“He’ll be landing shortly,” I say, glancing briefly at my Rolex.
She nibbles on her lips and wrings her hands together.
“Come here.” I open my arms, and she runs across the room in her bare feet, flinging herself into my arms. “It’s okay, honey.” I hold her close, running my hands up and down her back while dusting kisses into her hair.
“I’m scared. What if something goes wrong?”
She looks up at me with big doe eyes, and I just want to wrap her in cotton wool and keep her away from a world that’s only ever hurt her. A streak of flour crosses one cheek, and I love how comfortable she’s getting in my home.Ourhome. She’s been baking all morning while I was busy working.
“It won’t, but if it does, we’ll regroup and figure a new way out.”
She bites on the corner of her mouth.
“Your family is safe,” I reassure her. “They’re all at your parents’ house under armed guard, and that’s how it’ll remain until any and all threats are dealt with.”
“It’s not them I’m worried about.”
“Who else?” I tip her chin up, watching a war rage behind her eyes.
“Dom’ssoldati. They are innocent, and the thought of them dying so I can be free doesn’t sit right with me. Many of them have young families.”
I smile at her. “We’re not going to harm hissoldati. Contrary to what you might believe, I don’t like shooting innocent men either.” It’s debatable how innocent they are. At least some of them must know something about the cartel or the warehouse, so keeping them alive is more advantageous than killing them anyway. “Caleb and I are trained snipers. They won’t be killed or even harmed. I promise.”
She frowns, opening her mouth to ask for more details, but I shake my head. “It’s better you don’t know.”
She rubs at her chest, and I lean down and kiss her, taking my time leisurely brushing my lips against hers until I feel her relaxing.
“Is this a bad time?” Accardi says, and I hear the amusement in Caleb’s tone before I see it on his face when I break our lip-lock and look up. He’s leaning against the doorjamb, my brother just behind him.
“The plane landed early,” Zumo says as both men enter the room. “We need to get into position now. They’ll be here in an hour.”
Valentina stiffens against me, and I massage the knots in her shoulders.
“Hey, kitten.” Caleb ambles toward Valentina. “You look super cute today.”
She does. She’s only wearing yoga pants and a slouchy off-the-shoulder tee with her hair up in a messy bun and no makeup, but she’s adorable.
Andmine.
“Fuck off, Accardi,” I snap. “Don’t think I won’t shoot you. I can take those motherfuckers down myself if I have to.”
“Don’t wind him up today.” Zumo whacks Caleb on the arm before snatching my love out of my arms and hugging her.
“That goes for you too!” I bark at my brother.
“Jesus, Ro. Take a goddamned chill pill. I’m only giving the girl a hug.” He releases her immediately upon spotting the aggression on my face.
“You’ve got it bad, man.” Caleb chuckles.
“So, quit riling me up, and keep your fucking hands off her,” I say through gritted teeth.
“You still holding on to your sanity living here?” Caleb asks Valentina, smirking.
“Just about,” she jokes, leaning back to touch my face. “I’m still training him, but I quite like his possessiveness.”
Zumo groans. “Don’t feed the beast.”
“Too late for that.” I flash him a smug grin while wrapping my arms around my kitten and hugging her tight.
