“It’s nothing. Lizzy and I went a few rounds,” she laughs.

Gio moves to my side and grazes a hand over her ribs. She winces and bites her lips.

“It’s not fine. You look like you went a few rounds with a Mack truck,” I bite out.

Gio grunts and turns to rush from the bathroom. I palm the back of Ny’s head and tug her into my chest. Gio comes back into the bathroom with his phone on speaker.

“Apollo, how far did you get?”

“I just passed through the gate. Do you need me to come back up?”

“First, I need you to find about ten to fifteen ten-pound bags of ice. Then bring those back up.”

“Got it. I’ll be right back.”

“Oh my God, you guys are worse than Dad,” Ny groans and rolls her eyes.

“What did you two go a few rounds with? Nunchucks?”

“No. We had on gloves.”

“Fuck outa here. Lizzy did that with her fists?” Gio says with his mouth open.

“We may have gotten a little carried away.”

“You think?” Gio and I say in unison.

“Relax. I’m fine. I can think of something we can do while we wait for the ice,” she purrs.

“You think either of us wants to touch you right now?” Gio hisses. “Come here, Ny.”

He holds out his hand for her. She turns to cut the shower off then steps around me to place her hand in his. He tugs her to stand in front of him as he faces the mirror. Gently he holds her face and tilts it for her bruise to face the mirror.

She winces a little. “Oh, it wasn’t that bad when I got home.”

Gio turns her so she can look at her ribs and back. She pouts. “I get it, Gio.”

“Do you?”

“Yes, I do. Calm down.”

He starts to grumble in Italian. I’m totally in agreement. I don’t know what she was thinking.

Nyla

“That feels nice,” I moan as Jace massages my shoulders while I sit in an ice bath.

I hadn’t noticed how bad the bruises were. Elijah was pretty upset when Lizzy started to show a little bruising. The bruise on my face had just started to bloom when I arrived back home.

Gio takes my wineglass and fills it back up. I have to say, I was a little disappointed when they both put on basketball shorts. I was hoping the night would have ended a whole lot different, but this is even better.

I get both my guys and some quality time. We’ve been chilling and talking. Something we haven’t done together in a while. I take the glass Gio hands me and take a sip. He settles back on the floor with his back to the tub.

“Is she at least feeling better? How’s her mental state?”

I smile. I love that he cares about how my sister is. Gio is such a family man, I know he’ll make a great father.

“She’s a lot better. I’d let her beat my ass again to see that spark and confidence in her eyes. It felt good. You know, to just let go with someone who could match my skills and to see her smile and have fun.”

“You and Gwen did good if she did this to you. I’m impressed,” Gio says tiredly.

“I was thinking the same thing,” Jace says.

“How was the wedding? You guys seem exhausted.”

“It was shit, just like I told you it would be. A bunch of wasted time and money.”

“I thought I was going to barf. Her family is so phony,” Jace says disgustedly.

“I’m exhausted from pretending I gave a fuck.”

“Gio,” I chuckle and reach to run my hand through his hair. He grabs my hand and brings it to his lips, sucking my fingers into his mouth.

I moan and pull my hand back. “Was Dante happy?”

“As a pussy-sprung fool.”

I spit out the sip of wine I had just taken. Jace laughs too. “Yeah, you’re tired and grumpy.”

“I’ll sleep on the plane in the morning.”

“I think I’ve had enough. Who wants to shower with me?”

“You’re not going to sing, are you?” Gio looks over his shoulder and teases.

“If I’m in there by myself, I am.”

“I will,” they say at the same time.

“I hate y’all,” I laugh.

“But we love your noncooking, nonsinging, gorgeous ass,” Gio croons.

“But I can fight.”

“I’m questioning that one from the looks of it.”

I stiffen and turn my head slowly to look back at Jace. He has a smug smile on his face. I glare at him.

“Bro, you stole the words right out of my mouth,” Gio snickers.

“Fuck you both,” I mutter and stand from the tub. Then mutter to myself, “I can kick both their asses. The nerve.”

CHAPTER 52

Feelings

Gio

Three years later…

Some may call this stupid, but I guess I’m feeling cocky. I also want to meet Frances’s boys in person. I’ve been watching them from a distance.

However, something has been nagging at me and I want to see how these guys think. I’m also showing my balls are bigger than Riccardo’s and so is my brain. Right now, I have my cock in his mouth, but he thinks he’s eating caviar and sipping champagne.


Tags: Blue Saffire Crime