I make sure both bedroom doors are locked—my room is half of a Jack-and-Jill suite with a shared bathroom between the two. I hang up my wet towel, then open the nightstand drawer. Bingo.
I twist the small device to turn it on.
Nothing.
Yeah, it’s been a while.
The batteries are dead, but it’s no problem. I have spares. Once I reload two fresh triple As, I try again, and my girl bits electrify with anticipation at the happy buzzing sound.
This shouldn’t take but a minute.
CHAPTER 4
DIANGELO
Present
Renzo hasn’t stopped staringdaggers at me since I came back from my talk with Terina. He put in his two cents that my tactics weren’t helping, though he didn’t actually ask what happened. I reminded him that when I agreed to protect his sister, I insisted it had to be done my way or not at all. There wasn’t much he could say after that, though his glare is plenty loud.
Fortunately, I have no problem ignoring him.
I work on emails and security plans, instead. The next thing I know, Renzo’s mother, Azzurra, announces that dinner is ready.
“Someone needs to get Rina,” she adds.
“Don’t look at me, Zuzu,” Shae says with her hands raised helplessly. “I’m way too pregnant.”
Renzo scoffs at his wife. “You still go to the gym daily, but you can’t walk up a few stairs?”
“I didn’t say that. What I said is I’m too pregnant for you guys to make me do it without looking like total jerks, and I’m using my free pass while I still can.”
Renzo smirks, likely thinking the same as me—we wouldn’t have asked her to go anyway, so she can have her win.
My friend leans back in his chair and brings his icy stare back to me. “Might be a good chance for you to go apologize. I suspect you might owe her that much.”
I grimace as I stand, only because Renzo doesn’t get it. I may have been harsh, but it was necessary. If I apologize, I’ll undo any ground I might have gained.
I need Terina to be upset.
I need her unsettled.
Judging by the look in her eyes before she tore back inside, I hit my mark. With that satisfaction in mind, I head upstairs in search of my charge. I’ve never been on the second level of the house, so I’m not sure what room she’s in. Two of the doors are closed, which makes them a safe bet.
I listen at the first door but don’t hear anything. When I go to the next one, I can detect a faint buzzing sound coming from within. I’m not certain what to make of it. I could just knock, but that’s not how I operate. I prefer to learn what I can when my presence is unknown. This is an excellent opportunity. But what am I hearing?
It’s not loud enough to be a hair dryer. I heard the water running earlier, so I assume she showered. Maybe it’s a small fan. There’s no telling.
I’m about to give in and knock when I hear something else.
A soft moan.
The unmistakable moan of a woman’s pleasure.
Suddenly, the buzzing makes perfect sense.
Fuck.
Me.
