“Yeah. I am.” I shrug a shoulder and nod at the saleswoman hovering nearby. “I’ll take these for sure.”
“And we want to look at your ready-to-wear,” Scarlett says.
“Right this way.”
Fifty-Three
ROME
Ipocket my phone and look up to see Luke watching me with raised eyebrows.
“What?”
“I don’t even know who you are anymore.”
I roll my eyes, and we continue down the hallway to the cell. “You’re being dramatic.”
“Nope. I’m not. I’ve literallyneverseen you get mushy over a woman. I’ve also never seen you spend so much money on one.”
“It’s just money.”
“Still.”
“Tell me you didn’t give Scarlett your black card this morning.”
Luke shuffles on his feet and pushes his hand through his hair.
“That’s what I thought. Eloise ismine. Forever. Anyone who tries to even hurt herfeelingsdies. Painfully. Got it?”
“Got it.” He nods, and we push inside the cell where two men are strung up, their hands tied over their heads and hanging from hooks. They’re gagged, and they’re exhausted.
They should be. They ran for miles, trying to escape my men.
It didn’t work.
“So Rizzo sent you into my territory even though he was warned not to.” I shake my head and pick up a baton, shaking it so it extends to its full length, and then hit man number one in the knee, shattering the kneecap.
He screams.
I grin.
And the door to the cell opens as Julian and Mateo walk inside.
“Where’s Carson?” I ask them.
“He’s out of town on a job,” Mateo says with the shake of his head. “Won’t be back for a couple of days.”
“Too bad.” I rear back and hit Number Two in the hip. “He would have enjoyed this.”
“Next time,” Julian says with a chuckle. “Rizzo continues to be a stupid cuntface, I see.”
“I like that,” Mateo says with a nod. “Cuntface. I’m gonna use that one.”
“Happy to help,” Julian says, and they bump fists.
“How have your accommodations been here, boys?” I ask them and nod for Luke to take the gags out. Number One immediately pukes, making us all scowl. “Jesus.”
“Fuck you,” Number Two says. “We’re not the only ones here.”
