36. Enemy Territory
Enemy Territory
Salvatore
Sitting across from a sworn enemy and not squeezing the life out of his body surprisingly takes a lot of energy and the threat of sedation.
Luiggi reaches into his jacket. Men on either side of Agostino Sr. pull their guns.
I shake my head for him to stand down.
The blunt Andrea forced me to smoke before entering the Preda don’s office has yet to kick in. Luiggi is within arm’s reach behind me with the syringe. In case I jump across the desk and start a war.
The war for me began the moment Bianca’s life was at risk.
“There’s no trust between us, but you have my word I didn’t order harm against your fiancée,” Agostino says in Sicilian. The frown lines bordering his mouth tighten at Luiggi inching closer.
My fists clench.
Luiggi moves, triggering Agostino’s men.
Bianca would laugh at the irony of the Preda don resembling Vito Corleone.
I might’ve under different circumstances, but ain’t shit funny.
I almost lost her. Had I not shown her how to operate the app I installed on her phone to command the drones, I wouldn’t be in Agostino’s office willing myself to remain calm.
I’d be dead after taking as many motherfuckers with me as possible before searching for Bianca in the afterlife.
“Salvatore?” Agostino asks.
I pull at my suit lapels. Luiggi moves again, as do Agostino’s men. Andrea curses and frees the remote from his pocket to detonate the explosives attached to the drones around the property.
Everybody will take a forever nap before I allow my enemies to best me.
“Camurria.“ Agostino waves off his men once he sees the syringe in Luiggi’s hand. The bags under his eyes sag. “Leave us.”
Andrea lingers. “Ni videmu,“ I assure him.
The door closes with a soft click. Agostino folds his hands over the worn writing desk separating us. On the mantelpiece behind him, there is a photograph of him with his two sons when they were children.
“I had a love like yours once.” He lets out a shaky laugh. “Killed to keep her safe and almost started a war myself. Marrying the person you want is a gift in this life. Wives have and will never be targets.”
“Tell that to your youngest,” I say through clenched teeth. “I already took your father. I will not hesitate to kill your son.”
Agostino’s jaw works. “I was not a fan of my father’s actions, nor did I uphold them. I extended grace to you for his death, given your age. Make no mistake, Salvatore. I will protect my family the same way I expect you to protect yours.”
I grab the briefcase next to my chair and slide it across the desk.
He frowns. “What’s this?”
“Payment. I leveled the building with the sales associate inside,” I say. Stephanie texted me a photo of the wedding dress Bianca tried on. Figured it was free.
A smile ghosts across Agostino’s mouth. “You remind me of myself when I was your age. I’ll talk to Tino to put an end to any actions against your fiancée, assuming it was him. It ends today.”
“Your son is involved in migrant smuggling. Talk with him about that before you plan his funeral.”
Agostino blinks, then shakes his head. “I forbade our involvement since I took over my family.”
“He’s working with an outside partner who has the resources to move around you.” I don’t tell him to watch his back. It’s implied, but they can all die.
Andrea drives me back home. He claims it’s insurance so I won’t take out any more buildings today, but the hearts in his eyes say otherwise.
He’s been texting Stephanie since they met at the airport.
The bridesmaid dress she wore mysteriously found its way into his SUV before everything turned to ash.
“We’re almost there,” he says to the video feed of Bianca on my phone. She’s taking out her braids with his new crush in the living room.
I let out a breath and close my eyes. “She almost died today.”
“You saved her.”
“But?”
He sighs. “Maybe it’s best if she goes home.”
“Where is this coming from?”
“You blew up a building in Preda territory today.”
I stare. “And?”
“And we almost got into a gunfight. You tried to kill a dead man again with twenty-eight bullets to his chest.”
I don’t see the problem.
“After you crushed his arms and legs,” Andrea adds. “I love you like a brother, but I’m not cool with you pushing us to the brink of war. Bianca has people who love her back home. Let her live a safe life, away from our bullshit.”
My heart lodges in my fucking ribs at the thought of her walking out of my life. I want her safe, but I can’t say goodbye—not yet. I’m in too deep and will chase her if she ever leaves.
Andrea pulls up in front of the house. I’m out of the car before he slows to a stop.
“Hello to you too,” Stephanie scolds in the kitchen.
I don’t give a shit what she or anyone else has to say.
I need her.
Bianca’s brows pinch under a crown of spiral curls dancing above her shoulders. Chairs knock over and I crush my lips to hers. She tips her head back as I cradle it to not hit the window above the sink. The soft moans from her mouth claw at my chest, easing the pain. I can’t lose her. I won’t.
My hands roam the sides of her breasts down to the small of her back. The cotton material of her dress gathers under my fingers as I hoist her into the air. Plates and food crash to the floor from my single swipe to the kitchen table to lay her down.
