Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 59304 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 297(@200wpm)___ 237(@250wpm)___ 198(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59304 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 297(@200wpm)___ 237(@250wpm)___ 198(@300wpm)
I sneak carefully past him, wincing when a section of the pier makes a creaking noise.
“Where are you going?” Dario’s voice comes from the darkness at the end of the pier.
I narrow my eyes, see his shape standing on the sand.
“What are you doing out here?”
“Keeping watch on you,” he says as if it’s obvious. “Now, answer my question.”
“I need to clear my head.”
He steps into my path when I try to walk past him. Like a shield blocking my way. Or protecting me. Or both.
“Does that seem like a good idea considering the circumstances?”
“Probably not, but I’m doing it, anyway. I can’t sleep, and I’m sick of staring at the walls.”
“I’m coming with you then.”
“Suit yourself.”
We walk along the beach. I shiver, then laugh when he slips off his shirt and drapes it over my shoulders.
“You’ll do anything to show off your muscles,” I mutter, hugging his shirt around me.
He makes it so hard to stay mad at him.
“I’m just happy to hear you laugh,” he says sincerely.
“I shouldn’t.”
“Why?”
“You’re a stranger.”
“I’ve heard that before…”
“This isn’t the same as before,” I tell him. “You’re not just a ‘oh he’s cute and interesting but we’re from different economic worlds’ stranger anymore. Now, you’re a ‘I wonder how many people he’s killed’ sort of stranger.”
“I’ve never killed anyone,” he says bluntly.
“Do you expect me to believe that?”
“I’ve broken bones, beaten people to a pulp. I’ve threatened. I’m no angel, but so far, I haven’t been forced to take a life.”
“But you would.”
“If it came to it, if a man gave me a good reason, then yes, I would. But I wouldn’t relish it.”
“I can’t believe we’re having this conversation,” I huff.
“I’m just happy you’re talking to me at all.”
“It’s against my better judgment.”
“Then let’s hope your judgment stays poor then …”
I try not to respond to his smirk, but it’s difficult. “I shouldn’t believe anything you say,” I tell him. “Maybe you’ve killed dozens of people. How would I know any different?”
He suddenly takes my shoulders. When he grabs me, there’s no fear. It’s not like, holy hell, this mafia guy is going to hurt me. It’s just… Dario.
“I swear, Siena, I will not lie to you. Never again. You can ask me anything.” He leans closer. “Anything…”
The kiss is magnetic, a hunger inside us both, beyond reason, beyond common sense. I slip my hands around his naked torso and feel the taut, hard ridges of his solid body.
I don’t let it last long. It’s just a taste, but my body is hot all over, scorching with his closeness, wanting more. Tickles tease my sex, and a warm glow moves through me.
“What do you do in the mob, then?” I demand as we keep walking.
“I’m a business manager. I claim territory the legal way–through the acquisition of legitimate businesses. When I claim an area, I try to clean it up as much as possible, so that the price of the real estate and the success of the business increase. This cleaning up…”
“It can get nasty?” I guess.
“If a bunch of drug-dealing gangbangers don’t want to move off a corner they think they own, that’s when I have to let it out.”
“Let it out?”
“Me–the other side.”
“Like you did on the phone.”
“Yes,” he snarls, taking my hand.
“But how do you get the money from the businesses? Drugs? Prostitution? Trafficking?”
“No,” he says, sounding disgusted.
Our walking naturally takes us closer to the tree line, the leaves whispering in the wind above us.
“How then?” I demand.
“In the early days, before my time, there were protection rackets, intimidation, shakedowns. But then the Family built up enough of a surplus of cash that we could move into what we do now. Blackmailing rich bastards who can take the hit, political connections, and, mainly, legitimate businesses… backed with the threat of violence if need be.”
We stop walking again. He leans against a palm tree, smoothing his hand through his hair. In the moonlight, the silver threads are more obvious and alluring.
“I’m not saying it’s good, Siena. But as far as Families go, we’re the best of the bunch. I’m able to sleep every night knowing that if it weren’t for the Bianchis, someone far worse would run things. They’d deal hard drugs, hurt women, kids, civilians. They’d cross the line.”
“But not with you in charge,” I mutter.
“I don’t expect you to take this all in now. You don’t have to decide.”
“About what?”
“If you still want to speak to me. Be with me.”
“Be with you,” I repeat.
“Don’t say it,” he growls, kicking away from the tree, grabbing my hips in that addictive, body-tingling way. He sinks his hands hungrily, like he can’t get enough of my body. “We were never going to be together. It was just a fling. Blah blah blah. Don’t say it–you don’t mean it.”
“Oh, really?” I mutter.
“Really,” he says fiercely. “There’s something here. You feel it too.”