“Katie”—he emphasized my name—“move in with me.”
My stare jumped from him to Rome to Mario and back to Bastian.
“Why?” The question fell from my lips in confusion.
“Maybe I don’t think you belong on the arm of our enemies,” said Bastian. “Maybe you belong on my arm instead. We’ve staged you dating me before to lure targets. Moving in will piss them off more.”
Rome huffed and his shoulders tensed, but he didn’t object. I rolled my eyes. “We’ve only done that once or twice.”
“You’ll be protected under my roof and it’ll be best for all of us.”
“I get to decide that,” I grumbled.
Mario scoffed. “No, I get to decide that.” He cleared his throat. “Along with Bastian, of course. He’s handling things here and he’s right. Take some time at his place, huh? Let’s regroup at the next meeting.”
“I don’t want that. Rome told me Georgie’s government, Mario. I knew that; I had that information primed for you. He thinks he can bring you down and sideswipe Stonewood Enterprises in the process.” I pushed when I knew I shouldn’t. We’d partnered with the biggest investment firm in the city a long time ago. If Georgie’s people were going for that company, they meant business. “The government has been working on tapping phones, tailing you, finding ways to get you behind bars quickly.”
“Georgie’s only making that play so those damn Russians can get an upper hand,” Bastian said, head tilted as if the only thing he didn’t know were my thoughts.
“You think the Russian mob is involved?” I whispered. Another mob family working with the government and Georgie’s gang meant navigating a lot more than I first imagined.
“I know they are. We’ve been working tirelessly to tighten up loose ends. We stumbled upon the information through those channels.”
“Then we’ll need everyone,” I said. Bastian opened his mouth to respond, but I cut him off. “Including me. I’ll play to Georgie’s weaknesses. We’ve got to get as much information as—”
“Georgie’s weakness is his manhood, Katie,” Bastian said softly. “You on my arm will be bait enough to send him spiraling out of control. Men in love slip and falter, even when they know their love is misplaced.”
“That’s not a good idea,” Rome said, and his hand went to my thigh under the thin white sheet. His touch was hot, searing, and reminded me of how his hands had felt on me just hours before. My pussy clenched like now was a perfect time to lust after him.
It wasn’t.
Bastian stared down Rome with a sort of death glare I’d only seen him shoot at his enemies. “Get off her bed,” he growled.
Rome’s eyes narrowed, but he didn’t move. “What?”
“You heard me.”
Mario shook his head and tsked. “Bastian, we talked about this on the way over.”
“We may have talked about it, but we didn’t discuss it with Rome.”
“Discuss what?” asked Rome.
“Your complete lack of foresight when it comes to our targets. You put her and this family in unnecessary danger,” said Bastian.
“He had his hands on her.” Rome’s voice was low, and his eyes scanned the room. “Mario, you think that’s okay?”
“It’s not my father’s choice anymore,” said Bastian. “It’s mine. Dad’s got business in New York, which means I’m handling it here. And you don’t get to fly off the cuff just because you think one of the family members can’t handle themselves. It was unnecessary and reckless.”
Rome narrowed his eyes and stood up slowly, on his own time. He straightened, and I felt them all shrink back, even if it was just a slight recoil. Bastian was the firstborn son of the Italian mob boss. He’d seen and experienced a gruesome, bloody life. But most of that blood had been spilled by Rome.
Rome enforced, he killed, he bled out victims who had wronged the family, and he’d never, ever misjudged a man’s weakness. Even to the most powerful man, he was a menacing, brutal creature. If you weren’t afraid of him, you were stupid. Bastian was anything but that.
Rome brushed imaginary lint from his shirt before he gently asked Bastian, “You know who you’re talking to?”
Bastian ran a hand through his hair. “Don’t do that, Rome. Don’t warn me. I’m your brother.”
“No. Cade’s your brother. I’m your muscle, your protection, and also your weapon. I’m this family’s monster. And if your protection finds something necessary, you better find it necessary too. Your life depends on it.”