“Rory's off the hook. Carl framed him. Arthur was able to get the evidence we needed.”
Her trembling hands reached out for his at the mention of Carl's name.“Who is Arthur?” she asked, linking her fingers with his.
He pressed his lips to her temple in a sweet, caring gesture. How she had missed the softness in his eyes and the feeling of his protection.
“Arthur is my PI, he's been with me for years. He's the best private investigator in the business,” he said proudly, dragging her over his body so she lay on top of him.
Her brows pulled together and her mouth twisted. “You paid a PI to help Rory?”
A flash of pain turned the softness in his face to tight and firm. He dragged his eyes away from her searching gaze.
“Look, Lana, everything that happened was my fault." She spread her legs so they dangled at either side of his thighs and pushed herself up to sitting.
“We knew something wasn’t right at the club.” He continued. “Arthur is paid to know everything about everyone who joins. Obviously, we missed the fact Carl Reed was a fucking lunatic. When Jacqueline was murdered, Arthur got on the case straight away. He knew something didn’t add up. It hasn’t been easy gathering evidence on someone like him. It’s taken longer than it should have.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I didn’t tell you about Rory that night at Coach House because I wanted to keep you safe, but mostly, I just wanted to keep you away from him.” He squeezed her thigh. “You were mine to protect.”
Lana grinned at him. “I was never really his.”
“When I first heard about her murder, I just assumed their sex antics went too far. Turns out Carl blindsided us. I had no idea he would take you, honestly. No fucking idea, beautiful. I’m to blame for all of this mess," he said angrily. The pads of his fingers deepened into her flesh, and he took forced deep breathes.
Lana tipped her torso onto his chest and nestled her cheek onto his shoulder. "None of this was your fault. It wasn’t your fault he came after me, and it definitely wasn’t your fault he abducted me." She sucked in a shuddered gust of air as she accepted the hideous memory. “Marcus, I chose to join Verto Veneri. I was the one who left Carl high and dry. I was the one who thought I could help Rory.”
“Did you know I blocked your keycard that night?”
Her head flew up and her lips twisted. “Did you?” She smirked. “I’m glad you were looking out for me. What an epic mistake that could’ve been.”
Her hair fell over bare skin, the ends brushed his smooth chest, but his loud gulp came from sadness rather than pleasure.
“I knew you weren’t going to die after we found you at the harbour, but it felt like someone slammed me in the heart with a sledge hammer. I couldn’t handle the surge of feelings that exploded in my heart. It was like nothing I’d ever experienced before.”
His finger traced her bare thigh, shooting goose bumps over her skin.
“And then I started to doubt that we had a future. My track record isn’t that honourable, you know. Guess I fooled myself into thinking I could forget about the unforgettable. I underestimated the power you have over me.” His nose nuzzled her hair. “I’m supposed to be in New York right now, expanding the club.”
Her brows snapped together, and her mouth formed an ‘O’ shape. “Then why are you here?”
His eyes were dark and serious. “Do you really have to ask that?”
“You’re a business man, it’s your priority.”
“It normally is, but you come before everything, Lana. I’ve even fucked up Jamie’s deal now.” He sighed loudly, like he just sunk the biggest deal of the century. “I don’t give a fuck about Falcone. It’s Jamie I need to smooth things over with.”
A thick silence of acceptance stole their words.
“What do you want from me, Marcus?” Lana finally whispered, her lips inches from his.
“I just want you," he said hoarsely. “All of you. With me. Everywhere I go.”
Her stomach twisted.Could this really be true. Could the womaniser actually want to settle down? Was he ready?
“What if it doesn’t work out—if you decide to bail again? I won’t give you another chance, Marcus.”
He exhaled slowly. “Guess you’ll have to take a chance on me, beautiful.” Sweeping the ends of her hair away from her breasts, he said, “I can’t let any other guy have these.” A subtle curve of his mouth lifted to an impish grin as his nails traced her inner thigh.
Lana licked her dry lips. “And you want to repeatedly have sex with me…the same woman?”
“Yes.”
“Like a relationship?”
