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How long has he known I’m the spy? Has he already told his boss?
And why am I still alive? Why does he want me at all, knowing what he does?
“You’ve turned to stone in my lap,” Diego mutters. When he speaks, I feel the words rumble through his chest. “Is that all we’ll get, then? Ten minutes of teasing, and then it’s done?”
I blow out a long breath. And maybe he’s asking too much of me, or maybe he’s giving me more than I deserve, but I can’t tell anymore. Everything’s jumbled up. All I know is that I don’t want this to be over yet either.
The armchair creaks as I move against him, shuffling around on his hard thighs, rearranging myself so I’m sitting on his legs and facing him head on. His dark eyes gleam as I wind my arms around his neck.
“You don’t trust me,” I point out. “So why would you come out here with me all alone?”
Diego’s grin is slow and warm. It spreads through me like hot toffee sauce. It makes my toes curl in my sensible shoes.
“Holly. I think I can take you.”
My laugh is pained. “Jerk.”
And then we’re meeting in the middle, both lunging forward at the same time, inhaling sharply as our mouths join.Yes,my brain goes.Finally.
Don’t stop. Don’t ever stop.
And his hands are in my hair and I’m yanking on his shirt front, and it’s so hot and dark and blurry. He tastes like peppermint and brandy, and his beard scrapes against my cheeks, and he really is burning hot.
My heart is so raw.
I’m frowning into our kiss, slanting our mouths together harder, and my world tilts on to its side. I’m surprised the mansion doesn’t topple over; surprised trees wrapped in holiday lights don’t fly past our balcony.
Surely the earth just moved for everyone. Right?
Diego’s tongue swipes along the seam of my mouth, knockin’ on the door. I let him in, groaning. Of course I do.
Because this man could ask me for anything tonight, and I’d give it. He could touch the parts of me that no one has ever touched before; he could plunder my body like the merciless criminal he is. I don’t care. I want it all.
And as he kisses me back, harsh and desperate, all I can think is:I’m sorry.Over and over I think it, with each frantic beat of my heart.
Sorry that I’m lying to him.
Sorry that I’m such a crappy spy.
Sorry that tonight is all we’ll have.
And sorry that whatever happens to me, he’ll have to be the one to do it. It’s nuts, but my heart breaks for him just thinking about that, because hurting me? It will destroy Diego Cedrone. I know it down to my soul.
“Don’t come back tomorrow,” Diego grates out, pressing whiskery kisses along my throat. “Don’t come back, you hear? You stay away where it’s safe.”
Safe from him, maybe.
But not safe from Governor Edwards, nor from De Rossi. The mob boss won’t let me spy on him then quit and Diego knows it, even if he’s fooling himself right now. I’m screwed. There’s nowhere on this earth that I could run to get far enough away—and besides, what would happen to Ruthie and the baby?
I made a deal with Governor Edwards. My only hope is seeing it through, and maybe, just maybe, he’ll take care of her like he promised once I’m gone.
“Holly?” The mobster gives me a little shake, then sucks a bruise on my neck. He’s marking me, but I don’t care, because if I’m going down tomorrow, I want to be wearing the proof of tonight. A bittersweet memento. “Are you listening to me? You stay away from now on. You don’t come back, and you run. Okay? You run far.”
I pet his bearded cheek. “Okay,” I lie.
His deep sigh is pure relief. And what would it cost him if I did what he said? Would he take my place, drawing De Rossi’s rage?
He’s such a good man.
