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“Leave it.” He returned my words. “It needs to breathe to heal faster.”
I hated how used he was to his bleeding body. How normal he said it as if it didn’t matter.
Yet, this was his life,ourlife.
Bullets were served for breakfast.
He never spoke of how it had happened. Always hiding and keeping me in the dark regarding the danger we opposed. That had to change, and seeing his wound, I knew I would forever hate his power by being a target.
“Sleep, Katia,” he chided.
I lowered my head to his wound and kissed just below it. His head shook, displeased, and I didn't give him the chance to tell me not to, or to go to bed. I beat him to it with a small smirk.
“Sleep, Lucca.”
XXIV
LUCCA
“Boss.”
Arlo walked inside my office at Malvagio’s without knocking, eyes unhinged in bloodlust waves.
We had a problem.
I raised my hand to stop the Capo who sat across from my desk. This meeting had to be rescheduled.
Arlo’s darkness wrapped the room with abuse and his body with impatience. He wore all black, casual. Work attire for a clean-up day, a messy day. It promised a long night.
Arlo had stayed away from my path since finding him on top of Katia with a balled fist. Sadly it hadn’t been long enough as my fingers itched for my gun. Craving pain.
He’d defied my orders and still walked alive after his disrespect. Arlo had been provoked and while he should’ve walked away, he’d chosen to bruise her body. I’d struggled to pull the trigger on my brother that day, but I was afraid I wouldn’t a second time.
“Get out,” he ordered.
Emilio’s attention bounced between Arlo and me, waiting for my order with alarm and furrowed brows by Arlo’s dire demand.
Arlo’s temperament and ruthless soul were no secret. And while all my Capo’s didn’t fear much, they all feared Arlo’s devil when provoked and near.
“Now!”
Aware of Arlo’s tenacity, I downed my drink.
Emilio stood, and respectfully waited for my nod before leaving the room. Arlo slammed the door behind him so vigorously that he barely missed Emilio’s heels.
I took a deep breath. “He’s a capo, treat him as such.”
“No, he’s a little bitch that can’t solve his own personal problems.”
I ran my hand over my face. There was no point in reasoning in his state. I flicked my wrist and glanced down at my watch. I didn’t have time to deal with Arlo. I only had a few minutes to change and leave for tonight's charity auction.
“I need to pick up Katia.”
“About that.”
Arlo’s black boots crashed loudly against the floor. He picked up the remote from my desk and flipped through the channels. I stood and watched him carefully as his eyes trained on the screen. His beard was at least three days old, and his veins pulsed in his neck while his jaw flexed. For once the sound coming from the television didn’t get cut off by his channel browsing, and this time, my attention swiftly shifted to the broadcast.
“You are right, Linda. This could be the hands of a serial killer on the loose. And while the authorities are furiously investigating, panic has swept through Miami and surrounding cities after five females were brutally abused and killed last night.”
