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“I always thought you were the easygoing one. Like nothing in the world bothered you.”
His heartbeat starts to race under my touch. “I wear a mask to the outside world. All of us do to some extent. We have to. We can’t show weakness, fear, or anger because it could be used against us. But while I might have seemed easygoing, I was always watching. Always listening. Always ready to do what had to be done to protect my family and our legacy. Only a few people get to see the real me. The people I care most about and who mean everything to me. And when I need to be, I’m a monster, but because I wear the mask, the bad guys don’t know that about me until it’s too late. You, Little girl, are part of this family. You’re a part of me now, and I will do whatever I need to do to protect you and take care of you. Even if you don’t always like it.”
Wow. Okay. That shouldn’t be the most romantic thing I’ve ever heard, but it is. Maybe my brother’s mafia blood rubbed off on me somehow because all this dark stuff he keeps saying turns me on instead of making me want to run for the hills.
I think about Bradley and the way Bash jumped right in to protect me. He stayed calm the entire time he was scaring the daylights out of Bradley.
“Did you kill Bradley?”
Why did I ask that? Do I want to know the answer? If he tells me and then I’m questioned by police, will I be able to lie? Because I would lie my ass off so Bash wouldn’t go to jail. I’m supposed to become a lawyer. Lawyers are supposed to follow the law, not aid in murder. Even if he deserved it.
“Not yet. Kieran and I paid him another visit this afternoon. He’s still alive. For the time being.”
I pull my bottom lip between my teeth and nibble on it for a few seconds. “Are you going to kill him?”
He stares at me for a long moment without saying anything. I know what the answer is, but I want to hear him say it. I need to hear him say it.
“Nobody hurts what’s mine and lives to talk about it.” His voice is low and deadly.
A shiver runs up my spine, goosebumps spreading over my flesh. Bash might be a monster, but I’ve never felt so safe in my life.
10
BASH
I’m not going to keep the truth from her. If she were a different woman, I’d probably introduce her to my lifestyle a bit slower, but she’s Chloe. She knows what we do. She may not have grown up in the mafia life, but her brother did, so she’s not clueless. Besides, if this is going to work, we need to keep things honest. I won’t allow her to lie to me, so I won’t do it to her.
She snuggles deeper into my arms and sighs. I lower my face to her neck and give her a gentle kiss. Her fragrance surrounds me like a cloud of comfort mixed with arousal. My cock stirs. My dick has been hard non-stop for the past twenty-four hours.
“What perfume do you wear?”
“Hmm? Oh, it’s called Juliette Has a Gun.”
I pause with my lips hovering over the pulse point of her neck and smile. “Interesting name.”
“It’s my favorite,” she murmurs as she leans into me.
I take another deep inhale. “It’s one of mine too.”
What I don’t tell her is that my all-time favorite is the smell of her dirty panties. Her perfume is a close second.
“I’m taking you to dinner tonight.”
She pulls away from me and raises her eyebrows. “First of all, the polite thing to do would be to ask. And second, no you’re not. I have a movie date with my brother.”
A low growl works its way from my chest. “I don’t think I like the idea of you hanging out with another man.”
Her mouth falls open as she glares at me. “He’s my brother.”
“Exactly. He’s a man. I don’t like it.” I’m teasing her. Mostly. The jealousy I’m feeling is more because he gets to spend time with her tonight, and I don’t.
“You are certifiable.”
I laugh. “Probably. Can I come for movie night?”
Fuck it. I don’t care if I seem clingy. I want my girl on my lap tonight, even if it’s just snuggling while we watch something.
“No.”
