Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 69945 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 350(@200wpm)___ 280(@250wpm)___ 233(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69945 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 350(@200wpm)___ 280(@250wpm)___ 233(@300wpm)
Then a door banged open, and Vito yelled, “Pops, what the fuck?”
We jumped apart, both straightening our clothes, trying to act like we hadn’t been doing exactly what we had been doing.
“You know better than to come storming into my house like this,” I snarled.
He ignored me. “What the fuck are you doing not even telling us Lisa is back? That woman tried to kill you, and you’re not even going to tell your sons when you find out she’s reappeared?”
I forced myself to stay calm as I turned to Corey. “You should go upstairs.”
He narrowed his eyes at me. “I’d rather stay. This affects me too.”
Vito glanced at Corey, then smirked at me, brows raised. The asshole was enjoying this. “Corey, this is family business.”
“It’s my business because she’s after me.”
I glared at him, but I could tell he wasn’t going to back down. He might not have the defensive skills of my family, but he was stubborn as hell.
Vito was still smiling as he looked back and forth between us. “Not finding this assignment so easy, are you?”
“You shut up.” I focused on Corey again, wishing Vito hadn’t interrupted us. I’d like to fuck his face again. That would keep him from contradicting me. “Nothing said in this room goes anywhere else. Not even to X.”
Vito snorted. “X knows what you’re going to say before you even say it.”
A glare made my son close his mouth. “This information isn’t for anyone.”
Corey smiled then, having gotten his way. “Yes, sir.”
I scowled at him. “Enough of that.”
Vito’s lips were pressed tightly together as he tried to hold in his laughter. I’d get him back for this—after I’d fucked Corey so hard he’d know who was in charge. I was done even pretending that wasn’t what I wanted. He was mine, and I was going to make sure he knew it.
19
COREY
“Sit down and stop looming,” Dom ordered.
Vito was clearly trying not to laugh as he moved toward the sofa across from us. He sat down, but he looked too large and imposing for the delicate piece. The furniture fit Dom’s slimmer physique and personality. Vito hovered at the edge, like he was afraid the sofa might break.
No one spoke for a moment, then Vito huffed. “Are you seriously not going to tell me what’s going on here?”
For a moment, I tensed, thinking he meant what was happening between me and Dom, then I realized he must be referring to Lisa’s involvement.
“Where’s your brother?”
Vito frowned. “On his way.”
“I figured as much. We might as well wait for him. Would you like a drink?” He lifted his tumbler of whiskey to emphasize his meaning.
“What time is it?” Vito looked at his watch.
“Don’t ask,” Dom said.
“We’re not following the rules,” I said.
Vito grinned and looked between the two of us. “No, I don’t think you are.”
“More of that, and you’ll be escorted out,” Dom said.
Vito held up his hands in surrender. “Fine. We can sit around drinking breakfast whiskey until Valentino gets here, but we need to know what’s going on. We want to be part of this takedown.”
“I don’t need help. The more people who are involved, the more attention we will draw.”
Vito indicated the broken window. “Apparently, you’ve drawn quite enough attention as it is.”
“I suppose you already know about last night’s incident.”
“It would’ve been nice to hear about it from you.”
I felt Dom tense even though we weren’t touching. “You’re getting way too comfortable, son.”
Vito sighed. “Pops, we want you safe.”
I watched the tension drain from Dom. “I’m the one who should be protecting you, and that is why I want you to stay out of this.”
“No way in hell. That woman almost killed you once. We will not let that happen again.”
“I agree.” Dom looked at me like he couldn’t believe I’d spoken.
“You’re here to be protected, not to be part of this.”
“I am part of it because I need the protection, and it would be good to have more people helping.”
The look he gave me was as cold as he had ever been. “Not another word.”
I jumped at the harshness of his tone. It was as if the tender moments between us had never happened.
Was this what he meant about keeping a secret? That he was going to be an ass to me whenever anyone else was around? Or was he just going to be an ass to me no matter what?
What the hell had I been thinking, that things could work between us, even for a short time?
Dom poured Vito a drink, and a few moments later, Beatrice entered with a plate of fruit and pastries.
“I thought since all of you were up, you might need something to eat, especially considering your beverage choices. I could also bring a pot of coffee.”
“I’d appreciate that,” I said.
Valentino arrived just as she returned with coffee. His entrance was less dramatic than Vito’s, but the look on his face made it obvious he was also angry he hadn’t been told about Lisa.