Lorenzo’s brow shot up, his eyes narrowed. “Then you better be prepared to die,” he snapped, unintimidated. “Feel free to close the door behind you.”
He turned his back on Veer who stood there for another moment, his face contemplative. Either he’d recognized he’d pissed off the wrong man and just signed his death warrant or he wanted to apologize. Wordlessly, he turned.
About to walk out, I called out. “Veer.”
He stopped in the doorway, turning his head slightly. “Yes?”
“No truce will stop me from disemboweling you alive if you forget my warning,” I reminded, my words dripping unconcealed menace.
He glared at me yet said nothing. Another second later, he left, his useless bodyguard trailing behind him.
Lorenzo looked at me, his expression unreadable. “Do you think it was her that took out those guards?” He lowered himself to the chair behind his desk, referring to Koro.
“The thought did cross my mind and despite the calling card, it doesn’t make sense. Why take out just one man when she had a whole estate of the fuckers at her disposal.” That was surprising. So far, her coordinated attacks took down groups of men or whole families.
“You think she’s trying to pin this on you?”
I frowned before his words registered. “Why would she?” Although I asked the question, I wondered if he was right. Maybe us fucking had been an act. Maybe this was her revenge, finally getting rid of the fucker she’d left alive. Perhaps her plan was to cause war between the families.
“Don’t tell me,” Lorenzo muttered, drawing my gaze. “You fucked her too?”
Jesus, was he a fucking mind reader or did I wear the pussy stains on my fucking face as a goddamned mustache? “No,” I lied.
He shook his head, clearly not believing me. “Christ, Remo, only you can be so fucked up as to get your cock into this diabolic predicament. I can’t decide if I’m impressed or concerned,” he snorted.
I chuckled. “You and I both know there isn’t a woman alive capable of breaking me, brother. I take what I want, when I want. I never think with my dick?—”
“You never think, period,” he reproached then exhaled on a slow breath. “Watch your back. Fucking two women is asking for trouble but when one of them is a serial killer, and the other pregnant, that’s suicide. Whatever your killer’s got planned, you’re either a part of it or the center of it. No matter how much I support you, there’s limitations when there’s a coldblooded killer involved.” He stared at me, his expression expectant.
A nod was all I could afford him right now and about to leave his office, he stopped me. “Remo.” I turned. “Join me on the island tonight, think it will do us some good to recoup, strategize how we take down Veer and his circus. He’ll call again, that’s for sure but I’d rather have a plan in place or a start of one, before he does.”
“You’re speaking my language, brother. I owe that cunt.” I left his office, smiling.
Outside the building, I glanced at the truck parked across the street and grinned. Veer’s minions glared at me when I mock saluted them. I expected him to leave spies behind, just a little more inconspicuous would’ve made me respect the man more.
“You’ve got admirers.” Dario came up beside me as they took off.
“Dumb fucks,” I snorted.
“You took out the bodyguards, didn’t you?”
I looked at him, my usual smirk in place. “You figured it out. Impressive, old man.”
“Fuck, Remo, you know better than to cross that boundary.” Dario warned, unfazed by my jibe. “Your brother will lose his shit if he finds out.
“He won’t.” I checked my watch.
“I’ve never seen you go to these lengths for a woman before, still in denial?”
Sliding a hand into my pants pocket, I rubbed the thumb of the other over my bottom lip, my thoughts caught and held by Ishika and Koro. “Sometimes the irony of a situation is lost on us only because we see what people choose to show us. Deep down they’re more broken than they’d like the world to see.”
Dario clutched my shoulder, his smile wider than the usual twitch of his lips. “And sometimes the heart is a lot softer inside a hardcore shell than most people would care to notice.” His words caught me off guard and I frowned, unsure how torespond. “You don’t have to pretend with me, Remo. Whatever you’ve got going on with these two women, is taking you to a foreign place and while I won’t call it the ‘L’ word, I’m sure you know what’s best. Just don’t do this alone, talk to me when you’re ready.”
He was gone before I could form a suitable reply. I stared up at the sky. The gathering dark clouds a distinct prediction of my inner chaos.
“Dario says we’re heading out to the island tonight?” Gian came up beside me.
I looked at him. “I need you to watch Duke.”
