Chapter 22 – Nico #2
“I have to get back to the party.” Her chest rose and fell, each breath soft and uneven. Those fists clenched at her side. The crisp, sweet scent rose off her skin, teasing me. Tropical flowers and toasted coconut. I drank her in.
“You keep trying to stay invisible,” I finally said. “It’s impossible.”
“Then stop looking at me!” she snapped.
“I’ve tried.” Madonna mia, I’d tried. I leaned forward before I could stop myself.
This wasn’t a flame of lust. I was obsessed with this woman.
Consumed. On the brink of insanity. Those devious pink lips beckoned me, and I gave into the temptation.
“Tell me to walk out that door right the fuck now, or else—”
Air caught in my throat.
“Or else…what?” she whispered.
Fuck it.
I closed the distance and brushed my lips over hers.
The feel of her against me was a visceral zap.
Rae braced her hands against my chest. She seemed to be both pushing me away and pulling me closer.
I fisted my hands, pushing my entire weight into the wall to keep from grabbing her.
The moment I laid hands on her, it would seal our fate.
Rae couldn’t get into trouble tonight because I wasn’t able to hold myself together.
Her mouth was firm and insistent against mine. That wicked little tongue slid against my lips, and I opened for her.
Mannaggia! She tasted good. So fucking good.
I would ruin her—and she’d let me.
I had to be stronger than this flame burning between us. At least until the time was right. And then no force on earth was stopping me.
The kiss deepened, and Rae slid her arms around my neck, tugging me close. I remained rigid, letting her explore my mouth, hold onto my body, but refusing to touch her.
“Nico,” she moaned, her hot breath mingling with mine.
This was dangerous. I was drawn to her, unable to stop myself. But my world was dangerous; it was what fueled my veins.
Rae had to be the sweetest drug of all.
“I have to go back,” she insisted, tugging on the short strands of hair at the back of my neck.
I groaned and buried my face in her neck. My next inhale was deep, filling myself with her, and praying it was enough to carry me through the rest of the evening.
“Let me slip out first. I’ll knock if the coast is clear,” I said. My voice sounded strange to my own ears. Who was this desperate, raw, needy guy? I didn’t recognize him.
Rae nodded, sliding her palms down my torso.
The moment her touch fell away, every muscle clenched in protest. I forced my foot to take a step back.
The thigh and calf were lead. As if in slow motion, my hand reached out to twist the knob.
The door cracked, and some voice inside me cried out in protest.
I opened the door—and nearly leapt out of my skin!
My grandfather was walking down the hall with his capos.
“Hide,” I hissed, stepping into the hall and closing the door.
Blood roared in my ears. A tremor slid through my muscles. Despite the years of training, and the numerous, bloody fights, my field of vision narrowed and my awareness zeroed in on the threat, instead of staying alert to the full scope of my surroundings.
I stood there, frame loose and ready to act.
The lazy fucks didn’t notice from where I came, and it took them too many seconds before they spied me. If we’d been on the streets, they would’ve been dead.
Actually…they might not make it out of this house alive.
Not if they found Rae.
I steeled my spine. They weren’t going to find her, and so what if they did? If they hurt a hair on Rae’s head, they would die. It suddenly became as simple as that. Protecting her trumped every other bond or tie in my black heart.
“Ah, nipote, there you are,” the don called out.
“Waiting eagerly, I see? That’s good, Don Grimaldi,” Grey Tony said approvingly.
The condescending prick had been prematurely greying in his twenties and earned the nickname before my time. He ran the import-export side of things, knew every port and airstrip in a fifty-mile radius, and had blackmail on many of the customs officers and other officials.
Unfortunately, he was greedy as hell.
Skimming from the books was not an offense I would overlook. Eliminating him would cost the famiglia. Someone would need to build the same rapport with the authorities. That would take time and precision—a problem for another day.
“Nonno, forgive my impudence, but you were under strict orders not to work tonight,” I said with a forced smile. “This gathering was for your enjoyment.”
The don flicked his wrist in a dismissive gesture. I didn’t miss the way his body swayed. It was a fraction, a small totter. He’d overdone it tonight.
“Your grandmother is the love of my life, but she frets for nothing,” he chuckled. “There’s important business that needs discussion.”
My mind scrambled to think of where Rae could hide.
There weren’t very many places. Why—why—did I drag her into the upstairs den?
At least if we’d stayed in the first room, there wasn’t enough seating there.
