Page 33 of Possession

Even after clearing my throat, my words come out strangled. “Fine. Good. I mean … I slept.”

We’re face to face, our noses a breath from one another. So he doesn’t have to move far to brush the end of mine with his before his lips land on my jaw.

My eyes fall shut when he pulls me tighter, and the bulge between his legs thickens against my thigh.

Holy shit.

Breathe, Landyn.

When he gives my ass a good squeeze, I open my eyes to his lustful expression focused on me. “I didn’t want to leave you, but I had this meeting. I’ll have June bring us some breakfast. Then we can shower.”

“Oh.” The tips of my fingers press into his chest, and all I can think about is being back in the shower with Boz, but I’m sure he’s not planning for us to be fully clothed again. Not if his cock has anything to say about it. Consummating our marriage has to be on his mind. “Um—”

“I see you’re settling into my cousin’s house a little too much, aren’t you? Running his business. Ordering his staff around. Fucking his wife.”

Boz doesn’t let go of me when he swivels back to face Nic, but his words surprise me. “The only wife I’m fucking is mine. If you didn’t get the message from your father after last night, I’ll warn you only once—don’t talk about her. You might’ve wanted her, but she’s mine. No one disrespects what’s mine.”

All thoughts of Boz lying about fucking his wife and our impending shower escape my brain when Nic bites, “She was never meant to be your wife. You’re an imposter, not a Marino. Alamandos’ a fool who’s proven to have lost his mind when he gave her to you. Why Damian put so much trust in you, I’ll never know.”

Since I’m wrapped up in Boz, it’s easy to feel his energy. It’s controlled yet hyper aware, all at the same time. “I took your meeting request this morning out of respect for Damian. But if you act like you did the other night, I won’t let you into this compound again. I’m not the one who’s fucked up time after time. You’re not good for business, Nic. Don’t blame me for your shitty venture that lost Marino revenue. Shit isn’t easily forgotten when it’s attached to money, especially when you’re in the red instead of black. You think you can fuck up like that and expect Alamandos to hand over a jewel likeher?”

At the mention ofme, Boz slides his hand inside my robe, high on the bare skin of my thigh. He’s flirting with my ass encased in silk so luxurious, I’ve never slept so good on a sofa. Not even the night before when I was exhausted.

I don’t want to be here, but I really don’t want to behere—anywhere near Nic, or the business Boz is carrying out for the Marino family. This might be an extension of the life I grew up in, but that doesn’t mean I have to be a part of it. At least my father pretended to run a legitimate business for the sake of our family. And he certainly never wielded a gun at a dinner party.

Marrying into the Marino family—whether my husband is a true Marino or not—is nothing like the life I led just a short drive down the coast in San Diego.

I give Boz’s dress shirt a little tug and try to move out of his arms. “I’ll just go get dressed and let you finish your business.”

“Yeah, do that,” Nic seethes. “You haven’t earned the right to know shit about my family.”

Boz doesn’t let me go, and his glare never wavers from Nic. “Landyn will be anywhere I am. If I want her in my lap while I fix your incompetence, that’s where she’ll be.”

“We’ve been over this. It wasn’t my fault,” Nic grits.

Boz’s hand lets go of my ass, and the tips of his fingers draw circles on the small of my back, turning his attention to me. “See, baby, Nic was trying to make a move on Damian by going over his head to pitch an idea to Alamandos about taking control of shipments from the border. He begged and begged until Alamandos finally gave him a shot. Right after your dad’s truck was taken down, Nic got his chance. His delivery went through, but the load was light when it arrived.”

I have no idea why he’s telling me this. I don’t want to know the ins and outs of the drug business, let alone transporting loads across the border.

“I didn’t fucking skim,” Nic growls.

My eyes shoot to the man across the table. It looks like he’s doing everything in his power not to fly across the desk and tackle Boz.

“Someone did,” Boz states. “And since it was your load, it falls on you. Which is why I’m sitting here and you’re not.”

My ass is all of a sudden encased in Boz’s big hand once again. I have a feeling he’s not just talking about a job.

Nic doesn’t miss the move either, and his knuckles turn the color of powdered cocaine.

“Fuck you, Torres,” Nic growls before dragging his gaze up and down the length of my body. “And your new piece of ass. I don’t know how you managed to snow the entire Marino organization, but I’m going to make sure Alamandos kicks you out if it’s the last thing I do.”

A treacherous smirk tugs at Boz’s lips. “I’d like to see that since you’re not even capable of a simple delivery. If you came here for another chance, you’re not getting it from me.”

“I was a horse holder for Damian before you pushed your way in. I want back in the fold. Fuck, I deserve the seat you’re sitting in. The one you stole from me.”

Boz contemplates the man across the desk as the air in the room goes stale from the visual standoff. I have no idea what a horse holder does, but I hope Boz’s answer is a big fat no. I have no desire for Nic to be lurking around the house I now live in.

Nic is about to open his mouth, but Boz stops him. “You want to work for Alamandos, that’s up to him. I don’t need you here.”

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