Page 30 of His Deadly Lies

Besides, he’s probably such a dick because he doesn’t have one. Micro penis. My sister Isabella saw one once of a guy at the club who decided to get his kicks in by flashing any woman he came across. She said it was the size of her pinkie finger.

I swallow hysterical laughter at the mental image of a man Carter’s size sporting a Tootsie Roll.

“Mia. I see you found us,” Ricardo murmurs.

Papa finally acknowledges me with a nod and a grin. “I’ll give you time to coordinate shifting your bodyguard here,” he says to Ricardo. “He’ll have the room directly next to Mia’s upstairs. That will make this arrangement a bit easier.”

For who?

Certainly not for me, and judging from Carter’s glower, it won’t be easy for him, either.

“I’m pleased you proposed the idea,” Ricardo replies. “It hadn’t occurred to me to move Carter here. As usual, you are one step ahead, Mr. Balestra.”

Simpering bastard.

Papa’s lips twitch. He’s used to the feeling of lips on his ass, and he’s gotten way too damn good at recognizing the sensation. “It seems to me it’s been a rather long day for everyone involved.”

His polite way of saying he is the only one capable of considering every possible angle without dropping the ball.

Ricardo inclines his head. “Absolutely. We’ll take our leave. It seems the two of them are well acquainted now, so this arrangement won’t be such a shocking transition. I’ll send Carter back here later this evening with some of his things,” he says. A bit too grandiose for my liking. “As usual, it’s a pleasure speaking with you.”

My fingers clench when Ricardo finally turns to me. “Thank you for allowing us the honor of protecting Mia. It certainly means a lot to me.”

Shit, he might be looking at me, but he’s still not speaking to me. Is this how life is going to be? Shackled to a man who would much rather talk to my father than to me? It doesn’t bode well.

He walks over and tucks a stray lock of hair behind my ear. His touch is clinical, distant. As though neither one of us is affected. “I’m looking forward to a joyous life together.”

I blink at him. “You’re finally speaking to me?” I blurt out.

A snort of laughter behind me is the only sound Carter makes, and it’s hastily stifled.

“Carter? Let’s go.” Ricardo snaps his fingers, and he and his bodyguard leave, one of them stealing the air from the room and the other stealing much more.

And only Carter turns around at the end of the hallway, meeting my eyes with such intensity I feel it in my stomach.

9

CARTER

“Was the hair touch really fucking necessary, kid?”

For some reason, watching the display soured my stomach.

Ricardo glances over at me in surprise, and it’s all I can do not to gnash my teeth at him, especially when his lips twitch with barely restrained amusement. “What kind of bug crawled up your ass and died?” he retorts instead. “If you’re going to be in a foul mood, then go take it out on someone else.”

Ricardo’s right, too, even though I’m still swearing under my breath.

“It just seems to me that there are a lot of things happening too damn quickly, like we’re being lulled into a false sense of complacency, and when we least expect it, the ax will strike.” I shouldn’t verbally assault him. It doesn’t stop me from continuing with, “I hadn’t planned on having to be around Miss Priss until the wedding. Now I’m stuck with her twenty-four fucking hours a day, Ric.”

Stuck with her, listening to her run her pretty moth. And damn me. It’s all I can do to keep my distance and stop myself from doing exactly what I’m accusing Ricardo of doing: touching her.

Why?

What is it about Mia Balestra that makes me want to push her buttons, literally and figuratively?

“Relax, Grandpa. I have to act like I like her. Remember? The old man Balestra is all about mushy shit like love, even though he tries to make this seem like a straight-up business deal. I’ve heard the way he talks about her even though he’s arranged and manipulated the whole affair.” Ricardo blows out an exaggerated breath, his cheeks rounded.

Only once we’re through the gates to the compound, well on our way down the street, does he drop the act.

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