b30 /b

GIANNI

How much longer is this going to take? When do I get to be with Caterina again?

Jack Moroni is droning on, unaware of my distraction–until he asks a question I didn’t hear. I only realize I’ve zoned out again when Roger softly clears his throat.

“Excuse me? Sorry, there are technical issues on our end, it seems‘ bI /bsay.

Jack nods knowingly. “Technology. It makes life so much easier in so many ways, and we’re screwed when it decides it doesn’t feel like working.” Heughs like this is the cleverest thing anyone ever said, and all bI /bcan do is offer a tight–lipped smileb. /bb“/bbI /basked how your daughter is doing. I understand she was overseas for a while over the summer.b” /b

“She’s fine.” I deliberately ignore the way Roger practically growls on the other side of the desk, behind theptop screen and out of sight. “I’m d to have her home.”

“If I were blessed with a daughter, I would keep her under lock and key.” He strokes his jaw, wincing. b“/bI remember what it was like, a young man at that age.”

He’s overying his hand, but then he always does. This is supposed to be a video meeting rting to the business idea he wanted to bring me, but he insists on steering things back toward Tatiana. The man is tenaciousb, /bI’ll give him that much, but that’s where the admiration ends.

It’s time to steer things back on course. “Looking back at your prospectus…b” /bI flip through the pages of the document Roger printed out prior to the call. “I have to say I’m impressed. I would want to get a clear idea of where the shippingpany stands on the terms you’veid out.”

“What? Is my word no good anymore?”

“Of course, that’s not how I meant it at all.” That’s exactly how I meant it. know I believe in doing my homework. I think it makes

“Fair enough,” he replies in a smooth voice. “e

But if you want to strike up a deal with me, you must

me a stronger partner. I take nothing at face value.”

we can set up something in theing weeks.”

“Yes, I’ll have Roger reach out to your office.” I’ve already spent too much of my day faking friendship with this man, and I need a hit of my favorite drug. I know she’s home. I heard her voice floating my way, along with my daughter’sb, /bnot thirty minutes ago, when our call began. Since then,

had a hard–on that won’t quit.

“In the meantime,” Jack continues, b“/bI’m on my way to the airport in a few minutes. I’m flying up to visit family, with my son. In factb, /bnot fifteen minutes from you. We don’t have

iny /ins this evening, Would you and your beautiful daughter care to join us

for dinner?”

And there it is. That’s what this is all about. Getting the two of them together. “Tatiana has only been back for a few daysb,/bb” /bb1 /bexin as gently as I can, evading Roger’s gaze. From the corner of my eye, it’s obvious his face has gone dark red, and I wish I knew whyb. /bHe’s not the one whose potential business partner is determined to be an inw

“It’s only dinner. Pleaseb, /bI would be so happy if you would join us. Especially if we’re going to work together,” he adds, because, of course, he has to be heavy–handed about this. There is no such thing as subtlety where he’s involved.

His true meaning stares me straight in the face.Do this if you want our deal to go through,

And I want the bdeal/bb. /bVery muchb. /bThe man is an idiotb, /bbut he’s a useful oneb, /band bhe’s /buncovered a means bof /btransporting bweapons /bwhile saving a ton of money by investing in our own shipping line, rather than using barges from willing bpartners /bbwho /bwant ba /bbcut /bbof /bthe profits.

b“/bI have ba /bbetter idea,” I proposeb. /b“bMeet /bus tonight at eight o’clock at a restaurant bI /bbown /bbin /bbtown/bb. /bI’ll bsend /bbyou /bbthe /bdetails.

b“/bbSo/bb, /bbyou’ve /bpaid bheed /bbto /bbthe /bold adageb,/bb” /bhe muses bwith /bba /bbrueful /bbchuckle/b. “Don’t put all byour /bbeggs /bbin /bbone /bbbasket/bb./bb” /b

b“/bbI /bbbelieve /bin bdiversification/b. Can bwe /bbexpect /bbyou/b?b” /b

mung & Mana, which I then use to close the window and end bthe /bcall.

