“I really thought you were going to pull your gun out and pop a cap in his ass when he implied you weren’t good for anything but an arranged marriage,” Sage says carefully, and when I turn my head, he’s glancing between me and the road, a worried frown creasing his brow.
I grunt. “The only thing that stopped me was there were so many police officers around. Gio can thank the local police department for the fact that he is still breathing. He’s lost sight of what is important, and I don’t think he’s fit to be the head of the Russo family anymore. I can’t believe he implied I’m only good for marriage. He knows how I feel about that and that Dad didn’t want that for me.”
Sage is silent, and when I look at him, he’s frowning, his eyes on the road as he purses his lips.
“What, you don’t agree?”
He sighs loudly. “I don’t disagree that he’s not focused on the business, but has he really lost sight of what’s important? It seems like maybe he’s putting his happiness first, and isn’t that what matters?”
“Please,” I scoff. “Our happiness was never going to matter. Remember the family motto, Sage.” I tap the tattoo on mybody. “Blood, honor, and valor. None of that implies we need to be happy. Family first, and that doesn’t mean flesh and blood family, but the organization. Gio has forgotten that.”
“Maybe, or maybe he’s just realized there are more important things in life,” Sage replies quietly.
“What the fuck is wrong with you?” I demand. “You’re in a weird mood. If you really feel like that, why don’t you turn the car the fuck around, and I’ll leave you to play happy family with them while I get on with business. I’m sure they will be thrilled to have you.” I’m pissed at his words, but deep down, I know it probably has to do with the fact that he isn’t wrong. That isn’t something I’m going to admit to at the moment though. I’m also jealous. Does he want to be with them more than he wants to be with me? They can probably give him a more normal relationship, even though there are four of them, which is more than I will ever be able to.
“Nothing,” he says quietly before shaking his head and grinning at me with a wink. “Just playing devil’s advocate. Now what are we going to do about Gio and your raging bloodlust? I think fratricide might still be a bit extreme, even for you. You’d end up regretting it once your bloodlust cooled.” The tension in the car lowers at his playfulness, but my body is still wound tightly as can be.
“Don’t be so sure,” I mutter as he pulls into the fortress gates. “I need to get out of town for a few days. I can’t be anywhere near him, otherwise we may come to blows. Hopefully he’ll come to his senses, and he’ll see that bringing them home would not be in anyone’s best interest.” Sage looks at me doubtfully. Pfft, who am I kidding? I don’t even believe the words coming out of my mouth. “Sure, we moved the chemistry lab, but we still have your weed warehouse underground, and shipments of arms and ammunition come through on a regular basis. It isn’t something we could hide from people living in the house twenty-four seven.They would end up wondering where you, Suzy, Ben, and I keep disappearing to. He will realize that, right?”
Sage mutters something under his breath that I don’t hear. Ugh, Gio is such a fucking asshole. If I hang around, I’ll probably end up doing something I will regret.
“Pack a bag. We aren’t staying. We will head up to Seattle to check out the Lucky Diamond and Kitty Kat, then we’ll make our way back down the coast. I want to know how many places Lorenzo has gotten his hooks into. We’ll be subtle and blend in. We aren’t as familiar in the other places as we are in San Jose and Vegas, so let’s see if we can figure out anything more about the trafficking ring we can share with the agent. It would also help if we could figure out what happened to his sister. Before we go, though, we will check out the club here. Arrange to send Candy to San Jose to fill in for Stella and promote Lacey.”
Sage grimaces. “I’ll call Sam and Dean and let them know we’re on the move.”
“Have Sam tell the pilots to submit a number of flight plans. I don’t want anyone too certain on where we are going. I’d like to keep these trips on the down-low as much as possible.”
“How about we send the main jet to Cancun or something? Make it look like you’re taking a few days in the sun, and then charter something under one of our aliases,” Sage suggests.
“And who says you’re just a pretty face?” I blow him a kiss, forgiving him for everything. I need someone in my corner, and being mad at him for pointing out the possible truth is not going to help.
His eyebrows draw inward in confusion. “People say I’m just a pretty face? I’m a fucking genius,” he grumbles under his breath as the gates open after he waves at the guard who pokes his head out to have a look.
I smile for the first time tonight. I’m truly grateful to have Sage in my life.
Chapter Three
“When we get to Vegas, I might pay a trip to the Black Rose there. It may have to be my new regular club. I’m not sure I can go back to the one here anymore. Maybe they will have a sub who enjoys blood play.” It isn’t a common kink, so I’m not holding my breath. “We can stay at our hotel and see if Lorenzo or anyone associated with him or any of our enemies have become frequent visitors recently. I will need to set up a meeting with him when we return. We need to put our double cross into play. The sooner he is out of my hair, the more I can relax.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to keep going to the Black Rose here? Hell, maybe you can finally make use of the playroom you installed in the house.”
My head swings around as I gape at him in surprise. “You know about that?” I ask, slightly concerned that he knows about the work I had done on the room on the other end of the hallway. I thought I was pretty subtle. It was an unused storage room that was hidden behind a bookshelf. It was so dusty when Suzy showed it to me, I figured everyone else had forgotten it existed. She was the one who helped me sneak the contractors in to do what I wanted to it.
He shrugs and smirks. “Suzy isn’t very subtle. I’m pretty sure she was deliberately banging around when she was cleaning the room loud enough for me to stick my head out and see what she was doing. She tried to play it down, but I’m certain she was scheming an attempt to get us together.”
“When was this?” I ask, biting my lip.
“At least a month ago. That’s how long it’s been finished, right? I was kind of surprised. Until recently, you liked to keep your sex life far away from the house.”
He sounds hurt and curious, and he’s right, I’ve never brought anyone to the house and never planned to. I have no idea why I had the room built. Maybe subconsciously I was hoping Sage and I would use it one day, even though I know he isn’t into cutting.
“Yes, well, I mean, I started wondering if maybe you and I could be more, and then I was too worried to mess up the dynamics of our relationship, and then I was too scared to ask you to join me in the room because, well, you know…” I trail off, knowing I’m rambling, caught off guard by his question. I also won’t ever forget the assault he suffered under people who were supposed to be his safe place—kind of exactly like what Stacey did to me. How can I ask him to play with me when it might trigger past trauma?
“I mean, it isn’t just a wet playroom. I kind of got them to put a little of everything in there. I used the same contractors the Black Rose club owners did.” The words tumble nervously out of my mouth, and for the first time in a long time, I actually feel my age, like a nervous teenager talking to her crush. “There are all sorts of toys in there, and I don’t know…” I’m completely out of my depth. It’s a new experience not to be completely sure about something. I’m so flustered I hadn’t even noticed we’re parked and the car is turned off. How long have we been sitting here?
“Oh, I know. I worked out the mechanism and poked around. I really liked the look of that black strap-on you had in there, hoping maybe one day you might use it on me,” he says casually as he opens the car door and gets out.
My mouth drops open, and I’m speechless as I watch him walk around the front of the car to my side and open the door for me. He holds out a hand, and I take it, still completely flustered. The concrete is cold on my bare feet as I step out of the car. I guess my heels and fur coat are still in Tristan’s car. My anger surges again. Damn it, that was my favorite fur, and it certainly wasn’t cheap. I’m going to have to get another one now.
