20
Moreno
Wordlessly she carries Nova down the hallway, farther into the house for the garden outside. I don’t want them wandering away from the property, and I can’t be too cautious with the DeLuca’s out there, still hunting down my family.
Nikki and Luca head out the front door, with Leone escorting them out for the afternoon.
The guards continue to open windows to clear out the remainder of the smoke. We head into the library and do the same, opening the window, which peeks out into the garden.
I catch a glimpse of Nova and Paige sitting on a bench together.
“You’re back for five minutes and the place practically is up in flames,” Dante says.
“What can I say? I’m irresistible.”
Dante gives a loud snort. “Keep it in your pants. I don’t need you burning down the compound from the heat you two give off.”
I roll my eyes. “Funny. Nothing’s happening between us.” Doesn’t he realize that?
Of course, how could he? He doesn’t know Paige stole for me.
Do I tell him?
If I do, he’s going to expect retribution. I don’t blame him. He’s don. No one steals from our family, ever.
If I don’t, then I’m protecting her, and why should I do that? She betrayed me. I owe her nothing.
“Right,” Dante says and quirks a sideways grin. “Nothing so hot that you didn’t notice Nova playing with the lighter and starting a fire?”
“We were having a disagreement,” I say.
It’s not a lie.
Dante snorts under his breath. “Ordinarily, I’d tell you to get laid, fuck the nanny, and get rid of the sexual tension, but shit. If your kid is starting fires to get your attention, maybe you need to keep it in your pants, Moreno.”
That wasn’t what happened.
But I saw his point.
“It won’t happen again.”
Paige should have been watching Nova, and she wasn’t because I’d cornered her in the hallway. I didn’t want to admit that having her pressed up against the wall made my cock twitch in my pants.
She had that effect on me.
Why?
“I think you should fuck her,” Dante says.
“You’re not serious.” He may have liked to play the field before settling down with Nikki, but that wasn’t me.
Dante doesn’t so much as smile. “I’m dead serious. Your wife is gone, and you deserve to be happy. She seems to be good with Nova, and it’s clear you have the hots for her.”
“I don’t.”
“Liar,” Dante says.
“Shut up.” There aren’t too many people that can get away with talking to their boss like that. “I can’t believe you’re encouraging me to fuck her.”