For several reasons including her protection. Hunger surfaced again, yet I shoved it aside at least for now. I’d helped build my family’s empire on absolute control and losing it now would cost lives. That didn’t mean I’d be a choir boy. Quite the opposite.
“Enzo. Have four guards standing by for later.”
“Are you going somewhere, boss?”
“Yeah, I am.”
“Do you think that’s wise? It won’t be long until Dejandro figures out his son is missing.”
Laughing, I yanked the knot on my tie. “Let the bastard come for me. He’ll soon learn that attempting to invade our territory will be the last mistake he’ll ever make.”
CHAPTER 15
Sinclair
My reaction to learning Vincent’s identity wasn’t about being reckless.
Nor was enjoying spending an evening with Josette.
The unknown assailant from the coffee shop already knew I’d saved her. Keeping my luscious guest a complete secret at this point wasn’t possible. Plus, the only way of getting to know her was through actions, some even ignoring my carnal desires.
As before, just thinking about the woman and her insistence on keeping me at arm’s length had a similar effect as before. Controlling my desire was a feat I wasn’t used to being forced to make.
Yet the Prince name and reputation was on the line. Every deal the family had ever made had been backed by blood and promises of total destruction.
Every man and organization who’d dared cross us had learned a valuable lesson.
Many had vanished, several disappearances believed to be a product of our family’s immersion into black magic. They weren’t completely wrong.
Blood stained the hands of my brothers and our ancestors before us. We’d never wavered in our courage or determination, and it wasn’t going to occur now.
If Santos believed that by either force or cunning he could dare infiltrate our territory, undermining our operation, he would face the very violence he’d proctored.
I’d need to keep every part of my life organized and controlled as I’d always done before. Doing so had kept me alive.
Including with Josette.
However, if she could learn to handle the heat and the required control I had of her, she could prove herself useful. In turn, I’d make her an offer she couldn’t refuse.
After all, I was a consummate businessman.
With another promise made to myself, I headed toward the house, enjoying the pitter-patter of paws on my granite floor as Indiana tumbled inside.
As he raced through the first floor searching for her, I grabbed the bags, taking my time to set up his bed in the living room, unpacking some toys and even filling his water bowl and leaving it in the kitchen.
All in an effort to calm my anger and try to determine how I could gain at least her limited trust. By the time I was finishedpondering, Indiana had curled up on his bed as if completely comfortable in his new surroundings, snoozing after playing hard.
He’d earned his rest.
For me, there would be none until the thieves were found and dealt with.
Josette’s beauty was subtle yet powerful, intriguing as well as mysterious. Underneath her conservative clothes and quiet demeanor was a tigress. My instinct was never wrong. I wanted to peel away her layers, nurture the woman who’d longed to see the light of day. And I craved fucking her in every hole, claiming her as mine.
The thought was both arousing as well as disturbing.
Tasting her twice was obviously not enough.
I’d show her kindness instead of force. I’d allow her to see whatever more reasonable side of me existed. But she would obey me. A thought slipped into my mind. She’d worked herself to the bone to protect her business.
