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My naughty plaything decided to abide by the rules this time and gave me the truth.
I suppose that means it’s time for her reward.
I make a mental note to find out who to bribe at the city office to postpone this violation—if there is even a violation. I’m bettingLes Arnaqueusesgreased some palms to get this letter, and I’ll just need to find whoever they paid and offer them more.
I type out half a text but decide better of it and call Effie instead. While it rings, I tap my finger against my thigh.
She answers, but I only hear an aggravated sigh. I wait, my skin buzzing knowing how antsy she must be getting from my silence. I’m proven right when she huffs, “Youcalled me, Finneas. What do you want?”
I chuckle and absentmindedly spin in the desk chair in the Den’s office. “I want to see you.”
“Oh boy, let me just hop to it then,” she says in a sarcastic tone that has me grinning.
“Deflecting nerves with sarcasm is a common defense mechanism.”
“You don’t make me nervous, Finn.”
“I make you feelsomething.” I sense her being seconds away from hanging up on me, so I quickly add, “I, on the other hand, always keep my promises. Do you want to see for yourself?”
“You’re gonna delete everything?” I can hear a reserved hopefulness in her voice.
“Yes. The Den doesn’t open for a few more hours. Come over.” I can’t explain the beat that rises in my throat while I wait fucking…nervouslyfor her reply.
“Okay,” she says, and the call ends.
I didn’t realize how desperately I wanted to see her until those few passing seconds clutched my lungs.
This is getting fucking ridiculous.
Against my will, she possesses my every waking moment—and if I’m being honest, most of my sleeping ones too. I can no longer pretend it’s out of concern for my family and the war that is brewing.
In the office at Peaches, she told me to get on my knees, and I fell like a sinner begging for salvation.
Then something switched inside me when I saw her eyes well up in that dusty parking lot. I’ve always been possessive when it comes to her, but when I saw those scars I became protective too. Summoning back up old feelings that will do nothing but get people hurt.
I drum my fingers on the desk to the tempo I know by heart and pinch the bridge of my nose with a determined exhale. I’ll use the next time I see her as an opportunity to remind myself that a cooperating blackmail target does not make an ally.
She’s still a Luciano, she’s still the enemy.
Ten minutes later, she’s walking through the Den’s heavy wood doors. Her dark hair is piled up on top of her head, like it was thrown up haphazardly, but the messiness suits her. Her eyes harden when they meet mine behind the bar; she lifts her chin in greeting.
She weaves through the tables to me and raises a brow. “Well, let’s do this.”
My hand finds the small of her back while I guide her to the Den’s office. It’s an automatic gesture. But the moment I touch her, I realize just how fucked I am. Because I don’t want to just lightly lay my palm on her, I want to dig my fingers into her until my hold is bruised and branded into her skin. I want to brush the tendrils of hair falling down the nape of her neck and sink my teeth in until she carries my marks.
There’s so much I want to do with her,toher.
And that pisses me off because I am realizing with disturbing clarity that I lack control when it comes to Effie Luciano.
I follow her into the office and leave the door open, dropping into the desk chair. I already have the folder opened and I look at her beside me, scanning her face as she looks at the dozens of photos and videos.
To Effie’s credit, her face doesn’t give much away. But then she bites her lip and I notice her thighs twitch tighter where she stands next to me.
I stand and she turns to face me. I dust my thumb across her lip, ghosting across the teeth riveting into it. “Should I press play for posterity's sake?” It’s a husky whisper that makes her pupils blow wide, her eyelashes fluttering.
Her lips part, and her breath hitches when I drag her soft bottom lip down.Fuck, I want to ruin her.
“Delete the files, Finn,” she says almost breathlessly. But I can’t pull myself away, my control is hanging on by a ratty thread, I can almost hear the fibers tearing bit by bit while I coast the back of my hand down her neck.
