Connor steps away and drops his hand. He smiles, a genuine smile, showing both dimples, not just one. “Don’t sweat it. I believe you. I just wanted to see how serious Declan was about you.”
I frown. “What do you mean?”
Connor doesn’t get to answer because Declan flies out of the house and tackles his brother. The men roll on the concrete and brawl with fists and fury as if they’re really fighting.
Blood splatters from a lip.
Oh my God, they are fighting for real!
“Stop,” I scream when a shirtsleeve tears. “Stop that!”
But they don’t, and since they’re both wearing black clothes and it’s dark outside, they’re just a mash of dark figures punching and grunting and rolling on the floor. I can’t tell them apart.
They roll near the pool.
A gun falls out.
I rush to grab it so nobody gets shot in a fit of rage. The golden grip tells me it’s Connor’s pistol. I point into the air and fire two shots.
The men pause. I think it’s Declan who has Connor pinned, but with bloody faces, it’s impossible to tell. I walk up to the pair of them, press my bare foot on Declan’s shoulder, and push.Hard. They say a woman is strong in her hips and legs. They’re right.
The men fall into the pool.
I’m done here.
Chapter 23
This is the release
Dina
Istomp up the stairs.
I hear the sliding door open, and Connor calls out, “Don’t be mad. I’m sorry! Fuck. I like you, Dina Ferrar. I just need to be sure he does too!”
At the top of the stairs, I flip Connor my middle finger, then disappear into my bedroom. Actually, no. This is the late Massio Crossbow’s bedroom.
At any point in my life, if someone had told me that I’d sleep in the bed of Selnoa’s most notorious crime boss, I would have told them it must be because he drugged me, because there was no way I would sleep in bed with him.
Life has fucked me up and spit me out, and here I am, at the ripe age of thirty-seven, happy that I have a bed to sleep in that I don’t have to whore myself out for. And I have a bed without having to put up with my cheating husband.
I call the shots. I guess in that respect, I am blessed.
The bed is comfortable, I’ll give it that. It makes it easier to sleep in, but, judging by the way the situation escalated tonight, Imight have a hard time resting tonight. Normally, I would crawl into Massio’s bed and go to sleep while watching TV, but since I’ve had so much excitement, I can’t do that. In the bathroom, I face myself in the mirror.
You know what? I’ll do my hair. I love doing my hair, makeup, and nails, and lately I’ve been into under-eye patches to hide the puffy bags under my eyes when I’m tired and unable to sleep due to worrying that Sergei will bury me in debt.
Doing my hair relaxes me. Any kind of girly pampering relaxes me. Lazy days with books. Lunches with friends. Spending time with my daughter.
Footsteps enter the space. Declan rushes at me the way he rushed at his brother. I yelp when he spins me by my shoulders and cups my face. He tucks his thumbs under my chin and lifts my head so I can look up at him.
Blood trickles down his left cheek. I can’t tell if it’s his blood or his brother’s.
“Are you okay?” he asks.
Me? Am I okay? He’s the one who got into a fight. “Yes, I’m okay. Are you?”
Declan nods. He’s soaking wet, so I keep my distance and keep my pajamas dry, but Declan pins me against the bathroom counter.
