CHAPTER 26
RAFE
My eyes trailacross each exquisite feature of Elodie’s face as she breathes deeply and evenly. Her dark lashes fan over her cheeks, hiding those beautiful blue eyes from my greedy gaze as she sleeps.
As my dick flexes against my abs, I silently curse the fucker. Despite waking Elodie three separate times throughout the night, clearly my need to bury myself inside of her hasn’t been satiated.
And honestly, I doubt that I’ll ever get enough.
I sit forward, tugging down the white sheet that’s covering her tits to expose them, before leaning forward to take a soft nipple into my mouth. Rolling my tongue over and back, I groan when the bud grows firm and then move to the other one, repeating the action as Elodie squirms.
She sighs as her eyelids slowly open. “Mmm. That feels so good.” Her fingers tangle in my hair, smiling into my eyes when she holds me close.
I move my hand to slide between her legs, when suddenly there’s a frantic pounding on the bedroom door, and Emiliano calls out, “Fratello. You need to come quickly.”
Before he’s finished speaking, I’m out of bed, and tugging on my discarded pants. Ensuring Elodie has covered her bare chest, I open the door to find both Emiliano and Enzo.
“What the fuck is wrong now?”
“There’s a call for you in the den.” Emiliano shuffles his feet before continuing. “It’s Conti.”
Elodie’s sharp inhalation at my back makes me clench my jaw as Enzo steps forward. “He said he is ready to negotiate now.”
I run my hand through my hair, cursing the motherfucker’s timing. “Have you gotten anywhere with the information Salvatore left?”
“It’s going to take some time. A couple of days, at least.”
I suck in a breath through my teeth before I shrug. “Do what you can. I’ll try to delay him…”
As I trail off, Emiliano winces as he murmurs, “You might want to get to the den.Ziois currently occupying Conti…”
Fucking Antonio!
“Cacare!” I spin about, looking around for my shirt, when Emiliano continues.
“He said he has Aurelia with him, but he’s demanded to see Elodie, too.”
Elodie’s eyes widen for a split second before she visibly squares her shoulders, her face automatically taking on that air of cool indifference that I’ve come to associate with Conti.
“Give me two minutes, please.”
She shoots Emiliano a reassuring smile as he closes the door before she throws back the sheet and walks closer, sliding her nakedness into my embrace to press a kiss to my lips.
“You think Enzo can find where he’s hiding?”
Her eyes are unrelenting, and I tip my chin in quiet assent as my arms around her tighten. “I won’t return you to him,Stellina.” My chest clenches as my gaze caresses her face. “I’ll die before I allow him to lay a hand on youeveragain.”
Elodie sets her jaw in determination before nodding once. “Then let’s buy you that time you need.” Her eyes flicker between mine. “Whatever he says or does,don’treact. Don’t give anything away. Do what needs to be done.”
ELODIE
Having madethe decision to double down, I quickly throw on a simple cream shirt and matching chino shorts before making my way downstairs with Rafe at my side.
Emiliano shoots me an encouraging smile as I enter the den at Rafe’s back with my head held high.
“And we are pleased to be able to get negotiations underway, at last?—”
“You may leave now,Zio.”
