5. Max #2
But I didn’t want to leave her behind. Not anymore.
“I don’t know,” I finally answered.
“Ciel? Wynn? Thoughts?” She turned to the other two.
Ciel reached out his hand, and she hopped off Obi’s lap to collapse onto both of theirs.
Her bottom sat on Ciel’s lap while her legs sprawled across Wynn’s lap.
They both gripped her possessively, hands on hips and calves.
My eyes flicked over to Obi, but he showed no signs of frustration or annoyance.
Could they truly all be fine with this?
With…sharing her?
“I don’t like being exposed,” Ciel said, voice hesitant and careful. “I don’t like risk or—or uncertain variables. I don’t believe we can trust him.”
She pressed a kiss to the corner of his mouth, then turned to the other. I couldn’t read any thoughts on her face. “Wynn?”
“I don’t trust him.” He squeezed his hand on her leg. “He served his purpose against the Albanians, but he led them right to us, and he’s hiding more than we know.”
“Three for no, then,” Ryu said. “Cas?”
“My vote is yes,” Cas said. He held my stare. “But that could change in the future if anything goes wrong.”
Ryu nodded. “We all know Obi hates Maxy, so that feels like a given.”
My teeth gritted together. This wasn’t looking good for me.
“Hmm,” the leader said as he tilted his head back. “If we’re going to take responsibility for you, we need something in exchange.”
“What?” I had nothing left to give.
“Information.”
My jaw clenched, and I schooled my face back into the mask I’d grown used to wearing. “What exactly do you want from me?”
“I want to use what you know about the Camorra against them.”
I curled my hands into fists. “And what if I can’t help you?”
“Then my vote is no.” He shrugged. “We simply do not have the time or resources to babysit you unless you can make it worth our while. Earn your keep, Volpe.”
My breath rattled in my lungs. As a business partner, I knew plenty about their operations, but Greco had always held the upper hand. He showed no weakness, and especially not to me. I’d give the Shadows whatever information I could…but what if it wasn’t enough?
“I will tell you whatever I know.”
Obi inclined his head. “My vote is yes.”
Ryuji scoffed. “Seriously?”
“Two for yes,” Cas said. “Princess?”
All heads turned back to her. She said before that she’d let me stay, but now that three of her men were openly against it, she could change her mind. She owed no allegiance to me.
“I already told him I’d let him stay as long as he gave us the truth when we asked for it.” She looked at me, eyes piercing, and I was certain she was going to tell them about the tattoo on my back, but she kept her face controlled.
“I will,” I said. “I want the Camorra gone as much as you do. We agree about that, at least.”
“Then I vote yes.”
“Well, including Max, that’s four for yes,” Ryuji bit out. He let out a breath and sat back in his seat. “Why does he even get a vote? Whatever. I hate it, and I’m going to bitch about it constantly, but the decision is made. Now get the fuck over here, hanii.”
She rolled her eyes, but she moved to his lap instead.
He fisted her hair roughly and dragged her mouth to his, devouring her right there.
My eyes went wide as she arched against him, winding her hands around his neck.
Jealousy flared deep in my chest, hot and uncomfortable, but I forced myself to watch.
When their kiss finally broke, she was breathless.
Her amused eyes glimmered. “You said the votes were in, Ryu.”
“Doesn’t mean I have to be happy about it. Doesn’t mean I can’t punish you for it,” he growled back before he slapped her ass. She yelped. “If I don’t get what I want in this, I’ll take what I want in other ways.”
My throat went dry, waiting for some kind of conflict to explode between them all, but the rest of the guys just chuckled and exchanged heated looks.
“Fine, you fussy baby,” she quipped before leaning forward to bite his nose.
He scowled and yanked her forward for another searing kiss. “You fucking brat.” His finger curled around the necklace she wore—a choker with a diamond dangling inside a ring. “You wear my collar. You obey me.”
My eyes widened, and my heart thumped inside my chest. What the fuck?
“Yes, sir,” she purred.
He groaned. “Stop making me hard right now. I can’t fuck you in front of him.” His thumb pointed at me, still watching this entire exchange like I was a fucking trout with my mouth hanging wide open.
“You started it!”
Obi cleared his throat, and Leona ducked her head with a blush. I looked away, rubbing the back of my neck, and tried to clear my mind of the last two minutes.
“Okay, let’s move on,” Leona said with a smirk. “I believe we have other important things to discuss.”
“Volpe,” Obi said. His deep voice carried throughout the entire room. “If we catch one hint of a threat, if you hurt any of us physically or otherwise, I will skin you alive. Do I make myself clear?”
Physically or otherwise.
I had to stop myself from glancing at Leona as all the ways I’d hurt her flashed before my eyes.
“Understood.”