’s attention exactly as I’d planned. “You’re the only one causing grief for people right now, Remi.”

“Remi?” Madden repeated, his eyes narrowing. “He calls you Remi?”

“I can explain,” she sputtered.

“Yes, why don’t you,” I said sweetly, throwing a barb in at the end. “Wife.”

“Wife?” It was Madden’s turn to falter.

I leaned close to Remi, whispering harshly, “You just can’t handle that I’m not responsible for your partner’s death, can you? You’re so repulsed by your undeniable attraction to me—by what you consensually agreed to—that you’d rather try to destroy my family and me than face the truth.”

“I didn’t—”

“What did I say about lying, Remi?” I taunted, pulling away and raising my brows at her.

“Will somebody explain what the fuck this is about?” Madden’s face was turning a rather brash shade of red.

“Now I see why you never cross a woman,” I joked, watching my wife tense.

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