“She ripped off my mask,” I announce.
Luciano stares at me for a moment as if uncomprehending.
“Fuck,” he finally says. “How could you let her do that?”
“She tried to seduce me,” I explain, knowing he could easily review the hidden camera footage. If I’d deactivated the camera before going to her room, I wouldn’t have to reveal that she saw my face. It could be our little secret. But then again, I wouldn’t hide it. I share everything with my brothers. Besides, they were intimately involved with the planning of this kidnapping—I wouldn’t have been able to pull it off without them—so I owe it to them to keep them in the loop.
“She can identify me,” I continue as if that wasn’t obvious.
Luciano nods slowly. He understands the ramifications completely. Rosa does, too, though I can tell from the look on her face she doesn’t believe those ramifications. She doesn’t think us capable of it. I guess she’s going to learn what her big brothers are truly like.
“What does that mean?” Rosa asks.
Neither of us answer.
“What does it mean?” Rosa presses.
Luciano gives her a withering glance. “It means we’re going to have to kill her when we get the ransom money.”
Rosa steps back. “No. You can’t. She’s too young.”
“Maybe we won’t have to,” I agree. “Her father will be dead when this is done. And if we kill her brothers as well…”
Rosa stares at me like she doesn’t know me anymore. “This is why I don’t involve myself in the family business. I don’t want to know what you do behind the scenes. I thought you were joking earlier when you said you’d kill them all. You weren’t.”
“No, we weren’t,” I agree.
“Wiping out the Amatos won’t be easy,” Luciano says. “We’d have to hit them all at once, if we do. Otherwise, her brothers will sense the targets on their backs and go into hiding. It could take months. Years. Meanwhile, they’ll be hunting us at the same time, thanks to the prying eyes of our captive. No, it’s best if we kill her when this is done.”
I stare at him, torn between letting Angela live and killing her. I’m not even sure Icankill her, if it came to it.
“I’ll consider it,” I tell him. I’m in charge of this operation and Luciano knows it. He and my other brothers will do what I say. I just hope I don’t lead us all to ruin over her.
“Do you want me to take over her supervision?” Luciano asks.
I shake my head. “I might as well continue to act as the point man now that she knows what I look like. No need to risk your identity or Rosa’s. There’s a chance she’ll recognize your voice, especially now that she knows who I am.” She would have met Luciano eight years ago when she used to hang out with us in school.
Rosa shakes her head, and the long hair draping the right side of her face follows along as if to emphasize the motion. “My identity won’t be at risk as I don’t plan to get involved.”
“Good,” I say. “The less people that interact with her, the better.”
“Did she eat yet, at least?” Rosa asks.
“No,” I say. “She probably won’t tonight.”
Rosa sighs. “All right. But if she dies of starvation she won’t be of any use to anyone, you know that right?”
I nod, then glance at Luciano. “I’ll call a meeting with the others later tonight. Let them know the situation, and tell them about our plans to move. Just need some time to collect my thoughts.”
“Take as long as you need.” Luciano nods at the pot next to the stove. “Left some risotto for you, by the way.”
“You have it,” I tell him. “Not hungry.”
I take the stairs to my room and go inside. I pause at the floor-to-ceiling window and gaze out at the moonlit sea. I start thinking of Angela again, and the way she sat in my lap. I remember the taste of her breast in my mouth. The texture of her areola. My pants become way too tight.
Shit. I’m going to have to take a cold shower. I got the bluest balls in the world right now.
I strip and my cock leaps free. I ignore it and hop in the shower. I set the temperature low but it doesn’t help. I should be shivering but I’m not—I feel almost hot. My cock keeps throbbing between my legs, pulsing in sync to my heartbeat… the vibrations pass into the surrounding skin, stretching and teasing my balls, like her lips should be doing right now.
