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Instead, she'd suggested that the two of us go inside disguised as hospital personnel and sound the fire alarm,guiding everyone toward an exit where Enzo's men will pick them up and lead them toward the port.

Then we'd have the freedom to move around as we tackle the basement situation.

"There's something eating at you," she shrewdly notes, leaning back to study me.

I take a deep breath. Nothing ever escapes her.

"After so many years, revenge is so close I can almost taste it. But what about after?"

In my original plans, I'm ashamed to admit that I hadn't planned on living much longer after fulfilling my promises. It had all been a matter of keeping my word to my sisters and then…

I'd never had anything to look forward to, and with my lonely existence, there wasn't much to keep my attention.

Now, thinking of being free from my vow, and with everything behind me… I feel lost.

"We'll deal with it when the time comes," she replies, taking my face in her hands and urging me to look her in the eyes. "But I'm here. I'll always be here. And together we'll get through everything."

"You're right." I bring her knuckles to my lips, laying a kiss on each one. "We'll take it a day at a time."

Her lips stretch into a blinding smile, the type that always has the power to leave me breathless. Especially as she's dressed in one of those black latex suits she'd had custom made, weapons sheathed all around her body.

I curl my fingers through the hoops that hold her belt in place, dragging her into me.

"Did you see the way Marcello's eyes were shooting daggers at me when he saw what you were wearing?"

"He thinks you've brainwashed me somehow," she chuckles, "he even took me aside to ask me if we're on any drugs."

"Damn Bianca and her big mouth," I groan. "Now I don'tonlyseem like a dysfunctional killer. But a doped up dysfunctional killer. Just what I needed," I mutter under my breath.

"Don't worry," she smirks conspiratorially, "I told him that you've given me a strong cocktail of serotonin, oxytocin and dopamine. He shut up."

I blink twice and before I know it a smile spreads on my face.

"Hell girl," I drawl, pride swelling in my chest. "That's the best thing I've ever heard. I think I'm in love," I whistle, winking at her.

It seems that my sense of humor has been rubbing off on her.

"He might have been on to something, though," she raises an eyebrow, "since wearegetting high," she leans in to whisper, "on each other."

"Sisi." I place my hands on her shoulders, lifting her off the ground and firmly placing her away from me. "We're going to war, yet when you speak to me in that husky voice of yours all I can see is you, me, and a bed."

"I thought a bed wasn't necessary," she retorts, and I close my eyes.

My nostrils flared, I'm having the worst time controlling myself as I look at her enticing curves and the way every sinuous move is a fucking work of art. Even as she lifts a finger to tug a stray strand of hair back in her updo, I can't help the way my cock twitches.

Or the way my heart beats loudly in my chest, my veins throbbing with unreleased pressure.

Goddamn.

This woman is going to be the death of me.

The hidden smile on her face tells me that she knowsexactlyhow she affects me, and she's capitalizing on it full force. If it weren't for the circumstances we currently findourselves in, I wouldn't waste a second to show her that a bedisn'tat all necessary—the deck would do just fine.

But as the island comes into view, the moment we've been waiting for fast approaching, she quickly sobers up.

Meeting with everyone on deck, we quickly go over the plan again, delegating tasks. Enzo and his wife are in charge of getting everyone off the island, while Bianca, Adrian and Marcello are our back-up for after we evacuate the hospital.

Their men are also on standby awaiting orders.