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FORTY
REBECCA
I thought long andhard about Julian’s suggestion.
That I step down.
Giving in to terrorists wasn’t my brand, but what good were my principles if I were dead? I had no doubt I’d be protected, but someone could make a mistake. As my enemies figured out my defenses, they’d go back and regroup. Come back harder, smarter, more ruthless.
Someone wanting to take me out already upended the flawed philosophy we’d had about no one daring to take out a Domenico. If someone already lost their shit over a woman in power, they’d stop at nothing. Gun me down in the street in broad daylight.
Like Angelo and Maria Bianco, Giancarlo’s grandparents.
I also had to consider someone would go after my family. Cami was pregnant.
“There you are,” Julian said.
His reflection in the solarium’s windows revealed a smile. The first night here in Giancarlo’s safehouse went well considering all the brewing testosterone. After shower sex with Sebastien and Anthony, I slept in Giancarlo’s bed.
Making love to my men again reinforced my belief that they didn’t want me dead. After Gian made me come twice, I passed out. I woke up several hours later and he’d already gotten out of bed. I found him at his computer with Julian pacing behind him.
I’d waved hello and went looking for coffee.
I turned to Julian who found me. “Hi.”
We stared and then he shuffled toward me. After a moment, he leaned down and kissed me. “Good morning.”
Good sign.
“Good morning,” I said, hugging him and kissing him back.
“So is this what it’s like?” he asked, holding me. “One night you’re with one guy and—”
“And one night I’m with someone else. Or two of you. And some nights I sleep alone.”
He barked a laugh and grinded a hard-on into my stomach. “Those nights are over.”
After kissing him intensely, I pulled off and whispered, “Do you want this? Do you want me? With Sebastien, Anthony, and Giancarlo too?”
“Do I want three other dudes fucking the crap out of—” He licked his lips. The way he looked away suggested he remembered us in the hotel room.
Even with so much going on, I caught him masturbating while Sebastien took me in the ass. “Yes?”
“Nothing. I didn’t like sleeping without you last night.”
“You’ll get used to it,” Anthony said, strutting into the solarium holding a mug of coffee. “Good morning, angel.” He kissed me softly, and while our tongues tangled, I gripped the waistband of Julian’s sweatpants.
He resisted at first, then his body complied. As a reward, I kissed him too.
Anthony eyed him cautiously. “This is what it’s like. We share. Got it?”
Julian’s jaw twitched and he didn’t answer, tightening my throat.
Dragging in a choked breath, I said, “He needs time.”
“I don’t need time.” Julian gripped my chin and kissed me again. “I need to get my head examined.”
I giggled and snuggled against him, holding Anthony too.
The air in the room changed making me breathless. I looked over my shoulder at Bastien striding toward me, shirtless in a pair of jeans, his sable hair adorably rumpled.
Easing away after light pecks on Julian and Anthony’s lips, I went to him. “Good morning.”
“Good morning, my love.” Bastien’s deep voice felt possessive. If I had to guess, Bastien felt he owned me the most and allowed the others to sleep with me. Our dating history probably planted those ideas in his head. But he shared me completely. Plus, our arrangement allowed him and Anthony to be open about the heat simmering between them for years.
I glanced at Julian, wondering if he swung that way at all. “I’m glad you’re all here.”
“We’re not all here. Gian...” Julian stopped, watching him strut in shirtless wearing gym shorts.
His shaggy reddish-blond hair and bare chest still took my breath away. Standing an inch or two lower than the others, his husky build made him just as formidable.
“There’s something I want to discuss with you, all of you,” I said, hiding the tremble in my voice. Not believing what I was about to say.
“You think?” Anthony quipped.
“Besides the four... I mean five of us sharing something special,” I clarified, thankful I had an extra moment to utter these words out loud.
“Uh huh.” Bastien crossed his arms.
Swallowing, I said, “Gian, anything?”
He glanced at Julian, who nodded. “We’re making progress. Fed boy—”
“I have a name,” Julian snapped.
Nodding, Gian said, “Sorry, habit. Our whole career was to avoid you as much as possible. Now you’re running around bare-assed in my safehouse and fucking the woman I love. Give me some time to get used to it.”
Julian walked to the window. “Unless there’s another G-Man hiding out in this house, I haven’t been bare-assed and I haven’t fucked Rebecca since yesterday.”
“That was hyperbole,” Gian muttered.
My heart pounded, hating this tension. “Guys. Please. Gian, you said you were making progress?”
After silence stretched out for a moment, he looked down. “Julian shared with me some amazing code to break down that winning bid username.” He glanced up at Julian. “Really amazing. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. I want this prick found. Both as a Fed and as a man who’s crazy about Rebecca.”
I swear, I heard a hiss, a growl, and teeth grinding. It felt the best time to discuss my heart-wrenching idea. “The reason I want to talk to you...” I decided not reveal Julian had given me the idea. And to make sure he didn’t open his mouth, I eyed him sharply when I said, “I’m considering ceding my power.”
Silence.
Despite loving me, which I believed Sebastien, Anthony, and Giancarlo did, they’d also love to be king. Maybe not Giancarlo, but his mother would love to see him crowned.
“Ceding power to who?” Sebastien asked.
This was where I could start a war...
