Trace’s eyes fluttered closed as she leaned into my hand. “That was…”—a small smile played at the corner of her mouth—“the sexiest thing I’ve ever experienced.”
I chuckled. “Clearly I’ve been slacking then. You know, all the shooting in my direction and keeping a sworn enemy in hiding.”
“Excuses, excuses.” She opened her eyes and wrapped her arms around my neck. “I promise I won’t tell anyone you have scenes from Romeo and Juliet memorized if you say more of it to me.”
“And if I say no?”
“Then I tell.”
“Pretty sure that’s bribery, perhaps bordering on extortion.”
“I’m an Alfero; what do you expect?”
“Everything.” I took her lower lip tenderly between my teeth. “From you—I want everything.”
* * *
I hated how easy it was with Trace. When we were alone it was almost like we were actually alone and we could do whatever we wanted. In a perfect world things would be different; it just sucked that our world was as far from perfect as a person could get.
I jumped out of the SUV and opened Trace’s door. It was getting late and I still needed the final confirmation that we were going to meet that evening with the Nicolosi family.
Trace and I walked into my house and found Mo drinking a glass of wine and reading a book.
“I’m gonna go shower.” Trace got up on her tiptoes and kissed me on the cheek, then took off down the hall just as my cell went off.
Tonight. 7:00
After my afternoon with Trace, I knew she was more of a sitting duck than I’d care to admit. But I needed the guys with me for this meeting. I ran my hands through my hair and sighed.
Mo looked up from her book, her face pinched with worry. “What is it?”
“I have to steal Chase for the evening, okay?” I shoved my hands in my pockets and tried to look as if I was discussing the weather or a football game, when really I was stressed beyond belief.
Mo frowned. “And Tex? Is he going with you guys?”
“Probably.” I shrugged. “No big deal, just business. Make sure you lock the doors, put on the alarms. I’ll make sure Uncle Tony knows you guys are alone and have him send over some men.”
“Great.” Mo huffed and pulled her shoulders back tighter against her body. “More assassins. Sign me up.”
“Sorry. You know the rules.”
“I hate the damn rules.”
“The rules—”
“Keep us safe,” Mo finished. “I know. I just wish we could walk around like normal people without the fear of getting shot at. If Trace had any idea how bad it really was—”
“She won’t find out.” I felt my control snapping as I glared at my twin. “Right? Because I’m sure as hell not telling her.”
“Nixon…” Mo swore. “Sometimes I really hate you.”
Sometimes I hated me, too. Mo crossed her arms and scowled at the ground.
I cursed and rubbed my face with my hands. I didn’t want to have to deal with family drama. Mo could act like a spoiled mafia princess on her own watch. “Get in line. Now, do what I say.”
“Yes sir.” She saluted me with her middle finger.
Cracking a smile, I patted her on the shoulder. “Love you, too.”
Chapter Six
Chase
The only positive thing about the entire day going to hell—business was booming. Or so my dad said when I went home to get fresh clothes before I met up with Nixon.
“How is the girl?” Anthony asked. I never referred to him as “Father”—he’d never given me the impression that it was something I was allowed to do. And I wasn’t about to disrespect him.
“The girl”—I stuffed some shirts into my bag—“is fine. She’s going to school and safe.”
“Thanks in part to you.” Anthony laughed bitterly. “So Nixon’s put you on security detail? How do you think that looks?”
“Hmm.” I paused and turned to face him. “How do I think it looks that the boss entrusts me with the love of his life and nobody else, not even you? Pretty damn good, thanks for asking.”
“He’s young.”
“He’s the boss.” I clenched my teeth and tried not to lose my cool in front of him but he really pissed me off.
“It should have been you.” Anthony swore. “God knows it should have been you.”
Had my father been spying on my mind during the day or something? I mean, I know I wished it was me, but only because of Trace; not because I wanted the responsibility of a century-old Sicilian family hanging on my shoulders. No thank you.
“Yeah, well.” I put my bag over my shoulder. “Sorry I wasn’t born before him, sorry he’s still alive. Just what do you want me to apologize for? I’m not going to apologize for being loyal, or for thinking he’s what’s best for this family.”
“He may get us all killed.”
I wasn’t an idiot. My mind had come up with every worst-case scenario, every possible outcome, and I knew that we weren’t exactly on the right side of the odds. Hell, we weren’t even in the same universe. But I couldn’t get myself to care about the family when all I really cared about was keeping Trace safe. I’d die before anything happened to her. Anthony could go to hell for all I cared.
“Not if I can prevent it.” I pushed past Anthony and grabbed the keys to my Range Rover.