Page 95 of Of Desire And Deception

Remi curled her fingers into the name she’d carved. “I hate you.”

“You wish you hated me.” I wrapped a hand around her throat. “Hate is easier than love.”

I kissed her, biting her lip and sucking away the sting. “Tell me you love me.”

“I love you, Cosimo.” Remi sighed and relaxed against me. We were an obscure pair, covered in my blood, yet perfectly at ease. “So, how are you going to help me?”

“We’re going to find the person responsible for Trey’s death,” I said. “All my intel points to a higher contact in the Bureau.”

“If they’re corrupt, will justice ever be served?”

I threaded my fingers through hers. “We will be the judge, jury, and executioner. Just say the word, and I’ll make it happen.”

Remi’s gaze was unwavering and her jaw set in determination. She looked like a warrior, her body streaked with red and blue eyes wild. “Show me how.”

Chapter Thirty

The Neretti estate loomed ahead at the end of the private drive. I shivered with nerves as Cosimo parked in front of the massive brick house—a mansion, really—and opened my door.

“Come on.” He held his hand out, taking mine and practically hauling me from my seat. “Everything is going to be fine.”

“Easy for you to say. They probably don’t want to kill you,” I huffed, following him around the main home and down a path that led to separate houses out back. It looked like a whole fucking block of property back there.

Cosimo chuckled and threaded his fingers through mine. “I’m sure it’s crossed Dante’s mind more than a few times.”

A passing guard nodded at Cosimo and didn’t acknowledge me. I wasn’t sure whether it was because he knew who I was or because my husband leveled him with a look that threatened death if he opened his mouth.

At the second house, Cosimo led me downstairs to a basement, and I faltered. “This isn’t another dungeon, is it?”

“No,” he opened the door to a tiled hallway. “Olesya’s clinic is down here.”

I cautiously stepped into the space, taking in the room with two hospital bays. There wasn’t much privacy.

“Olesya,” Cosimo called out gruffly. “I brought Remi.”

The tall, statuesque blonde emerged from a door down a hallway at the opposite end of the room, clipboard in hand. Olesya wore black slacks and a lavender blouse under her white doctor’s coat. Her smile was tight as she approached.

“Remi,” she greeted me, her piercing blue eyes shrewd and assessing. “Cosimo tells me you need help with some health issues.”

“No issues,” I clarified. I shot him a dubious look. “Birth control.”

“I see.” She motioned me to one of the beds, and I hopped up, feeling just as awkward as any other doctor visit.

“I need another IUD,” I blurted, clasping my hands in my lap. Cosimo grunted his disapproval. “We discussed this already. You cannot go around making those decisions for me. If and when we want to be pregnant, it will be a mutual choice.”

Olesya’s eyes widened, then she narrowed them at Cosimo. “Please, tell me you didn’t remove an IUD on your own.”

“It wasn’t difficult.” He shrugged. “Took a couple minutes. She didn’t even feel it.”

“Because you fucking drugged me first!” I slapped his arm. “You don’t have a medical license!”

“I know the human body better than most doctors,” Cosimo said with unwavering confidence. He glanced at his sister-in-law. "No offense."

“Regardless, you shouldn’t be making people your guinea pigs,” Olesya chastised. “Especially not your wife.”

“Well, I brought her back here instead of doing it myself this time.” The corners of his lips twitched as Olesya turned red. “That has to count for something.”

“You want credit for refraining from performing a medical procedure without a license?” she asked in disbelief.

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