And yet, I wanted to be that for her. I wanted to be the shield that took all the pain meant for her. The weapon that killed for her.
There was no evidence to back what I was feeling. She didn’t need me. She’d killed in front of me more than I could remember. And yet, every time I had to watch her do it, my chest hurt.
It was stupid. I barely even knew the woman. But something deeper inside me was pulling me to her. Like my soul knew hers.
Francesca DeMone was many things.
Fire. Power. A storm. A force.
But with me? In the dark? When she let herself soften?
She was warmth.
And for the first time in years, I wanted warmth more than anything else.
The jazz swelled low and intimate, but my mind was with the woman who ruined me at cards.
And then ruined me in bed.
I might’ve lost that night.
But I’d never felt more like a winner.
Zane narrowed his eyes at me as he dealt the next hand. “You’re smiling to yourself.”
“No,” I lied.
“Thinking about your new wife?” Trevor teased.
I shot him a look that promised violence. He only smirked wider.
“So. How are things with Francesca?” Trevor asked – the only one cocky enough to. Zach knew better than to get in my business, and Zane was too respectful.
I rubbed a hand over my jaw. “Good.”
After a long pause of silence, I looked up to all of them staring at me. “What?”
“Fucking hell…” Zach shook his head and pinched the bridge of his nose.
Zane just leaned back and dropped his cards face down on the table.
Trevor gave a surprised chuckle. “You’re actually sleeping with her?”
“Watch it.”
He raised a brow. “I thought it was just for show. Did I miss something, player?”
The way I was looking at him in that moment, I was shocked he wasn’t choking.
Trevor laughed. “Holy shit. You’re so lucky Gìo’s not here.”
“Yeah,” Zach chimed in. “Isn’t he like your best friend?”
Zane raised his hands. “I’m right here.”
Trevor frowned at Zane. “Thanks, man.”
Zach turned to his best friend. “Seriously, bro?”
