Chapter 26
Kian
Kian: Where are you?
Cash: At Emerald Palace with my beautiful wife.
Kian: I’m coming to you. We might have a problem.
Jordyn’s eyes pop out when she sees me walk into her office, while Cash doesn’t even flinch.
“Who are we killing?” Cash asks as he studies me up and down from his seat. “Or is it already done and you didn’t invite me to the party?”
“Luciano Ricci.”
That name makes my brother pause for just a second, then glance at Jordyn, who rolls her lips in and lowers her gaze.
“Tell him, kitten. Now,” Cash says sternly.
Glaring between them, my mind feels like it’s exploding.
Jordyn squirms when Cash shoots her a stern look. I already know that whatever she’s going to drop on me, I’m not going to like because she has never let Cash command her to do something without at least a snarky comment before she does it.
“Luciano Ricci is Ace’s cousin,” Jordyn says. “Her real last name is actually Ricci. Santoro is her mother’s maiden name.”
Blinking several times, I shake my head. Am I living in an alternate universe right now, where I suddenly became an idiot and can’t keep up? Because that’s what it feels like.
“How do you know that?” I ask.
Cash snaps his head toward me. “You knew?”
“Not until last night. How the fuck did you find out?” I demand, not liking that my brother had personal information about my girl before I did. And why the fuck was he looking into her?
I keep moving toward my brother, my fists curled into balls as I scrape my teeth against my bottom lip.
Cash stands and holds his hands up to stop me. “Kian, chill, bro. You look like you’re about to maul me.”
“Why were you looking into my girl?” I growl.
My oldest brother smirks and drops his hands. “Your girl, huh?”
Fuck it.
I pull back and then clock Cash in the jaw, sending him staggering back.
Damn, that felt good.
Jordyn gasps and jumps up, running to her husband as he holds his chin.
“Did you hear him, kitten?” Cash asks, smirking through his watering eyes. “His girl.”
She shoots him an exasperated look and then turns to me with an unreadable expression. “That wasn’t nice, but thank you. I’ve been considering doing that all day.”
I wink at her just because I know it’s going to piss off Cash. It does the trick because he advances on me, but Jordyn stops him and shoves him back into his seat, then perches on his thigh.
“Cash didn’t know about Ace until I told him,” Jordyn says. “When I interviewed her, I recognized her from a photo on an online news story from about a year ago. I didn’t tell her I knew who she actually was because I figured there must be some reason she wants to keep who she is private.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” I ask, though it doesn’t really matter.
Jordyn shrugs. “I decided she would tell you when she’s ready. And I feel like she’s becoming a friend. Girl code, and all that.”
My sister-in-law shrugs again. “Besides, is her name going to be the deciding factor on whether she’s yours or not? Because I’m pretty sure she already is.”
Pinning her with a glare, my heart speeds up at the thought of Ace being mine.
Not just to fuck.
Not just to dominate.
But to be mine in every way possible.
With my last name.
Not her mom’s.
And sure as fuck not Luciano’s.
Mine.
“I’ve only known her for a few days. It’s a little insane to be even thinking that sort of thing, isn’t it?” I ask, even though the thought ran through my mind the very first time I sank my big dick into her hot, wet pussy.
Jordyn scoffs and rolls her eyes. “Cash literally kidnapped and drugged me and held me against my will while watching me through video cameras in my bathroom. I don’t think I’m the right person to ask about what is or isn’t insane because I’m not sure I even know anymore.”
Cash barks out a laugh, and Jordyn glares at him, sticking her tongue out.
He waggles his eyebrows at her. “Wanna put that mouth to work, kitten?”
She smacks him in the chest. “Your brother is here. Jesus. You need help.”
Casting me a glare, Cash nods toward the door. “Get out.”
I flip him off, and he chuckles.
“Luciano might become a problem,” I tell him.
“We know how to deal with problems, bro. Look, you can make all the fucking excuses you want, but I can tell you already care about her,” Cash answers, lifting Jordyn from his lap and setting her where he vacates.
Then, he comes over and puts his hand on my shoulder.
“I’m saying this because I love you. Don’t let her slip between your fingers if you think you’ll regret it. ”
I stare at my brother in silence, unsure how to respond. It’s not very often that Cash gives genuinely good advice, but when he does, I take it a little more seriously.
A knock at the door moves all our attention there, and a moment later, Jordyn’s secretary pops her head in. “Mrs. Savage, Lacey Santoro is here to see you.”
My heart races, and my cock twitches while I focus on the space behind her secretary, waiting for my girl to come in.
“Of course. Please send her in immediately whenever she comes here,” Jordyn says, rising to her feet.
Seconds later, I meet the most sparkling set of green eyes I’ve ever seen, and I know without a doubt, I don’t want to lose Ace. Just the thought of never seeing her beautiful, sweet face again, or feeling how her soft body presses against mine so perfectly, makes me want to vomit.
Ace stares at me, frozen and silent, until Jordyn goes to her and takes her hand, pulling her deeper into the office. As she studies my cut-up, bruised face, tears well in her eyes, and I can’t stop myself from striding over to her.
“I’m so sorry. For everything,” she says, her lips trembling. A tear streaks down her face, and I wipe it away with my thumb.
“Come here.” I reach for her, and she immediately meets me halfway. As I wrap her in my arms, she melts and clings to me, her body shaking. “You have nothing to apologize for.”
She holds me like she’s afraid to let go, and if I’m honest, I might feel the same way. Things have been messy since I met Ace, but I can’t stop thinking about her.
“I promise I’ll never lie about anything to you ever again,” she says quietly against my chest. “I don’t want you to hate me. It has nothing to do with you.”
Sliding my hand up and down her back, I rest my chin on top of her head. Cash and Jordyn have returned to the chair Cash was sitting in earlier, with her propped on his thigh, snuggling into him. I appreciate that they’re giving us a somewhat private moment.
“I don’t hate you, angel. Not at all. I think I understand why you kept your identity a secret, but I hope, when we go home tonight, you’ll tell me everything in detail.”
She nods and squeezes me tighter. “I will.”
After we have that conversation, we’re also going to have one about us, because it doesn’t matter that I’ve only known Ace for a short time.
I can’t do casual with her.
She’s mine.
And I’m going to make that crystal clear tonight.