Page 68 of Mr. Match

She shakes her head. But she’s laughing. “You know what I mean.”

“I know,” I say, a lift in my voice. “Nothing’s gonna happen. It’s all just bullshit under the bridge as far as I’m concerned.”

She bites her lip. Wrong answer. I can’t lie to a girl like her. And she’s not really the girl I thought she was, is she? I knew something happened. I knew she wasn’t in school these past four years. But I realize now that the reason I didn’t look too closely was because I was afraid of the answer.

No. Lucio Gori—Jesus fucking Christ. I didn’t even know the guy existed until Tori told us about him. So no, it’s not like I didn’t want to see that. I just—fuck.

“Oliver,” Kat says.

“It’s fine,” I say. My smile is strained this time. “I mean, I know it’s not really fine, Kat. But it’s going to be fine. OK?”

“How do you know?”

I walk back to the camera and set the timer to take a picture every thirty seconds. I can sort the good ones out later. The digital beeps begin as I stare at the only girl I’ve ever loved. “I know because we have a whole team of people on our side, Katya.”

“They have two organized crime families.”

I think about that for a second. “So the Bratva wants you dead?”

“Why wouldn’t they?”

Another beep. Another moment captured.

She turns and strikes a new pose. I’d forgotten. She does this for a living.

“I don’t know. You tell me.”

“I’m not one of them anymore. I was given to Gori.”

“Maybe,” I say. “Maybe not.”

Another beep.

“Come get in bed with me,” she says. “I’m tired of being the only person in the picture.”

I can do that. It’s not even a sacrifice. “Scoot down this way. On your stomach, head towards the camera.”

“Sounds kinky.” She laughs.

How can she laugh? Unless it’s fake. Like my smile.

She repositions herself the way I ask. And I drop my pants and get back into bed. I arrange my legs on either side of her ass, then give her a nice slap that leaves a bright red handprint.

“Mmm,” she murmurs.

“Open your legs,” I say.

She can’t open them wide. I’ve got her caged in with my thighs. But it’s enough room to slide my cock into her pink opening.

“Mmmm,” she moans again.

The shutter is beeping away every thirty seconds. I grab her hair and pull, making her arch her back, and when I don’t ease up, lift herself up onto her hands. Breasts forward. My written art on her front ready for its close-up with the camera.

I let go of her hair and grab both wrists, gently twisting her arms behind her back so I can hold them there. I sit back so she can rearrange herself. So she can sit back and kneel in front of me. She leans into my chest. The back of her head resting on my shoulder. And she sighs.

“Don’t worry,” I say, trying to make it better. “I can fix this.”

I think I can. I really do. I think I can fix her problems. Victoria and West will be happy to help. Pax would never say no to me if I asked for a favor. Mac and Nolan, well… I think we can keep them out of it and still get the job done.