Page 129 of Craving Danger

“Hi, baby.”

“Hmm…who is this?” she teases me.

“Your mystery man.”

I hear a loud bark of laughter behind me, and as I glance over my shoulder, I watch as Renzo stumbles out onto the veranda, where he proceeds to die of laughter.

Fucker.

I’m never going to hear the end of that.

“Who’s laughing?” Samantha asks.

“Renzo.”

“Have I met him?” she asks.

“Yeah, he was with Dario at the office,” I remind her.

“Oh, I remember now.” She pauses for a moment, then asks, “Why did you call?”

“I wanted to hear your voice,” I murmur. “I love you.”

“I love you too.” I hear her typing on the keyboard, then she says, “I’ll see you after work.”

“Okay.”

I wait for her to hang up, but she doesn’t. Instead, her voice is filled with emotion as she says, “I love you with all my heart, Franco.”

She ends the call, and I tuck the device back in my pocket before heading to my bedroom to change into my combat gear.

When Milo stops the G-Wagon near the entrance of the warehouse, I take in our surroundings before my eyes lock on Ivan, where he’s leaning against the side of his SUV.

“Let’s do this,” I mutter while shoving the door open and climbing out.

Marcello hauls Miro out of the back while Milo remains in the G-Wagon, so he can alert the others if anything goes wrong.

I unlock the doors and push them open before heading inside and switching on the lights.

For a split-second, my eyes flick to empty crates where Renzo is already hiding.

Marcello pulls Miro to the side and forces him onto his knees while training the barrel of his gun on the back of Miro’s head.

Ivan saunters inside with one of his men. He only glances at his brother before locking eyes with me.

“I like New York,” Ivan mutters in his thick accent. “Good opportunity for drugs.”

I roll my shoulders and slowly move to the right. “Let’s do this, Vargo. I want to be home in time for dinner.”

He lets out a bark of laughter. “I’m sorry to disappoint you, but you’re not going to make dinner.”

I’m not just fighting for my territory and the Cosa Nostra.

I’m fighting for a future with Samantha.

I shrug. “We’ll see.”

“If I kill you, I take my brother, and I supply to Castro and Diaz.”