My fists and my gun are both valuable assets.
“You really sure you want to go? It’s not going to be very fun.”
“I’m sure.”
“We’re just going to hang around their mansion, maybe hit up some decent Philly spots, that sort of thing. It doesn’t feel like your speed.”
“I’m a man of many speeds.”
He snorts, grinning. “Yeah, right.” But then his grin fades when he realizes I’m not kidding. “You seriously want to come?”
“Please, Finn.”
That gets him. I doubt I’ve ever asked nicely for anything from him in all my life. It kills me to do this, and I know Dad’s going to be suspicious as hell, but I don’t know how I’m going to survive if I’m not there.
I can barely breathe as it is, knowing Finn’s going to marry her.
“Yeah, fine.” He brightens and sits up. “It’ll be good. We haven’t spent a lot of time together. We’ll call it a family bonding trip.”
“Bonding,” I say softly, nodding and smiling too. “That’ll be good. I like that.”
My saint with ropes around her wrists behind her back writhing and moaning as I fuck her deep from behind and slide a rubber dildo mold of my dick down her fucking throat?—
“Then here’s to my future marriage.” Finn raises his glass. “Hey, you know, I’m happy you showed up tonight. Want to hang around for another drink?”
“I’m good.” I slide out of the booth. The thought of staying here and putting up with all the stares and whispers feels like too much. “I’ll see you in a few days. We’ll have those drinks then, and you can tell me what you’ve been working on lately.”
He grins, brightening, and I want my brother to be happy. I want to be the kind of man that can lift him up instead of dragging him down into my hell.
Only I want him to be happy with anyone other thanher.
I leave him and ignore the voices muttering in my wake, hate and need and obsession pounding in my head with every step, aware that I’m fucking up and losing it, but unable to stop myself from spiraling into this nightmare.
Chapter 6
Bianca
“Are you nervous?” Adriano squints toward the mansion’s back fence like he can see down the block. He’s sitting on a rocking chair in the shade while little Alessia runs around and plays in the bushes and shrubs.
“No, feeling totally fine,” I say, watching as the little girl tosses a ball toward where a butterfly is resting on a flower. It flutters into the air, and she laughs, trying to chase after it. “I’m only about to meet the total stranger I’ll be spending the rest of my life with.”
“Good. No reason to be nervous then.” Adriano tries to smother a grin. “Just a casual meet-cute, that’s all.”
“Don’t make jokes. I’m still not happy with you.”
“I know.” He sighs and glances at me, frowning slightly. “I didn’t want to do this.”
“But here you are, doing it anyway.”
“Padraig didn’t give me much of a choice. I offered a dozen alternatives, but he wanted you.”
“Strange how I was never consulted about this.”
“What can I do to make it right?”
I stare at him. A dozen ideas flash through my mind.Cut your own throat. Jump off a bridge. Douse yourself in gasoline and smoke a cigarette. “Keep Grace House open until the day I die. Hell, fund a trust and make sure it’s always around, forever.”
“That’s doable.”
