“You’re a bastard.” I turn on him, glaring. “Screw it. I’ll go to Dallas then.”
“Okay. Your call.” He’s smiling, smug and impossible.
“I wish you hadn’t done this.”
“And I wish you hadn’t asked me to marry you. Now I guess we’re both fucked, huh?”
“God, you’re a dick.”
“A kiss is just a kiss, princess, but you asked for a lot more. If you want it then earn it for once in your life.”
I stare him down, seething.
Earn it? Earn his marriage?
This asshole should be on his knees begging to put a ring on my finger.
Instead, he wants me to earn it.
“Go to hell,” I say and finally manage to storm out of there.
I slam the door behind me, but I swear I can hear him laughing as I retreat up to my room, dizzy with alcohol and that kiss, that incredible kiss, that hateful, sinful, delicious kiss.
Chapter 14
Nico
I can’t pay attention to anything being said in this room.
All I think about is Karah. Her lips, her body, her little sexy whimpers of pure fucking lust.
It twists through my brain like a ribbon on the wind.
It threatens to strangle me.
Don Bruno clears his throat. “Nico? Are you listening?”
I blink rapidly. No, you bastard, I was thinking about kissing your daughter, you murderous piece of shit. I plaster on a smile and shake my head.
“Sorry, Don. I was thinking of ways to track down Rinaldo.”
He grunts, accepting my explanation. His office is warm for a Tuesday evening and Casso shoots me a worried look but I ignore him and unbutton the top button of my shirt.
Don Bruno leans back in his chair. “Have we made any progress on that front?”
I shake my head. “Not yet. I know he’s in the city, but I don’t know where. It’s only a matter of time before we turn something up.”
“That’s good to hear. And this won’t affect your other duties?” He gives me a pointed frown and I get the message. Don’t fuck up.
“No, it won’t.”
“See that it doesn’t. We just got in a big shipment of stolen electronics I want moved through the stores by the end of next week. We can’t keep hard goods sitting around in warehouses for too long. Too much of a risk.”
“I’ll make sure it happens.” I glance at Casso, who’s writing all this down in a notebook. Leave it to Capo Casso to be on top of his shit. I was good at my job, but not like him. After he memorizes everything, he’ll burn it like a dutiful soldier.
I hate to admit it, but we make a good team.
He’s the brain—or at least he’s the organizational prowess. He keeps our crew on track and on task.
I’m the brawn. I go on the hits and do all the dirty work because that stuff comes naturally.
We could switch roles if needed, but this works.
“Sir, I wanted to talk to you more about Rinaldo.” I shift in my seat as the Don looks at me again.
“What is it?”
“I was thinking about Karah’s safety. I’m not happy that we don’t have eyes on Rinaldo yet.”
“You think she isn’t safe with me?” His eyes narrow dangerously. Don Bruno is getting up there in years, but he’s still a lion at heart. Any suggestion of weakness is like a plague to him, and he’ll cut it out with ruthless efficiency.
“No, Don, that’s actually the opposite of what I meant. We’re all aware that you want to send her down to Dallas to marry that Russian, but I think you should wait.”
His face relaxes. “Really? And why would I do that?”
“She’s safer here. I’m sure our partners in Dallas have a good operation, but she’s not their kin. Besides, I worry transporting her will open her up to an attack. It’s the sort of thing I might do in Rinaldo’s position.”
“Why would he want to hurt her more?” Casso asks, touching his chin.
The bastard. Always making my life harder.
“Rinaldo isn’t like you and me. He doesn’t think about consequences. To him, there’s only what he wants and needs, and I suspect he wants to hurt Karah for what happened. I’m betting he blames her.”
“He is only one man cut off from his support network. He can’t possibly be such a threat.” Don Bruno drums his fingers on the arm of his chair. He clearly doesn’t like this. Almost despite myself, I’ve grown adept at reading his moods, and he’s on the edge of getting annoyed.
“I respectfully disagree, sir. He has our training and he knows our routes and our methods. And like I said, Rinaldo isn’t like the rest of us. He’s a psychopath, sir. He won’t stop until he gets what he wants.”
Don Bruno sighs and rubs his face with both hands. “The Russians are getting impatient, but I can push them off a bit longer. Another few weeks, perhaps?”