My woman?
Of course she’s mine. I bought her.
Mateo’s still babbling in my ear, and I look back at him. I probably should respond.
“You know how much shit you’ll be in if she starts talking about what you did, right? This is basically slavery,” he says.
“What’s it to you?” I snap. Maybe I should have bought him a woman too. I’m pretty sure my second-in-command has no trouble with the ladies, but I’ve never seen him with one for very long. Or course, I’ve never delved into that side of his world. We work together. We train together. If we got any closer, we’d be fucking.
And right now, I’m reserving that for a particular blonde in a white cotton dress that’s going to be torn off when we get home.
“Look…you’ve been straight for as long as I’ve known you,” he says. I frown at him. He shifts awkwardly and looks away. “It’s been a lot of years. I know you’re my boss. But… We’re friends, you know that, right?”
Where the fuck is he going with this?
“Sure,” I say. It seems ungracious not to.
“Just…just keep your nose clean. Can you do that?” he says the words quickly. Maybe he’s expecting me to kick his ass. Maybe I will…back at the gym. Right now, there’s another contender in the ring, and he’s stroking Nikki’s arm.
As if she senses me looking at her, she glances up and meets my eye. But instead of stepping away from him, she breaks eye contact and carries on talking, giggling girlishly. He laughs and leans in to say something in her ear. She puts her hand on his shoulder.
Fuck no!
“Hold my glass,” I say beneath my breath. Before Mateo can reply, I’m striding across the paving. I stop as I reach the pair and the fucker has the gall to look at me and smile.
“Get your hands off her,” I snarl. Nikki’s mouth drops open. Casanova not only leaves it there; he cups her shoulder with his palm. And then he grins.What the actual fuck!?
His wrist is in my fist before he can blink. When I twist it behind his back, he squeals like a pig. As I amp up the leverage, I feel something snap, and he screams.
Shit.
Maybe that was a little too far.
Nikki has a hand clasped over her mouth. She’s staring at me with eyes as wide as sky-blue saucers.
“Get your purse,” I snap. “We’re leaving.” She glances around frantically and snatches a small leather purse from a nearby chair. She barely has time to hook it over her shoulder before I have her by the arm and drag her out beside me.
“Senor Caraldi! Senor Caraldi!” I hear a frantic voice calling. It’s Torrio; the fat little fuck is wringing his hands like an opera singer. The asshole on the floor is still writhing and clutching his limp arm. Wailing like a toddler.
I don’t bother stopping to speak to my host. He’s turned on the ass-wipe lying on the floor.
“You idiot!” I hear him yell at the guy, followed by a flurry of Italian that hints there is a family connection. Casanova seems to be a nephew or something. Not my problem. I stride through the spacious reception of Torrio’s home.
“Dario! Dario, wait!” she says breathlessly. She’s jogging to keep up with me. The heels of her sandals are slowing her pace. She should have thought of that before she put them on and came here dressed like a whore.
Not a whore. She’s too damn beautiful.
Fuck it.I’m not thinking about that now. My phone is vibrating in my pocket, and I ignore it. I’m pretty sure it’s Mateo trying to figure out what’s going on. Too bad. He’ll find out soon enough when he sorts out whatever shit might be coming our way. I doubt there’ll be much, though. Not if Torrio knows what’s good for him.
At the sight of me in the hallway, the valet has sprinted away to retrieve my car. I should have come in the limo with the fucking driver. It would have given me a chance to discipline her in the confines of the car on the way home.
A flash of red appears in seconds, and the Ferrari pulls up at the bottom of the stairs. I don’t bother opening the door for her. She clambers in awkwardly as I gun the engine.
“Dario…I’m sorry,” she says huskily. “I had no idea—”
“Really?” I shoot a look at her.
Who the fuck does she think she is, playing stupid games like that?