Andrea’s voice is faint when he tells Stephanie to come with him. It’s too early in the evening for Nonna to be asleep. She had better not come in here unless she wants an eyeful.
My mouth moves from Bianca’s lips to her neck.
“Benny,” she purrs, back arched, fingers dragging through my hair.
She gasps at the first tear in her dress. I shred the fabric in my hand, never pulling my mouth from hers. Buttons spill across the kitchen floor as I lash the tip of her nipple, teasing the tight bud with my teeth.
“Fuck!” she cries.
I drag my tongue across her dark areola before switching sides.
Bianca widens her legs. Her hands fly across my belt to lower my zipper.
She forces my briefs down with my trousers and drags her tongue over the palm she wets to run her hand up and down my shaft.
My groan is deep as I pump into her grip. She tightens her fist.
“Fuck, Trouble.“ I hiss, willing myself not to come.
She sucks my bottom lip. “I want to feel you.”
On a growl, I smack away her hand and rip her bra. Bianca is a feast spread across the table. Delicious breasts. Shaved pussy. Pretty pink toes I suck. I watch her contort with pleasure when I ease into her.
We groan at the friction of nothing between us.
Every inch of her feels like home.
She winces at the slow stretch of her walls as I glide deeper. “You okay?” I pant.
“Yeah.”
Heat licks my skin with sweat. I thumb her nipples and surge my hips up to tap her spot. Her pussy clenches as I thrust harder.
“Benny,” she whines.
I kiss her chin. “I’m here, baby. I’ll always be here.”
“How does that feel?”
“Mmm.” Bianca’s lip rolls between her teeth.
I kiss her and tilt her hair into the shower spray, working the shampoo across her scalp. She closes her eyes and smiles.
We’d been in the shower washing each other before I took over her hair. There’s a good chance my dick is somewhere on the tile, shriveled with third-degree burns.
“How can you shower in this fucking sauna?” I wince.
She pops an eye open. “It could be hotter.”
“Don’t cry to me when you need skin grafts. Do you use olive oil?”
“Huh?” she laughs.
“For your hair. I’ve helped Nonna wash hers in the sink. She uses olive oil with her conditioner.”
“You might be the sweetest crime boss I know.”
I deadpan. “I’m the only crime boss you know. What do I use next?”
She points to a hair mask container and turns her back to me. I lather her roots and ends, unsure how to calm the tightness in my chest settling between my ribs.
“I’m sorry,” I tell her.
“Did you fart?”
“Trouble.”
Bianca sighs. “Benny. I’m fine now.”
“You sure?”
“That dickhead deserved a few more bullets for trying to kidnap me,” she huffs. “Wearing his blood and guts was an experience, but I’m not losing sleep over him. I wish I could get my hands on that bridal attendant. How dare she make a sale and then turn me over like that?”
“I blew her up. With the building,” I add.
“Did you take your money back from the register before you did it?”
We snicker.
“Am I rubbing off on you, Trouble?”
She pinches her fingers together. “Maybe a little. There were a few people at my old job that I wouldn’t mind giving a dirt nap. I’d never do it for real, but if they tried to mess with my safety.” Her hands raise. “It’s above me.”
I push a strand of hair from her face. “Leave the killing to me, love. You’re too precious.”
Bianca came into my life like a hurricane with no off button or filter. She fits by my side as my partner. I want her, but not by force.
“I saw Tino’s father today. He vowed no harm would come to you.” I swallow and look away. “You’re free to go home now. I can get you on a plane tomorrow.”
“Benny. I agreed to help you.”
“And I care too much to see you hurt. I was ready to burn half the district behind you today. This life took away the people I love. I can’t lose you too.”
Andrea is an idiot half the time, but he’s right. If Bianca going home keeps her safe, I’ll learn to live without her.
She takes my face into her hands. “Bad things won’t go away because I do. You kept me safe. The guy called me by my fake name you told Andrea to make before your drones killed him. I don’t half-ass projects, and you aren’t getting out of being voluntold to marry me.”
I kiss her hands and sigh. “You really enjoy telling me what to do, don’t you?”
“You’re the one trying to act all chivalrous after blowing people up in buildings,” she says with a side-eye. “Do you want out?”
I’ll want more if you stay.
“No.”
Bianca rinses out the conditioner coiling her curls. Water runs down her neck to her nipples, tempting me to suck again. I slip my hands around Bianca’s waist, bringing her closer to kiss her collarbone. Then her throat. Then her mouth.
“If we get married, you’re mine, Trouble,” I say, to give her one last out. “Everything changes tomorrow.”
“Bring it on, crime boss.”
Her gaze meets mine, turning my heart over in response.
I kiss her slowly. For the time I have left with her and our future remains uncertain.