He shrugs. “Because I needed to talk to you.”
Stomach turning, I say, “About?”
“About the fact that you’re off the hook,” he says nonchalantly.
“Excuse me?” I sputter. That is not at all what I was expecting to hear.
“New information has come to light that clears you of any involvement in some of the more…aggressive actions taken against my family recently. Doesn’t clear your name completely. I’ll still be keeping tabs on you. But we got someone in custody who confessed to a number of misdeeds, going back years. So. Here we are. Even Dante suggested that we reevaluate your position.”
My heart feels so, so light all of a sudden. My name has been…well, at least partially cleared. There’s no denying that Ididbetray Armani—and his whole family—when I initially started spying on them for Juliana and the Brunos, but finally, finally, I feel a massive lifting of the guilt I’ve been carrying.
“That’s some kind of news,” I say quietly.
He just grunts in response, as if he isn’t even sure how to feel about my semi-exoneration.
Grabbing my tea, I get up to leave. If Armani wants to continue playing the tough guy, let him. He’ll come around eventually. Meanwhile, I’ve got my own messes to sort out. Like what I’m going to say to Juliana. If I’m too much of a wimp to call her, I at least need to respond to her texts.
Crossing the room to Armani, I go up onto my tiptoes and place a gentle kiss on his unmoving lips. I let the kiss linger until the tension in his muscles softens and his chest deflates. And then I pull back and touch his face. The need to comfort him pulses through me like a second heart.
He searches my eyes, like he still isn’t sure about me, like he’s trying to figure out my angle.
“It’s going to be okay,” I tell him firmly, with a conviction that comes out of nowhere. I’m not even sure who needs to hear it more, me or Armani, but saying it somehow makes it seem possible.
Then I leave him standing there.
But my good mood doesn’t last long. Back in the bedroom, Armani’s words come back to haunt me.The Russians. Juliana’s uncle, Sergio, has made some kind of deal with them. Is it a deal to take down the Bellantis specifically, or more of a long-term, general alliance? Either way, it doesn’t bode well. And then I realize the obvious benefit to me playing the Brunos’ mole: I might be able to get more information from Juliana about the situation. She’s close with her uncle, so maybe she knows what’s going on with the Bratva.
A thrill goes through me. I might just be able to help out the Bellantis after all.
Phone in my hand, I lock myself in the bathroom and lean against the door. My heart is racing, my emotions all over the place.
SORRY, I JUST got home, I text Juliana.Armani whisked me off on a surprise honeymoon to some island in the middle of nowhere. I had no idea we were going and cell service was crap because Middle Of Nowhere. Home now. Talk soon?
She responds immediately.OMG you have to tell me everything. How about tomorrow? Brunch at 11 at the Plaza.
Taking a breath, I close my eyes and try to steady my nerves. I need to mentally prepare for the game I’m reentering, and decide what, if any, hands I’m going to play when I meet with Juliana.
She’ll be expecting intel from me. How could she not? I married my mark.
Just then, I hear the bedroom door open. Heart in my throat, I delete the chain of texts and put my phone in my pocket. Armani locks eyes with me as I exit the bathroom patting my hair, as if I just went in there to freshen myself up.
“Hey—” I start to say, but he’s on me in an instant, pushing me into the wall and feasting on my mouth like he’s a dying man.
I’m immediately drunk on the taste of him. It happens so fast. He strips my pants off, lifts me in his arms, and pushes his cock into me. A sharp gasp escapes me as he starts to pound me against the wall. Instantly turned on, I wrap my arms around his neck and give myself up to him.
He came to me to take what he needed to feel better. To use me. So why does this make me feel like I’ve won, somehow?
It doesn’t matter.
We come at the same time, quickly, in a hot rush, and I cling to him like I’ll never let go.
His head is on my shoulder, his arms braced around my body, gripping my shirt so hard that his fingers feel like they’re bruising my ribs.
That’s when I realize…Armani is clinging to me, too.
20
CANDI
