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Harriet’s mom was what some of the men called “free use.” Married, used as a punching bag, and free for whoever wanted her, or whoever her husband gave her to.
It wasn’t all a cesspool of despots and degenerates, but there were pockets that were.
We stuck together, Harriet and me. Had each other’s backs and we pulled ourselves out.
“Did you kill Ray Rodgers?” I ask Hendrick suddenly.
“Why?”
I take the gingery-orange scented cocktail from him and lean against the counter in the small kitchen. “Because he’s dead. Someone killed him.”
“Bound to happen.”
I swallow because my next question, if he answers, will tell me how much he knows about me. Things he’d have paid a lot of money to find out. “Did you do it?”
“Yes.”
“Oh.”
“With my hands.” He looks at me. “I squeezed the fucking life from the asswipe. That’s after I beat the shit out of him and cut him up. The girl he was about to rape was twelve. Quinate own everything, in a manner of speaking, and I’m taking over that part of town. It’s been under jurisdiction of the fucking Gimboni family, and they’re not on the ball. They collect and don’t care. Money and power are their end all and be all.”
I take a sip of my drink, and it’s divine. He leans against the sink, eyes dark ice, his high cheekbones throwing shadow below, giving him an almost demonic look. The world’s most gorgeous demon.
“For me?”
“Cat, there are ways to do things, and taking advantage of the desperate and poor isn’t one of them.”
I nod. “So you’re one of the good guy violent murderers?”
“I prefer criminal mastermind.” His smile doesn’t reach his eyes. “I’m cleaning up. Those docks and businesses are a goldmine.”
“And the people?”
He shrugs. “There will be jobs, and it’s not an overnight thing.”
“Most men buy the girl flowers.”
“I thought you’d like this more.”
“So,” I say, pulse pounding as I take another sip of the drink. “It’s true love then.”
“If I say yes?”
I’m not sure how to take those words or what to do with them. “Do you think I’ll gush and fall into your arms and give up on the Heart of Dark Desires?”
“What would you say if I said yes?”
“I’d say there’s a bridge in Brooklyn with your name on it I can sell you.”
He nods, tosses back his drink and straightens, coming up to me. He takes my drink and sets it down, sliding a hand down my yoga pants and into my panties. I’m already slick and aching.
“There is an Agnossio Bridge in Brooklyn, but it’s not for sale.” He kisses a line along my throat.
Magnets. All I can think of is magnets calling to each other. Inevitable. Irresistible. And his mouth is pure decadence on my skin.
I moan and stroke the erection in his pants. I know one thing; I’m in love with his beautiful cock. I could ride it all day, suck it all night.
“Cat, I’m going to fuck you. Strip.” He takes my mouth and kisses me long and slow and deep, an underwater tidal wave of a kiss that pulls me down into the heart of it, of him.
