Page 116 of Precious Legacy
“What’s wrong, Genovese?” she taunts.
My brows knit together in a defiant glare. “Nothing.” I pace over to the end of the cage once more, resting against the fence to await her onslaught.
The ball releases; I close my eyes.
Nothing happens.
Opening my eyes again, they land on Lani walking towards me, a delicious smirk on those perfectly pouty lips. When she reaches me, she pushes up on her tiptoes and snakes her arms around my neck. “You annoy me, but I don’t want to hurt youthatmuch.”
“Liar,” I smirk, running my nose along hers as I wrap my arms around her waist. “But I’m not complaining.”
“Let’s do something we’re both good at.”
My brow quirks up. I like where her head is at, but I’d never tell her that. “What do you have in mind?”
She starts to walk backwards, pulling me along by my hands. The mischievous glint in her eyes makes my dick twitch, and the thoughts that roll around in my head aren’t helping. When we reach the entrance to the cage, she presses her lips to mine softly, sending a wave of desire pulsing through me. Her tongue sweeps against mine, contending for dominance as she wraps her legs around my waist.
I can get on board with this.
Spinning us around, I pin Lani to the fence and devour her mouth. Heat courses through my body and I want nothing more than to fuck her right here, right now. But it’s eleven in the morning and I’m mindful of the kids around the park.
“We should take this?—”
Pain soars through my back, rippling over every muscle. It feels like my spine splits in two as I hook my fingers into the fence and collapse against it. It takes everything not to drop Lani, but the pain is excruciating.
“Sorry,” Lani whispers in my ear. “Payback’s a bitch.”
She drops from my waist and ducks under my arms, snatching my baseball cap off my head before I can grab her. I’m still in shock as I hear the familiar sound of the machine winding up again. Before another ball decides to fly my way, I hit the ‘stop’ button and wince as every muscle in my back spasms.I can’t believe she manipulated me like that.Actually, I can, and it’s fucking impressive.
“I’m so getting you for that,” I grumble.
A squeal parts her lips as she darts for the car, but she won’t get far because I’ve got the…
Fuck!
“Lani!” I growl, rounding the car as she challenges me with a deviant grin. She has her hand wrapped around my key fob,silently daring me to come closer. If I had the capacity to move pain-free, I’d be able to take her down and retrieve the keys. As it happens, though, Lani sees the clear agony written all over my face. I’m not normally one to show weakness in the face of my enemy, but she’s no enemy, and it just so happens thatsheis my weakness.
She timidly ambles toward me, tucking her bottom lip under the teeth. The apology is written all over her face; so sincere, so innocent. But we can both manipulate the other, and I use the moment and the small space between us to lunge forward and throw her over my shoulder.
Her giggles slip free as I spank her ass. She deserves more than that right now, and I can tell by the way she wiggles her ass in response that she’s expecting just that.
I drop her onto the hood of my car before stepping between her thighs. Her cheeks are flushed pink, not just from the cold, but from the exertion of being upside down. She’s radiant even with the weather turning frosty, her button nose rosy as I kiss it. It’s moments like this that remind me of what we had and what we’ve been through.
Wrapping her arms around my waist, she rests her chin on my chest and peers up at me. Her green eyes seem brighter in this light. With all the doom and gloom that’s surrounded us, there’s now a beaming light of what’s to come. I know the future isn’t certain, but if there’s one thing I’m certain about, it’s Alanis Bonano. We might have begun this relationship based on her hatred for me and my obsession to have her back, but we’ve turned it into so much more. This is where our life truly starts.
It’s the beginning of us.
FORTY-FIVE
EPILAPTER
FOUR MONTHS LATER
“To the future of The Five!” my dad toasts, raising his drink in the air. His voice echoes in the warehouse, Roman’s latest acquired venue for his fight nights, that he’s miraculously turned into some prestige event room. The place sparkles with fairy lights and black drapes hanging from the rafters—no doubt to cover the hideous rust stained walls.
Thanks to Haldon, a DJ plays one of his playlists in the background while catering staff wander around the space with trays of hors d'oeuvres and glasses of champagne. Every single person I know is in this room, celebrating my graduation from the academy.
We all join my dad in lifting our glasses as Roman tucks me into his side. “To Presh!” he says proudly. Warmth spreads through my chest at the effort that everyone has gone to giveme a day equally as important as when my brother took over as head of the family.
