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“Fuck. They meant business. If not the Italians, then who, the Irish?”
“They wouldn’t be that stupid. Their leader is gone, along with half their army. They haven’t regrouped from the last incident. No, this is cold and calculated. I have a feeling it’s the Colombians.”
“What makes you think that?”
“The heavy artillery, the use of several explosives. The crazy thing is that I got the sense they weren’t trying to kill us.”
“That’s fascinating. Sounds like it could be the Colombians, but we need to make certain,” he huffed. “What now?”
“I’m leaving town for a little while.” Within two seconds, Giada was in my face again.
“We’releaving town? You’re out of your mind. I already told you. I’m not going anywhere with you. You can run away like a coward, but I’m not leaving my family,” she hissed.
“You’re going to the island?” Alexei asked over her insolent remarks.
“Yeah. I can keep her safe there while I figure out who the hell is responsible. I have business anyway.” At least I could concentrate on the next incoming arms shipment. I’d be damned if I’d allow anyone else to get their hands on it.
“Over my dead body, Sevastian,” she continued. The hellion didn’t know when to quit.
I shot her a stern look, pushing her back against the seat. Then I placed my finger over my lips. Almost immediately she rolled her eyes, turning away from me and folding her arms.
“It sounds like your new fiancée is with you.”
I snarled, wondering how much Alexei knew about the situation. That was something else that would need to wait until later. “She is.”
“You’re really taking her with you?”
“I’m not certain who the attack was meant for.”
“Good point. I’ll start hunting.”
“You do that, brother. You do that. I’ll call you in a few days.” I shoved the phone into my pocket, taking another look in the rear window.
“They ain’t following us, boss. As soon as we hit the interstate, they hung back,” Sanchez stated, taking a quick glance in the rearview mirror.
The shit show was already a tropical storm.
“Antonio, there should be a box in the glove compartment.” I shifted my attention to Giada, finally sitting back in the seat. It took everything I had not to go ballistic. “Goddamn it.” I rubbed my eyes, trying to process the events.
The warning had been grandiose, but effective.
“Where the hell do you think you’re taking me?” she demanded, but I could hear the continued tremor in her voice. She had every right to be terrified, the experience not easy for anything to deal with.
“Somewhere safe.”
“You won’t tell me.”
“It’s not necessary.”
“That means you refuse. Why in God’s name would you ever think I’d ever agree to spending a single day with you. That’s never going happen. Never. You’re an asshole disguised in expensive clothes, a man with no conscience.”
I’d had enough for the evening. Of her rebellion. Of her caustic mouth. Of the entire situation. But as I leaned in, crowding her space, planting my hand on the seat mere inches away, my resolve started to slip. Even through the bickering, she’d managed to slide under my defenses, getting through to the man inside. Not just because of lust. But there was no doubt my hunger was explosive around her, driving me to desires that I’d never experienced before.
“Get away from me.”
“That’s not going to happen, Giada. As of right now, you’re under my care.”
I should have expected her reaction, the hard slap catching me across the jaw. I looked down, catching my breath, trying to control my reaction but around her, everything was difficult, driving the savage into the light of day. I snapped my hand around her throat, stretching the long lines of her neck even higher. When I lowered my head until our lips were almost touching, she tried to act tough, but her mouth twisted in as the same burning desire breached the surface.
