I plopped down closer than I would have with any of his brothers. Adamo was a kid, even if he was taller than me.
He held out the controller. I grabbed it with an honest smile. “I fear you’ll have to start with the basics. I’m completely clueless.”
“It’s easy,” he promised with a grin of his own. He pointed at the buttons and patiently explained them.
It didn’t come as a big surprise that I was absolutely horrible. I constantly crashed my car against the wall.
When Nino came home later that afternoon, Adamo’s face was red from laughing at my lack of video game skills.
Nino’s cool gaze flitted between his brother and me. “Having fun?”
I nodded, but soon my smile diminished. Nino still made me nervous with his cold aloofness. I had no way of guessing what was going on in his head. He surprised me when he came toward us and sat down beside me. He regarded me for a moment longer before saying, “If you want, I can take over.”
I held the controller out to him, and he took it, his fingertips brushing my skin. I shivered slightly at the contact. Nino leaned back, controller in hand, but he narrowed his eyes at me for the briefest moment. It wasn’t out of anger, I knew that now. He was trying to make sense of me.
Adamo didn’t look too pleased about having to play with Nino. It didn’t take long for them to be in a serious battle, including snarky comments from Nino and fervent cursing from Adamo.
A small smile tugged at my lips. My siblings and I had never been close. It was good to see that despite everything, the Falcone brothers had managed to stay a family. I only wished I’d figure out a way to feel like part of it.
CHAPTER 12
NINO
Just like I had every day, I got up at six in the morning and grabbed my swim trunks. Kiara stirred behind me, so I moved into the bathroom to change. I was wearing briefs at night for her benefit, and it seemed to have decreased her anxiety around me. She was still wary in bed with me. I wasn’t sure why she thought the bed was a particularly dangerous place. If I wanted to fuck her, I could just as well do it in the living room or any other room in the house.
Upon returning to the bedroom, Kiara was propped up against the headboard, the covers gathered around her waist, her dark hair sticking out all over the place. Her slender shoulders and arms were on display, and her thin nightgown did little to hide the outline of her nipples. My body definitely wanted to lay claim on her, but it would have given me little satisfaction having her terror-stricken, crying body under mine.
“Good morning,” she said in a slightly deeper voice, which added to her sexual appeal. I could feel a traitorous stirring in my cock but suppressed it quickly.
“I’m heading out for my morning swim. Once I’m done, we can leave. I want to show you the city as promised, and early in the morning it’s less crowded.”
She nodded. “I’ll get ready.” My eyes lingered on the swell of her breasts. Then I turned and left. The cold water would do me good.
She was quiet beside me as I drove us down the Strip. It was where every Las Vegas tour should start, but my favorite places were on the fringes, especially the canyons and creeks. Kiara’s eyes were drawn to the spectacular hotels lining the street on both sides, but she didn’t look that impressed. “You don’t enjoy the tour?” I asked.
She shook her head quickly. “It’s fascinating, but I’m not the city type. I prefer landscapes and tranquility.”
“Then we’ll change our plans.” I turned the car and headed out of the city boundaries and toward the Red Rock Canyon.
Kiara’s eyes grew wide when the glowing red rock formations rose up around us.
“This is a place I like to visit when I’m in the mood for rock climbing.”
“You climb?” she asked.
“Climb and hike. It’s a good workout with the added bonus of being in nature.” I steered us along the scenic loop drive but eventually stopped at a high point lookout. Kiara and I got out and sat down on one of the benches there. She was silent as she regarded the multi-colored mountains around us. Her expression was as peaceful as it had been when she’d played the piano. No fear or tension or worry.
“Beautiful,” she whispered.
“It is,” I agreed, looking directly at her.
She turned to me and smiled. “Thanks for taking me here. I prefer it to the city.”
“I come as often as I can, which isn’t very often. Now that we’re about to attack the Outfit, there will be even less time. There’s always a fight to win, an enemy to hunt down, or a city to win over or defend.”