Just in time, too.

“You can’t be serious!” Roger practically shouts.

Get 101 110ing and

“Would you please calm down? And lower your voice while you’re at it. What has gotten into you? Do you have a personal problem with this guy?” Now I can loosen my tie and lean back in my chair, dropping the friendly act.

“How can you not?” he counters. “He couldn’t be more obvious if he tried. He might as welle straight out and say he’s willing to sell his son to make this deal.”

“What if he is?”

“And you’re willing to sell Tatiana?”

It’s clear he realizes his mistake the moment the words leave his blips/b. I fight to keep myself calm. Of all my close associates, he’s the one I can least afford to alienate. This isn’t someone whose nose I can break and expect him to show up with a cheerful disposition in the morning. Unlike Nathan, who’s been all but kissing my ass in the week since Caterina was injured.

“I’ve said it before, and I will say it again–this one final time,” I add, lowering my brow and pinning him in ce with my re. “I am not arranging a marriage. I have no intention of selling my daughter.”

“So you’ll string him along for the sake of a deal?”

“I’ve done it before. I’m pretty good at it,” I add, snickering. “The man is a fucking loser who only got where he is now thanks to his father’s savvy. But he may have stumbled on something valuable here. He’s the one who has inroads with the shippingpany. I need him to get my foot in the door. Once I do, I’ll make the deal.”

“And you’ll cut him out?“”

b“/bI sure will. Fuck him.”

He doesn’t look convinced, but at least he’s smart enough to keep his temper in check the way I am. “You’d better at least warn her before dinner,” he muses, his jaw working like he’s grinding his teeth. “You know how she is. Catch her off guard, and she’ll spoil the whole thing by throwing a fit.”

It’s my turn to grind my teeth since I don’t appreciate his condescending attitude. “Keep your opinions to yourself, and I’d appreciate if you would stop underestimating me. It’s getting so I’m not sure anymore bif /byou’re not going to stick a knife in my back because you want to take my ce.”

He rocks back slightly, like I hit him. “You know that’s not true.”

“I’m not so sure. You were never this outspoken. We had our disagreements, but you weren’t such a pain in the ass about it. What’s changed?”

Again, his jaw works, but eventually, his shoulders drop while he grunts, b“/bI don’t want to see you getting jerked around, is all. Especially not by somebody like this sleazy dick.”

“bLeave /bthat to meb,/b” I assure him. “In the meantime, we’ll be at Rinaldi’s at seven forty–five. Give them a call and let the chef know we’ll want a private menu.”

“Seating for four?”

“Make it five–six, including you. I want you at the table in bcase /bJack’s kid gets the wrong bidea /babout Tatiana.” When bhe /bonly blinks, confused, it annoys me I bhave /bbto /brify. “And Caterina, bof /bcourse.”

b“/bbI’ll /bget right on that.” bHe’s /bsmart enough to bkeep /bhis thoughts to himself this time. bHe /bbneeds /bbto /bmake bthat /bba /bbhabit /bbagain/b.

“bBefore /byou go.b” /bbI /bsit up straight band /bbcrane /bmy neckb, /bmaking sure gaterina bisn’t /bboutside/b. b“/bbAny /bbprogress/bb? /bbWhere /bbis /bbthis /bbfucker /bhidingb?/bb” /b

“Certainly. I look forward to meeting your lovely daughter.” I know better than to say anything, so I settle for nodding and lifting a hand, which I then use to close the window and end the call.

Just in timeb, /btoo.

“You can’t be serious!” Roger practically shouts.

“Would you please calm down? And lower your voice while you’re at it. What has gotten into you? Do you have a personal problem with this guy?” Now I can loosen my tie and lean back in my chair, dropping the friendly act.

“How can you not?” he counters. “He couldn’t be more obvious if he tried. He might as welle straight out and say he’s willing to sell his son to make this deal.”

