35. A Mad Man
CHAPTER 35
A MAD MAN
M arco
Circling the kitchen like a mad man, I slam cabinets, yank drawers open then closed, ransack the refrigerator, but nothing helps. I don’t know what I’m looking for. I’m not hungry, I’m not thirsty, but I reach for the coffee all the same.
A nervous energy courses through my veins, one I cannot control.
It’s been over a week since someone shot my wife and, still, my incompetent men have found nothing. It’s time to take matters into my own hands. Lifting my hand to eyelevel, I run my index finger beneath my nose. A full day later, and I can still smell my little spitfire’s spiced honey scent. Cazzo , I’m hard just thinking about my fingers inside her, those sounds I forced out. She can deny it all she wants, but I’m certain no one has ever made her come like that.
I’d worked late last night, and by the time I got home, she was already asleep. I snuck into bed beside her, and if she felt me, she didn’t say anything. I half-expected her to kick me out, but instead, a soft sigh escaped her lips as I curled around her.
Now it isn’t just my cock, but my damned heart growing fuller. The hold this woman has over me is dangerous.
Nicky clears his throat, the big guard appearing at the foot of the kitchen. “Hey boss, Rick just called. He’s on his way back with Mrs. Rossi.”
Mrs. Rossi . I nearly choke on a laugh. Jia would have Nicky’s head if she heard him call her that.
“Thanks,” I murmur before returning my attention to the coffee I just poured. The tightness in my chest begins to dissipate, and I refuse to accept the possibility that my wife’s absence was a contributing factor.
Jia was gone when I awoke, and I nearly lost my shit. Why she insisted on going to her damned boutique this morning was beyond me. Even with my guys and the elder Guo with her, I hated the idea. But she’d been adamant the day before, and I knew my wife well enough to know that forbidding it certainly wouldn’t stop her. So instead, I agreed like a whipped coglione as long as she took an entire entourage of guards.
I hadn’t expected for her to leave so early though.
She was clearly trying to avoid me, and her plan worked. A stupid grin curls the corners of my lips. She’s absolutely impossible.
My phone rings, jerking my attention from thoughts of my wife.
Jimmy. Finally.
“Tell me you have something.” I grit over the phone.
“I do, but you’re not going to like it.”
“Just spit it out.”
“Dante got a lead.”
Fuck . Of course, it had to be my half-brother.
“What does he want in return for the intel?”
“Shockingly, nothing. ”
“Not possible.”
“That’s what he said, boss.”
I drag my fingers through my hair, tugging at the ends. My relationship with Dante has certainly been less strained over the past couple months since we called a truce between the Kings and Geminis, but there’s no way he’s doing this out of the goodness of his heart.
“Fine, set up a meeting,” I growl. “Today.”
“Will do, boss.”
The moment the call drops, the hum of a familiar voice reaches my ears. Even through the reinforced front door, I recognize Jia’s melodious timbre. My heart rams against my ribs, and my feet propel me to the entrance.
I open the front door before Nicky makes it halfway down the hall. Jia stands in the foyer, her long, silky locks pulled up into a messy bun. Despite the beads of perspiration glistening along her brow, she looks hot as fuck.
Which reminds me…
“Aren’t you hot in that long sleeve shirt?” It hasn’t escaped my attention that she constantly wears long-sleeved tops and dresses, but now that we are living together, I’ve realized it’s all she wears.
She exchanges a quick glance with her grandfather, but it’s so swift I may have imagined it. A tendon in her jaw flutters before her eyes narrow as they regard me. “Skin cancer, you’ve heard of it, right? I’d like to avoid it.”
The sharp edge to her tone surprises me since we’ve been on rather good terms since her return to the penthouse.
“Got it,” I mutter as she stalks past me with Guo at her heels. “How’s everything at the boutique?”
She releases a frustrated huff and grabs a bottle of water from the fridge. “Awful. I’m so behind. Even with Ari’s help while I was in the hospital, I’ll never get all the designs done in time for the grand opening of CityZen.”
“Grand opening? You have a date in mind already? ”
She nods. “September first, for Labor Day weekend. I’ve been working on the fall line for months.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
Jia gnaws on her bottom lip. “Honestly, I thought I would’ve escaped from your clutches by now.”
An unexpected chuckle tumbles out.
She flashes me the back of her hand, showcasing the simple platinum wedding band. “But the whole getting shot thing put a crimp in my plans, and here I am, still shackled to the mob boss.”
“And you love it, wifey.”
She rolls her eyes, but the hint of a smile curves her full lips. For a second, I’m so completely enthralled I nearly miss the text message from Jimmy.
Jimmy: Dante’s available now. Meet at his office in 15 .
Merda . Shoving my phone back into my jacket, I rush to the door. “Sorry, I have to run. An important meeting just came up.”
“You have to go right now?” Jia lifts a curious brow.
Spinning back to face her, I shoot her a smirk. “Why, are you going to miss me?”
“Of course not.”
“Right…”
“I was just wondering if it had anything to do with me or the shooting?”
It only takes me an instant to decide to lie, but apparently, the pause is enough to trigger her suspicions.
“Marco, if it is, you have to take me.” She erases the space between us and jabs a dainty finger at my chest.
Guo, who’s been exceptionally quiet, shuffles closer. “ Bǎobèi , let Mr. Rossi attend to his affairs, and we’ll attend to ours. It is nearly time for me to go home, and there is still much that must be done to stabilize the Four Seas.”
Her mouth screws into a pout, but the threat of her grandfather’s imminent departure is enough to silence her rebuttals. “ Fine,” she grumbles, eyes intent on mine. “So you’re actually going to allow me to leave the penthouse and meet with my men?”
“Fuck no,” I grind out. “I still don’t know if it was your men who tried to kill you.”
Guo raises his hands, stepping between us. “I agree with your husband, Jia. We will simply conduct a video call with the Four Seas Council. It is tentatively scheduled for two o’clock.”
I still hate the idea of Lei’s beady little eyes on my wife, even if it is through video. But it’s better than the alternative.
Jia glances at her watch and lets out a groan. “Fine, I guess that’s good enough for now.” Then she spears me with those starlit irises. “But if you discover anything that does concern me, you better tell me.”
“Of course, sweety pie.” I offer my best smile, and she shoots me a scowl in return.
“Keep working on those terms of endearment.” She whirls on her heel and disappears into the great room. . Guo throws a knowing smile my way before following his granddaughter.
I have to pry the soles of my shoes off the marble to force myself out the door. I simply can’t get enough of that little spitfire and her smart mouth.
The boardroom of the King’s empire is strikingly similar to the one in Gemini Corp. It doesn’t surprise me considering we’re practically neighbors, the two soaring, modern skyscrapers standing toe-to-toe along the mid-town Manhattan skyline.
As expected, my asshole half-brother makes me wait.
We’ve pulled the same shit with him and Luca, so I’m not certain why I thought this exchange would be any different. I drum my fingers on the lavish mahogany table as the minutes grind on endlessly .
Finally, when I’m about a second away from walking out, the door creaks open. Both of my half-brothers appear in the doorway. Luca, ever the businessman, is in a sleek dark suit, while Dante looks like he just rolled out of bed in a white undershirt and sweatpants.
How Luca trusts his volatile brother to run his empire is beyond me.
Neither speaks as they stroll into the boardroom, and it occurs to me I should thank them for the intel they’re about to share, but I just don’t fucking feel like it.
The Valentinos tower over me, so I finally stand and reluctantly offer my hand. “I suppose I owe you a thanks for this.”
“You can thank all of us.” Nico appears in the doorway and struts in.
What the hell is my brother doing here?