Chapter 31
Ace
Kian stares down at me, and I can tell in his dark, dangerous eyes that what I’m asking of him goes against everything he would really like to do.
When he gives me a single nod, I let out a breath of air.
“If he tries to kill me or hurt my family, all promises are off,” he growls.
“Absolutely,” I reply, because I’m going to make Luciano give me the same promise.
These two men might drive me mad, but there’s one characteristic they both share that is my favorite because my father was the same.
They never break their word.
I let him lead me up to the door, and he waits for me to enter the code before he opens it for me.
“Pack a bag and come stay with me. We can watch movies in bed all day in between fucking,” he says.
Laughing, I look up at him and playfully smack his chest. “I have to go to work. So do you.”
He shrugs and leans down, hovering his mouth over mine. “Fuck work. I like you better.”
My heart stops, my pussy aches, and part of me wants to say fuck it and spend the day with him, but I can’t.
I have responsibilities. Besides, I have a class at the studio today, and I can’t wait.
I already adore every single one of my students.
They make me feel like I’m a kid, and ballet has become my passion again.
Even if I’m no longer able to be a professional ballet dancer. I’m starting to enjoy my messy life.
“Tonight, then,” he promises when I don’t say anything.
My cheeks heat as I think about what’s to come tonight. Hot, life-altering, mind-bending sex. With the hottest guy I’ve ever met.
Sliding my hands up his chest, I pull his face down to mine. “Okay. Call me when you get off work, and I’ll come over.”
Kian stares down at me, the unreadable expression making me want to squirm.
“Nah, angel. It doesn’t work like that. You tell me what time you’re off work, and I’ll come get you.”
The butterflies that have been fluttering around in my stomach ever since I met Kian awaken, and my nipples ache.
“My class at the studio finishes at seven.”
He kisses me and tucks a wild strand of my hair behind my ear. “Then I will be here at seven-thirty to pick you up.”
I watch, breathlessly, as Kian slides on a pair of Ray-Ban sunglasses and strides back to his SUV, looking like the ever-powerful businessman he is.
As soon as the taillights of his SUV disappear, I go inside to make some coffee, jumping back in surprise when Luciano is standing in my living room, dressed in a crisp black suit with his hair slicked back, waiting for me.
His face is still swollen in spots, and the cut near his cheek doesn’t look great, but I’ve seen him look worse.
Violence is part of the mafia life. My mother may have kept me away from my father’s side of the family, but she still stayed in all the social circles of the Italian mob.
Luciano’s crystal-blue eyes zero in on me, and I know him well enough to recognize what he’s feeling. Regret.
“I’m sorry, Lace,” he says quietly. “I fucked up, and I’m sorry.”
My chest warms, and I rush to him, his arms open for me as soon as I reach him.
“I just want you to be happy and safe,” he says as he holds me, his chin resting on my head.
When I take a step back, I smile up at him. “I know you do, Luciano. And I love you so much for that. But I have to be able to figure things out for myself. I’ve never had the freedom to do so.”
He stares at me for a long time before he sighs and runs his tattooed fingers through his hair. “I love you, and I don’t want anything to happen to you. Maybe if you would let me give you security, I wouldn’t be so controlling.”
Letting out a huff, I give him an exasperated look. “Luciano Ricci, do you think I haven’t figured out that you still have security on me, even though I clearly told you I did not want any. And the fact you think anything will make you less controlling makes me think you might actually be insane.”
Luciano opens his mouth, his eyes sparkling with surprise as he tries to think of an argument.
This man.
I swear.
Sometimes, I just want to hug him, and other times, I want to hit him over the head with his own gun.
Finally, he sighs. “I’m not firing them. I will allow you not to have an immediate bodyguard, but you need people keeping an eye on you. You’re a Ricci, whether you like it or not, sweetheart. Just because you aren’t involved in the family business doesn’t make you exempt.
“I’m not trying to control you, Tesoro. I just want you safe.”
Glaring at him, I shake my head. “That was low. You know I turn into putty when you call me that.”
He chuckles and pulls me into his embrace again. “I know. I’m not above manipulation when it comes to your safety.”
I release him and go into the open kitchen to make coffee.
“I’m heading back to Seattle. I have some business to attend to next week. I’ll return soon, though,” Luciano explains as he joins me and leans a hip against the edge of the counter.
Smiling, I nod. “I’d like that. Although waking up to you in my room… not so much. You’re lucky I didn’t have a gun under my pillow. I’m sneaky like that, you know.”
Luciano bursts out laughing, and it makes me grin wider. It’s rare he shows this side of himself. I’m pretty sure I’m the only one who ever sees it. I hope he’ll show it to a woman one day because he needs someone to lighten him up a bit.
“Right, well, if you didn’t have random men answering your phone, demanding to know who I am, I wouldn’t pop up like that. I had no idea if a human trafficker had grabbed you or something.”
I roll my eyes. “Paranoid, much? Nobody is going to snatch me. Besides, you have goons following me, remember?”
Luciano groans. “Jesus. Lacey Katherine, I swear to God. You’re giving me heartburn.”
Holding a steaming mug, I stand across the counter from Luciano, smirking while he stares at me like he’s trying not to totally lose it.
“I’m always careful. I promise. I agreed to live in this house instead of buying one in a random neighborhood, right? It’s gated and secure. There’s security stuff everywhere. I’m safe, Luciano. You don’t need to worry about me so much. I’ve never been better.”
He crosses his arms over his chest and sighs. “You’re the only family I have left, Tesoro.”
My eyes burn, and I set my cup down before I walk over to him and take one of his hands. “And you’re not going to lose me. But I need something from you. I know you don’t care much for Kian, but please don’t kill him.”
“You like him as more than a friend,” Luciano says after a long beat of silence.
