Page 83 of Cruel Revenge
Who the fuck is this?
Before I have the chance to press her more and find out what’s going on, my phone starts ringing.
I pace away from her to answer it, but turning my back to her opens a pit in my stomach. I have no idea if at any time she might hug me from behind or plunge a knife between my shoulder blades. Maybe she’ll even do both at once.
Grady clears his throat as soon as the call connects. “Meet me at the warehouse.”
The call ends before I respond, leaving me watching Skyla from the corner of one eye as I head for the door. “I have other things to do, but this conversation isn’t over.”
Not until I figure out what the hell is wrong with her.
And worse, what the hell is wrong with me that even knowing what she is capable of, I have no desire to walk away.
Grady looksat the mountains of cocaine on the pallets before turning to me. “This marriage of yours is starting to become a problem for me. People are sniffing around and looking for information on the Vitale family.”
“Are you going to give it to them?” I step closer to the wide-open doors, shifting to the side as the pallets are brought in.
The sun crests over the horizon while people unload more pallets off the boats.
“I’ve thought about it.” Grady smirks as he stands beside me. “I know a lot about your family and all the skeletons in the closet. It’s valuable information to have.”
“Not much of it is useful these days.”
“You’re right.” He picks a brick off the top of one of the passing pallets, inspecting it before putting it back down. “You do a better job of covering your tracks than your father ever did.”
“And yet, you’re still thinking about turning what you know against me. Even when our families have been working together for so long.”
He shrugs, tucking his hands in the pockets of his slacks. “Like I’ve said. Your marriage is becoming a problem for me.”
I sigh and look up at the ceiling. “What’s it going to take for you not to fuck up my life?”
Even though I don’t want to bend to his will, there are things that could ruin the arrangement I have with the Lyndes, which would then leave me wide open for marrying Emily. Since I would rather die before allowing that to happen, it looks like I’m stuck playing Grady’s games.
Grady turns to me with a smirk. “I didn’t think you were ever going to ask.”
“Cut the theatrics. What’s this going to take?”
“You’re going to spend some time with Emily today. More time in general, but today would be a good place to start.” His grin spreads as Emily walks through the door, looking far too excited to see me.
“Yeah, I’m calling my wife.”
I turn away from him, striding several feet away and calling Skyla.
The phone rings so long that I’m sure it’s going to go to voicemail. It would be just like her to ignore me after the two of us were bickering.
Skyla sighs as soon as she picks up. “Joshua, if you want to keep arguing, you’re going to need to give me like three business days to figure out new and exciting ways to tell you that what I’m doing with my life is not your issue to deal with.”
“Cute. Love you too, honey.”
“What the hell? Why are you talking to me like that?”
“I’m almost done with that meeting with Grady.”
“Oh, I see. What does that have to do with me?”
I grit my teeth, trying to resist the urge to go home and choke the amusement out of her voice. Or maybe fuck her into submission.
I don’t know how one woman can be so damn infuriating and alluring all the time.