“What if he is?”

“And you’re willing to sell Tatiana?”

It’s clear he realizes his mistake the moment the words leave his lips. I fight to keep myself calm. Of all my close associates, he’s the one I can least afford to alienate. This isn’t someone whose nose I can break and expect him to show up with a cheerful dispositiorrin the morning. Unlike Nathan, who’s been all but kissing my ass in the week since Caterina was injured.

“I’ve said it before, and I will say it again—this one final time,” I add, lowering my brow and pinning him in ce with my re. “I am not arranging a marriage. I have no intention of selling my daughter.”

“So you’ll string him along for the sake of a deal?”

“I’ve done it before. I’m pretty good at it,” I add, snickering. “The man is a fucking loser who only got where he is now thanks to his father’s savvy. But he may have stumbled on something valuable here. He’s the one who has inroads with the shippingpany. I need him to get my foot in the door. Once I do, I’ll make the deal.”

“And you’ll cut him out?”

b“/bbI /bsure will. Fuck him.”

He doesn’t look convinced, but at least he’s smart enough to keep his temper in check the way I am. “You’d better at least warn her before dinner,” he muses, his jaw working like he’s grinding his teeth. “You know how she is. Catch her off guard, and she’ll spoil the whole thing by throwing a fit.”

It’s my turn to grind my teeth since I don’t appreciate his condescending attitude. “Keep your opinions to yourself, and I’d appreciate if you would stop underestimating me. It’s getting so I’m not sure anymore if you’re not going to stick a knife in my back because you want to take my ce.”

He rocks back slightly, like I hit him. “You know that’s not true.”

“I’m not so sure. You were never this outspoken. We had our disagreements, but you weren’t such a pain in the ass about it. What’s changed?”

Againb, /bhis jaw works, but eventually, his shoulders drop while he gruntsb, /b“I don’t want to see you getting jerked around, is all. Especially not by somebody like this sleazy dick.”

“Leave that to me,” bI /bassure him. “In the meantime, we’ll be at Rinaldi’s at seven forty–five. Give them ba /bcall and let the chef know we’ll want a private menu.”

“Seating for four?”

“Make it five—six, including you. I want you at the table in case Jack’s kid gets the wrong idea about Tatiana.b” /bWhen he only blinks, confusedb, /bbit /bannoys me bI /bhave to rify. “And Caterinab, /bof courseb./b”

“I’ll get right on that.” He’s smart enough to keep his thoughts to himself this time. bHe /bneeds to make that a habit bagain/b.

“Before you go.” I sit up straight and crane my neck, making sure caterina isn’t outside, “Any progress? bWhere /bis this fucker hiding?b” /b

30

bHe /bshakes his head. “No luck so far. He was living with a friend who said he left about three weeks ago. He lost his job at his uncle’s gym, but bI /bcouldn’t get a reason for that.”

“Because he’s a miserable sack of shit,” I muse. And if he was desperate and unhinged enough to run her down, the rest of his life is falling apart, too. Still, he has to be staying somewhere.

And I’ll find him. Caterina doesn’t want him dead, but she doesn’t need to know. I might not even kill the fucker right away. Watching from afar as his life falls to pieces might be entertaining

Right now, the only thing that matters is seeing her. I’m jonesing so hard I’m almost salivating with need. My rapid footfalls echo through the hall, but they’re not as fast as the beating of my heart. It’s like having the biggest, best gift ever, always waiting for me. I can’t imagine the thrill ever wearing off.

Following the sound of their voices, I find the girls in the living room.

“What’s this?” I’m d to see them rxing together, but they’vepletely dressed down after getting home. Both girls are wearing pajamas, wrapped in nkets, and have their feet up on the couch across from the TV.

“We came home early,” Tatiana informs me. “I guess I’m still a little jetgged.”

