So ungrateful.
To annoy him further, I grin.
He takes another bite of his apple.Chews.Swallows.“How often do you fail in life?”
My grin widens.“Want to know what you’re up against?”
Glacial dark eyes narrow on me.Oh, how he hates me.
He grips me by my upper arm and shoves me out the front door.“Wait out here.”
Before I can mouth off, the door’s slammed in my face.
Who knew the great Stefano Castello was such a sore loser?
Biting back a laugh, I make my way to the golf cart and fire off a quick text update to Lorenzo.If he’s still alive.
A few short minutes later, Gio pulls up beside me and honks.
“Hey, hey.”He swings out of his Ford Raptor golf cart and strides over.“You waiting for Lo?He probably won’t be back for a while.”
“No kidding,” I laugh out.“It sounded like he was on a battlefield when we talked earlier.”
Gio’s hand settles on the nape of my neck, massaging gently.“Eh, that’s a normal Monday for Lo.”
I lean into his touch.It’s been a while for me.“Stefano kicked me out here to wait like a dog.He really enjoys putting me in my place.”
Gio chuckles.“You really get under his skin.”
“Just byexisting?”
He shrugs.“Found what you were looking for?”
“Yeah.It’s Ricky Garro.”
“Why am I not surprised?”he mutters with an edge of disappointment.
“No one seems to be.Is he known to be errant or something?”
“Not exactly.But he’s racked up a lot of strikes with us this past year.Kept committing acts that don’t align with who we are,” he says.“He was turning into a loose cannon, but we’ve been trying to avoid putting him in the ground.He’s blood.”
“That’s the mistake,” I comment.“One warning should be the max.If at all.This is what happens when you give too many chances.”
Gio smiles down at me, dimples flashing.“You’re a ruthless little thing, aren’t you?”
“Who, me?”I give him a saccharine-sweet smile.“I’m anangel.”
“Far from it.”His hand drifts from my neck to my shoulder, the other settling on the opposite side, kneading, massaging.“I see you, Raya.”
Doubt it.
“Hmm,” I groan.“What’s your hourly rate for these hands?”
He chuckles.“For you?Gratis.”
A door slam pulls my attention.
Stefano emerges from the house, now fully dressed in a slim-fitting three-piece suit.Sharp, clean, flawless.