After letting go of his hand, I step back and look up at him, meeting his gaze. There are times when I think Luciano still sees me as this little girl who will never grow up.
“I do. And I don’t want anything to happen to him. Or you. Because you’re also the only family I have left. So I need both of you to stay alive.”
Luciano rolls his eyes and closes them for several seconds before he looks at me like I just took away his only birthday present.
“Fine. But I swear to God, Lacey, if he hurts you in any way, even if it’s an accident, I will cut his head off myself and mount it above my fireplace, and you won’t hold it against me. Do you understand?”
The remaining weight that’s been sitting on my chest since they pointed their guns at each other finally dissipates.
I grin and hold up my pinky. “Deal.”
The corners of his lips twitch as he hooks his pinky with mine, just like he did every time I made him promise to do something when I was a kid, and I swear, I feel like my heart could explode.
“I need to go. My plane should be ready soon. Be good.” He kisses my forehead and hugs me one last time before I walk him out to his SUV and wave as he drives away.
Awestruck, I watch the team I taught a new routine to only two weeks ago, perform it so beautifully that I have tears in my eyes by the time they’re done.
When I start clapping, someone else behind me joins in, and I spin around, finding Jordyn approaching, smiling broadly, her lips the perfect shade of red.
“That was amazing,” Jordyn praises when she comes to a stop beside me from where I’m watching in front of the first row. “Look how perfect they are! Great job, everyone.”
One of the dancers grins as she prances off toward the side of the stage. “It’s all Lacey! We couldn’t have done it without her.”
My cheeks heat as Jordyn turns her attention to me with a smirk. “Might have lied on your resumé, but your work is what matters to me. Not your name. And I have to say, your work is beyond amazing. You’re a true artist, Lacey. I’m really glad to have you here.”
She hugs me, and I blink several times, so I don’t tear up.
“Thank you. It means a lot. The dancers and entire wardrobe team are amazing as well.”
Jordyn laughs and bumps her hip against mine. “Just take the compliment and say thank you.”
Giggling, I nod. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” she says as she flutters her eyelashes playfully then laughs. “Anyway, I came to see if you want to come over to my house for a girls’ night tomorrow? Well, technically, the guys will be there because they will be playing poker, but they won’t be allowed to bug us.”
Does that mean Kian will be there? Would he want me there when he’s trying to have a guys’ night? From the things I’ve heard from girls I went to school with, guys don’t like clingy women. He may not appreciate me invading his space like that.
“Uh, I think I have plans tomorrow, but I’d love a raincheck.”
She smiles as she pulls her phone from the pocket of her wide-leg, high-waisted pants. I swear, I need to go through her closet one day.
“Of course! Any time. But if you change your mind, I’ve just texted you my address. You’re welcome to come. Quinn will be there around six,” she says, then starts to step away. “I have to run. I have a meeting to get to. Talk to you later, girl!”
Smiling, I head back to say goodbye to my team before I grab my stuff and head out to my car.
I love working as a choreographer. Creating dance routines has always been something I’ve loved because it’s when I most feel like I can express myself as an artist. Maybe this was my passion all along, and ballet is meant to be my fun.
I’m practically floating when I walk into my studio and start turning on lights to get ready for class.
I spent every spare minute I had here when I moved to Las Vegas, getting the studio set up.
Luckily, the place was already in great condition, and there wasn’t a ton to do other than adding flooring and a layer of paint before the mirrors and bars went up.
A tap on the window startles me as I warm up, stretching my hip as much as it will allow without excruciating pain. My head snaps up, and a quiet gasp escapes when I see Kian standing outside, with a tray of drinks and a paper bag in the other hand.
I pull myself up and go over to unlock the door for him since I keep it locked whenever I’m the only one here.
“Hey,” I greet breathlessly when he steps in.
“I brought you an afternoon pick-me-up. And I had no idea what you might like, so I have options.”
My face cracks into a grin as I peek at the tray.
“There’s an iced vanilla latte, a protein green drink that supposedly tastes amazing, but I wouldn’t trust it, and an iced tea.”
Smirking at him, I pick up the green drink, and he looks like he’s bracing himself as I bring the straw up to my mouth. Taking a swallow, I wince and shake my head. “Nope. It’s definitely not amazing. I’ll have the latte, please.”
Kian chuckles and offers it to me, then takes the disgusting whatever-that-was and sets it in the tray before taking it over to one of the benches, where parents wait, and puts it down.
“I also brought you some chocolate chip oatmeal protein balls that I know are actually delicious because Beckett makes them. He might be an idiot, but he knows his way around the kitchen.”
Giggling, I peek inside the paper bag. “You brought me balls, Daddy?” I ask innocently as I bat my eyelashes at him.
His lips twitch as he stares down at me. “My filthy-minded girl.”
“How did you find me? I didn’t tell you where my studio was.”
Reaching out his tattooed hand, he cups my chin and leans down so his mouth is near mine. “It’s not hard for me to find that sort of information, angel.”
A shiver works its way down my spine as I stare into his nearly black eyes. “Hm. That seems sort of stalkerish, Daddy.”
He studies my face, the scent of mint on his breath as he finally speaks. “If you thought your cousin was protective and controlling, you haven’t seen anything yet, angel. I told you. You’re mine. I take care of what’s mine. Even if you don’t always like it.”
My heart flutters, and so does my clit, as the memory from last night comes to mind. Him fucking me from behind while we both watched in the mirror as he told me I was his over and over again until we climaxed together.
“I’m leaving. I know your class starts soon. I’ll see you at seven-thirty, angel.”
Then he kisses me, deeply and thoroughly, before he pulls away and strides to the door. “Come lock this behind me.”
Even as I roll my eyes at his demand, I’m fighting a grin as I obey.