“I hate to break in on your girl’s day, but we’re going to dinner tonight. So I’ll need you both to change out of the pajamas and into something nice.”

“Where are we going?” she asks, while Caterina only offers a willing smile. As d as I am to have my daughter back, I could use a little time alone with my little bird. The sight of her bare legs peeking out from under a nket makes saliva pool in my mouth.

“Rinaldi’s. We’re leaving at seven–thirty sharp to have dinner with a potential business partner.” As an afterthought, I add, “He has the idea you’ll be marrying his son one day, so keep that in mind.”

Now both girls gape at me like they’ve never heard English. “And where would he get this idea from?” Tatiana arches an

eyebrow.

“It’s business. Don’t worry about it. I’m only telling youb, /bbso /bit won’t surprise you if ites up.”

She folds her arms, her lips pursed. “I was thinking I could chill out at home.”

“It’s only four o’clock. You have plenty of time to rx before you get ready.”

Her eye rolles right on cue. “Spoken like a man. I guess I’d better go find what I’m wearing.” She takes the nket with her, wrapping it around her body like a cocoon before marching off

Once her muttering fades to silence, I take her ce on the couch, intent on diving under Caterina’s nket and getting my fix.

She’s too quick for me, sliding further along the couch before I have the chance to touch her. “Hang on a second. This is a business dinner?”

F

“That’s right.” I reach for her again, disappointed when she frowns. “What? Are we ying cat and mouse? Do you want me to throw you over my shoulder and take you to bed?” As if I need the excuse.

“No. I was only wondering…” She shakes her head. “It’s fine.”

“Don’t do that.” When she looks away, bI /btake her by the chin and turn her face toward mine. “What’s the problem?”

Her forehead bcreases /blike she’s in pain. “Who will I be there as? Tatiana’s friend? The girl who’s staying in your house until she gets on her feet? Or… your girlfriend?”

That’s one bway /bto kill an erection. “I…”

“It’s okay. That’s why I didn’t want to say it. I’m not trying to put you on the spot.‘

“I hadn’t thought about it.” bI /bpeel away the nketb. /b“I want you there. bIsn’t /bthat enough?”

“No, no, it is.b” /bHer delicately tapered fingers pick at the nket’s hem. b“/bBut it might be ufortable if anybody asks. For both of usb. /bSo maybe we should know what to say.”

“I think you’re reading too much into this.” She flinches slightly, and her features pinch together in that pained expression again. I’m not thelet’s talk about our feelingsguy. She should know that by now.

“Okayb, /bso maybe I’d like to know for myself.” A shrug follows her guilty nce. “Sorry. But we’ve never talked about what we

are.”

How naive of me to think we could avoid this. “Haven’t I been clear enough?” This time, when I pull her to me, she melts into my arms with a soft sigh.

“I know. I’m being a pain in the ass.”

“You aren’t.” She is, slightly, but mostly because I would rather be balls deep in her at this moment. Fucking her until our cum drips down the crack of her ass and soaks into the priceless rug beneath us. “If you don’t know how important you are to me, I haven’t done a good enough job of showing you.”

I tilt her chin upward to align our lips and brush mine against hers. “I intend to keep you with me always. I want us to have a life together. There’s nothing else I can say.”

She leans into me, her eyes closing before a voice echoes down the hall. “Are youing, or what?” Tatiana bellowsb, /bloud enough for the sound to carry to us.

‘ti

What a choice of words. I might have beening in a few minutes if it her interrupting us.

Caterina shakes her head, pulling away. “I need to get ready, too,” she whispers, frowning. “I’m going to need to borrow something from her, since I don’t have a lot of outfits that will work for tonight.”

“If it’s too much of a hassle, I could always leave you here, tied to bthe /bbed.”

“No way.” She shes an impish smile while backing away. “You don’t tell a girl you’ll take her to dinner and change your mind.”

“Then you better get your ass moving little bird.” I grin, knowingll have to wait till muchter to devour her like I wanted too