The don didn’t like to have chats with his capos unless they were all comfortable, and he could lord it over them in grand style.
Which meant the den. The place Rae was currently hiding.
Of all the stupid places…I hadn’t been fucking thinking straight!
“I only speak out of concern, sir,” I insisted. “Nonna will tan my hide if anything happens to you.”
The old men laughed. A chorus of deep rumbles. Every note mocked the genuine concern my grandmother had for her spouse. The noise grated on my ears.
“We’ll make it quick,” Alfonso conceded. “We just need to discuss the matter of Enzo—”
The don tsked sharply. “Not out here.”
“Forgive me, Don Grimaldi.” Alfonso reached for the door to the den, and my throat closed tight.
The men trailed inside. I looked over their heads, searching the space. The empty space.
I drew in a shallow breath and followed them inside. A second sweeping glance showed the space was indeed empty. There was no place for a ravenous beauty to conceal herself. Maybe behind the potted palms if Rae was of a smaller build.
Where are you, cherry-bomb?
Leaning against the closed door, my hands stayed by my side, ready to reach under the jacket and into the holsters. I silently promised a bloodbath if they hurt my woman.
“This business with Enzo is bad,” Gio intoned, drawing his foot over the opposite knee.
My grandfather leaned back in his chair, rubbing his chin. Sweat beaded on his brow. He should’ve been in bed. “No one’s heard from him?”
“Not a trace, signore.” Tony steepled his hands. “His phone was found at his house. That gives us no indication if he left the country or if he was assassinated.”
I patted myself on the back. Not even my friends knew what had happened. It was better to exterminate the threat myself and keep the information hidden. There was only one other soul who knew the truth.
I liked that Rae caught me. It was good that she knew.
When I claimed her in the open, when I made her my queen, I wouldn’t hide from her.
She was built to handle the underworld. I trusted her.
Which was how it should be. The king and queen should be on the same page, both equal players in the games of strategy.
The exact opposite of how my grandparents operated.
“Why would he leave?” my grandfather snapped. “He was a good man. Loyal. Selfless.”
Treacherous. Lazy. A threat.
My molars ground together. These men were blinded by years of working together. They overlooked corruption in the name of unity. It was easier for them to exist as a broken tribe than to face their own flaws.
“You think it was a murder, Don?” Benny leaned forward. “Who would hurt him?”
“The same people who took out Tony Capello? His fingers were gone, that has to be a personal hit!” Gio insisted.
Yeah, personal was the right thing to say in regard to that matter.
Capello touched something he shouldn’t have. Even if it hadn’t been my woman, his crimes signed his death warrant. My only regret was not finding out Rae was the maid he attacked before I hunted him down to finish the job I started in the kitchen.
“There was an incident down at the port,” Alfonso murmured. “Your sources had information, Tony.”
“They did,” Grey Tony muttered. “Race cars were sighted taking out a shipment of Carlos’s goods.”
“Well, that doesn’t concern us.” My grandfather dismissed them. “We’ll be short on supply, but Carlos has never let us down before.”
And that right there was why my grandfather should retire.
Carlos was taking advantage of his lack of ambition.
There were better ways to bring illicit supplies into the city.
The Zorzallos had figured that out, but so long as we supported Carlos and allowed him to have sole control of the market, we were at his mercy in terms of price.
That monopoly needed to end.
“It’s a bad business,” Tony insisted. “We can’t have our partners attacked on our turf.”
“Technically Angelo controls the Conley Port,” I drawled, unable to help myself.
The don scowled. “Angelo Zorzallo is an idiot.”
There was no love lost between the two dons of this city. Their feud went back decades. At least the other kingpin saw the benefit of working together, which was why we got along.
“Does anyone in our syndicate own a vintage, red racecar?” Alfonso piped up.
The curtains shivered.
My gaze snagged on the movement. There you are, beautiful.
Rae needed to hang on. If she reacted, if she thought she was in danger, she might reveal herself by accident.
“Don Grimaldi owns a vintage Jaguar,” I said sweetly. “And I believe you own more than one Ferrari from that era, signore.”
Alfonso paled. “It wasn’t me!”
“Dominico!” the don snapped. “What’s gotten into you?”
The curtains were still. She was safe—for now.
“Nothing, signore,” I said smoothly. “I’m just pointing out that in this city, there is no shortage of red, vintage sports cars.”
Benny harumphed. “He’s right. It could be anyone.”