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His confidence causes my senses to tingle, reminding me of the recent suicides, resignations, and disappearances from offices all over the city, including some prominent police officers. I won’t ask. I already know Valentino is the puppet master luring his enemies into inescapable traps.
“So what’s our next move, partner?” I playfully punch his shoulder.
He returns to his desk and dials a number on his phone then hangs up. He pins me with an intense stare as he walks toward me. Without a word, he pulls me from the chair to sit in my place and pull me onto his lap. He wraps his arms around me, presses his face to my neck, and inhales.
“You have no fucking idea how long I’ve held back from holding you like this. Fucking torture.” His arms clench around me.
I sense he needs me to soothe him now that his anger has dissipated. I pet the side of his beard that I can reach, recalling how my confession to him on the night I gave Tácito his first blow job affected Valentino. I never realized that a simple truth about my dreams being sweeter whenever he’s in my arms could soften this powerful man.
“You called for me,” the voice belonging to Valentino’s head of security startles a jump out of me. His quiet entry proves that some of my instincts have gotten rusty.
Valentino raises his head with a weary sigh. “Ethan, starting tomorrow you’re on Sloane’s detail.”
“But—”
“She’s looking into something very dangerous and I want the best to protect her.”
“If it’s so dangerous, you should make her stay here and let my team investigate.”
Valentino tightens his hold on me, preventing me from leaping out of his arms and teaching Ethan a lesson about where my place is. To me, Valentino says, “You may be a match for him, but I’m not in the mood to patch you up so soon after your last fight.”
I turn to him with an angry glare. “Are you saying you think I’ll lose?”
He laughs. “No, principessa, but you will when you come to a draw.”
I twist in his arms to evaluate Ethan once more. He does the same to me.
“Look at you two, sizing each other up. If you want to find out if I’m right, you’ll have to wait. It’s late, and I suspect she will need you on top of your game tomorrow.”
Ethan presses his lips into a thin line. “What time would you like to start?” he asks me.
“First thing.”
He nods and leaves the room.
My stomach rumbles, reminding me I haven’t eaten since my quick grab-and-go at lunch.
“Let’s get you fed.” Valentino pushes me to stand. “Then we’ll see about my appeasement.”
My heart thuds and my body flushes.
“It’s been too long since I’ve tied you up. Thankfully there are many hours left tonight to make up for the shit you put me through.”
Lord, help me. Will I even be able to walk when he finishes with me?
CHAPTER TWENTY
Sloane
Ethan’s stare bores into my back. We’ve returned to the industrial park and the atmosphere between us is hostile, filled with sharp blades and an underlying bloodlust that both of us barely hold at bay. Ever since he picked me up this morning, his silence has grated on my last nerve. If I catch one more side-eye, I might have to show him that I’m fully recovered; to hell with Valentino’s warning.
“There’s no trace of anything here. We’ve swept this place twice already,” Ethan grumbles.
I would take issue with him if he were wrong or slacked off from watching my six, but he hasn’t. He and his team surround me, constantly moving to make sure we aren’t easy targets. Ethan’s diligence is admirable, but it will take a boatload of drugs in my system before I ever admit the truth to him.
“I wasn’t able to check out this place yesterday.” I hand him a torn off piece of paper with an address close to a local convenience store. It was out of camera range from the footage Roland provided, but I suspect my assailant passed by during his escape.
“Move out,” Ethan calls. His men immediately fall into formation, reminding me of my days training in Texas.
