I debated dragging some of the college kids into the alleys and ripping their beating hearts out. Thankfully, it didn’t come to that. Rae didn’t seem the least bit interested in those boys.
“Are you hungry?” I offered as we headed back to the last stop on the ghost tour.
Rae tripped over her feet.
I shot my arm out and caught her. Around us, the air was perfumed with fresh cut grass. There was an enchantment cast over the evening, but I knew in my gut it was ending. The offer of food was only to drag out a few more precious moments with her.
“We’re not going to dinner,” Rae hissed.
We were approaching the bus, the sounds of the city increasing with each step. My city. The place I was destined to rule.
I lifted a shoulder. “The night’s still young.”
“That’s—” she stuttered. “Are you nuts?”
I pulled her into me. Gently cupping her cheek, I bent over her until our foreheads brushed. “Are you honestly telling me that you’d rather hop on that smelly bus and go back with that lot?”
“I have to get back to my truck,” she countered.
“I can take you.”
She arched a devious brow and tossed her hair. Watching the wild, curly locks catch in the wind made me want to fist it. Hard. While I fucked her sweet mouth.
“You’re telling me that you don’t have more important mafia matters to attend to? Or what about the fancy friends you’re always rubbing shoulders with? Shouldn’t you be there, Prince Grimaldi?”
Such sass. Fine. I could play. “Throwing my generosity back in my face?”
A rough, scathing laugh cut from her throat. “Look, we both got what we wanted. Scratched the proverbial itch. Let’s call a spade a spade, and move on with life. Can you do that?”
Fuck no.
I most certainly could not.
Rae pulled away, and I let her. My jaw clenched tight enough that the molars threatened to crack.
She was obviously worried about what this would do to her job. Right now, it wouldn’t. This had to be a secret. There was no claiming her in the open. But if she thought she could fight me on this, she had another think coming. She’d already surrendered. Her body knew mine.
There was no going back to pretending it didn’t.
“See you around, killer.” Rae smiled, continuing to walk backward toward the bus.
Every fiber of my being screamed to run after her. I didn’t. Right now, the best thing to do was let her think she’d won the hand. But I was in this to play the long game.
I tipped my chin up. “Night, cherry-bomb.”
With a slanted smile, an intoxicating little eye roll, and a small shake of her head, Magnolia Rae Bennet turned around and climbed onto the waiting tour bus. I disappeared into the shadows. I waited for the final part of the tour to end. When the tourists exited the ballfield, hopefully well-haunted, they clambered into the waiting bus. Only then did I start the engine of my car. Keeping back, I followed them into the city.
I had to make sure Rae made it into her truck.
And then…I followed her to my grandparents’ house. Where there was a bedroom designated for my use.
Maybe it’s time to move home.
***
“Dominico, a word?” My grandfather’s voice clipped out of the front parlor.
Cavolo.
