Entice

Chapter Nineteen

Mil

My lips were still buzzing from Chase’s mouth. His kisses weren’t the same. I hadn’t noticed that yesterday. Maybe it was because his first kiss was so damn forceful I wanted to smack him across his perfectly chiseled face or erase his tattoos with a sharp knife.

His kisses used to be — exactly how you’d expect a horny young teenager to kiss. All mouth, all tongue, no tenderness, just plain raw sexuality.

Now? His mouth was crippling in the way it pulled down all my defenses. His tongue coaxing — everything about him was warm and inviting and, Lord help me, but so irresistible that had we not been in a public place I would have made a big giant fool out of myself.

I was playing with fire.

Chase was the flame.

And I had a sinking sensation that I was the solitary leaf in the hot sun just waiting to get scorched alive.

He was beginning to shield his emotions really well around Trace. I knew it must still be difficult, and I promised myself that my heart wasn’t involved, but every time they looked at one another I wanted to scream. She’d taken what wasn’t hers to take and had left me with the unwanted pieces.

I wanted to hate her.

But she was basically unhateable. It was like hating Tex. As much as you wanted to smack him around, every time he gave you that goofy grin, all was forgiven.

Collateral damage. Those two words echoed in my head over and over again. Chase had directed them toward the employee at the hotel, yet I couldn’t help but wonder if it fit for me too. Because I didn’t want to end up like that. The person who was destroyed by the real battle. The battle for Chase’s heart.

Hell. I didn’t even know how to fight for it.

I just knew that deep down, a part of me wanted to win.

“Is this seat taken?” a dark voice said to my right. I looked up and grinned.

“That depends. Who’s asking?”

“A striking old man with two knee replacements and a heart of gold,” Frank Alfero answered, taking the seat on my right. Frank was Trace’s grandfather and an all-around scary individual. He looked like the old guy on the Dos Equis commercials. Up until last year I’d never even seen the man, only heard of his bad blood with the Abandonato family.

Chase chuckled on the left and reached around me to shake Frank’s hand.

“It’s been awhile.”

“It’s been three weeks, Chase.” Frank gripped his hand. Funny, because a few months ago the families weren’t even talking, and now we were all going to Vegas together. Right. What’s wrong with that picture?

“How’s Luca?” Chase released Frank’s hand but was still peering around me.

“Luca,” came a heavily accented voice, “is just fine. Thanks for your inquisition, Mr. Winter.”

“Ah, speak of the devil.” Chase swore.

“Funny, I thought he spoke of me,” Luca joked. Though all of us, Nixon mainly, knew it wasn’t funny. The man didn’t even have fingerprints, and I bet a million dollars no dental files would be found on him either. He had salt and pepper hair that was slicked back at all times. He only wore Italian-made clothing — that fit him to perfection. If I had to guess I’d say he was around forty-nine or fifty, but he was aging extremely well, you know especially considering he was one of the most hated bosses in America.

I shifted in my seat and pretended to look at my magazine as Luca took the seat behind us next to Tex and Mo. The last thing I wanted was to gain his attention again. He’d already threatened me. As if I needed more reminding of what my job was and what would happen to me if I failed to perform.

Well, at least he’d be in his own version of hell during the flight. If anyone deserved to sit between those two for a few hours, it was Luca. Maybe he’d do us all a favor and fix whatever freaky fight they were going through.

“So…”

I jumped in my seat as Luca leaned over and began talking to Chase and Frank like I was nonexistent. “How is the happy couple?”

Chase gripped my hand, scaring the crap out of me. I winced as he squeezed harder and harder. “Just perfect. Right, Mil?”

“In a state of utter and complete bliss unmatched by any other moment or day in my life.” I gave him a wide, mocking grin.

“Too far,” Chase mumbled under his breath.

“Good.” Luca nodded. “So there is nothing for me to be concerned about?”

Nobody said anything. Screw that. Nixon wanted me to take my place alongside these guys? Fine.

“Actually…” I unbuckled my seatbelt so I could turn to face Luca. “There is one problem.”

“There is?” Luca and Chase asked in unison while Frank laughed.

“Well, it is a problem, Chase.”

“What is?”

Poor guy. He did have it coming though. “Your little problem.” I pointed down.

“What?” he roared.

Luca’s eyes widened in surprise, taking on an entirely shocked look I’d actually never seen on him before. “Uh, well, uh.”

“Luca…” I batted my lashes. “You’ve been so helpful with every other aspect of this arrangement I thought you could take your help a little further. You see, Chase and I are having problems in the bedroom. Know anything about that? It’s so clear how knowledgeable you are about everyone and everything. So why not help with this? After all, you love sticking your nose where it doesn’t have any right to be.”

Luca sputtered. “Well, I…” He looked helplessly to Frank who lifted his hands in the air and looked away.

“Oh wait. You don’t work that way.” I tapped my chin. “You work with threats and violence… so how about this. Chase’s gun—”

“Oh, dear Lord.” Chase swore. “Nixon, get your ass over here!”

Luca’s brows furrowed as he held up his hand for Nixon to stay in place. “Do continue, Emiliana.”

I cleared my throat. “As I was saying, his gun…” It was as if everyone in the airplane took a deep breath in anticipation. “It keeps getting in the way. And you know how I hate being the nagging wife, but could you please tell him to put it away? Especially when it’s time for bed.”

I smiled triumphantly as everyone exhaled.

Luca’s right eye twitched as he glared at Chase. “Son, the bedroom is never a place for guns.”

“Speak for yourself.” This from Nixon. I heard the crack of skin hitting skin. Pretty sure he was going to pay for that many times over.

“Wow, good talk. Thanks.” I said thanks with such force there was no guessing at how pissed I was that he kept sticking his nose where it didn’t belong. He wanted me to take my place? Fine, cut off the damn apron strings and stop patronizing me and looking over my shoulder.

Chase’s eyes narrowed on mine.

“I think,” Luca said in low tones, “I underestimated you, Emiliana.”

“People always do,” I said loudly. “And, Luca?”

“Yes?”

“Until you see me joining in with the De Langes — I’m innocent. I’m in charge of what happens to them. I’m their leader. And they are my responsibility. You’ve helped put me in this position, now let me do my job. I’m not a puppet, and I don’t work well when people are looking over my shoulder every damn minute. I’m a De Lange. I’ve got venom in my veins, and I’ll spit you out like poison if I have to. Now, can everyone please stay out of my business?”

“Yes,” Luca said.

Frank blinked as surprise washed over his weathered face.

I smirked and turned my attention to Luca. “Yes, what?”

Luca’s smile reached his eyes in amusement. “Yes, ma’am.”

I sighed in relief and turned back around just in time to see Nixon silently clap twice and nod his head in my direction.

I didn’t want to look at Chase. I expected him to be pissed that I’d gone and thrown him under the bus or even teased him. My cell phone went off.

Crap, I needed to turn it off before I got in trouble. I quickly glanced at the screen and saw three texts from Chase.

Chase: I’m so turned on right now.

Chase: Oh and I’m proud of you. In that order. Turned on first, proud comes second… always second.

Chase: Three words. Mile. High. Club.

Me: Three words. I. Don’t. Think. So.

Chase: That was four words.

Me: Just making sure you were still the smart one.

Chase: I’m still holding your hand.

Me: Okay.

I turned off my phone and looked at Chase out of the corner of my eye. His grin was so big he looked like he’d just gotten lucky instead of sending a few silly text messages. He was proud of me. And he wanted me.

I could live with that, for now.