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He comes inside me, his hot seed filling me. I relish the shudders of pleasure that match my own. Even as I lose myself to bliss, I wonder. Have I only buried my concerns?
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
RESERVATION FOR TWO
Ricco
"What did you find?" I demand from Timeo.
"I can't tell you yet," he says. "I'm going on a whim, and I need to investigate more before I tell you anything. Just trust me, will you?"
Sergio and I exchange a glance over the bar at Bella Notte. I left Dani getting ready in our room because we have a date tonight. We need it. The two of us need something where we don't have kids asking us questions, threats at our door, or work obligations.
Where we can just be alone. Just be us.
"I trust him," Sergio says. “Took me a while, but it's done."
"I can trust you, too, but I wish that you would tell me what's on your mind. I wish you would at least tell me what you think you saw."
"No," Timeo says. "Because if I tell you and I'm wrong, the consequences are hefty. You need to just let me investigate more. I promise, man, I'll let you know by tomorrow."
"Let you know what?"
I turn around, staring at Dani. I forgot what I was angry about, because all I can think about is how beautiful she is.
When I met Sergio's Eden, I knew that she was heaven-sent. Wholesome and kind, my bastard of a brother doesn't deserve a wife like her, but he's good to her. He'll spend the rest of his life making up to her what he lacks. But right now, I swear a fucking angel stands before me.
"Jesus, woman." I stand back and admire her, but half a second later want to gather her in my arms so no one else can look at her.
Sergio smiles, and chuckles. "Go. Get her out of here before you hit somebody. I don't need any more of that bullshit on my hands again."
"Looking beautiful, doll," Flo says, waving from behind the bar. Dani looks so stunning, she turns heads when we walk out.
"Guess I shine up nice," she says, winking at me.
"Is that a dress? A skirt? What the fuck are you wearing?"
"It's called a romper, Ricco,” she says, rolling her eyes at me.
"There she goes again, earning her next spanking."
"A girl has needs," she says with an adorable little toss of her head. She's done this thing with her hair so it's all swirls and curls and looped up on her head in pins. It's gorgeous, and so is her makeup. She has that look as if she's not wearing any, but I know her cheeks aren’t usually that naturally flushed, her lips aren't that glossy, her eyes that bright. She did magic back there.
Probably has something to do with the way I fucked her, too, but I can't take all the credit.
I think back about the text we got in Tuscany. No one was able to find the source, but I wonder now if there's a dirty cop at large.
I immediately think about Nick, and wonder… who did he know? Did we not hide everything as well as we thought we did? Where the fuck is this going?
Sergio sends me a text as I get to the car.
Timeo’s onto something. It might change how all of this plays out, but you go and have fun tonight. You're safe, she's safe, the kids are safe. I like her, Ricco. Don't fuck this up. You deserve someone like her.
Some other people might think he's an asshole, but my brother loves hard, and he's loyal. When he’s in, he’s totally in.
I breathe a sigh of relief. I didn’t know how much this shit between us was bothering me until now.
I haven't thought about Martina and the grueling end to her life, I haven't forgotten about my responsibilities, but it feels good to have someone to look forward to. I never knew that I would have a love like this, that I could have one. And I don't want to lose her.
I don't know if the reality of who I am scares her. She’s still with me, and that's something, but she's only seen small facets of who I really am. When she knows the full truth, will she hide? I have to tell her. I have to tell her tonight.
"What's on your mind, gorgeous? You're unusually quiet, and that's saying something, because you're not really a chatterbox."
Dani plays with her fingernails, glancing at the tips, nervously fidgeting.
"Did you get a new manicure?"
"Did them myself. Cost me two bucks instead of thirty.”
"If you want to get a manicure…"
"I have enough money, Ricco," she says gently. "It's actually not the money. Honestly, it's the time. There were times in my life I had more time than money, but at this particular stage of my life, I have more money than time. I dunno, I just like doing them myself."
