Page 79 of Always Mine

“Love of my life. And no, Avery does whatever the fuck I tell him to.” Putting my lips to her ear, I whisper, “Besides, don’t forget what you promised me when you were desperate for my cock earlier. Signed in cum, making it legal and binding.”

Heat stains her cheeks but doesn’t stop her giving as good as she gets. “You may have dick-matized me, but if I remember correctly, it was you who was desperate to fuck the life out of me this morning, Marco-Boy. Regardless, I’ll take the ride”—she winks —“on your cock, and the one to work.”

“This smart mouth,” I say as I press my lips to hers. “Have a good day. I’ll talk to you later.”

“Good luck! I can’t wait to get all the details about today’s audio porn experience.” Her cackle follows me all the way out the door. My heart swells at the domesticity of it, the comfort of knowing I’ll be coming back home to her.

My phone buzzes.Dadflashes on the screen. I contemplate ignoring his call like I ignored Raf’s, but I owe him this conversation. We’re a team, and I’m positive he’s already gotten Patrick’s version of events. The split-second decision I need to make now is how much of the true version of events I want to give him. Fuck. I feel like I’m in a game of Jenga where every single choice is a moving part that has the power to bring my life crashing down.

Chapter fifty-two

Arty Strikes Again

Sophia

Ifinallyandregrettablytook my now fully charged phone offdo not disturb. Instantly, notifications of missed messages in multiple chats and apps flash brighter than an emergency beacon. Pressing the button on the coffee machine that Marco set exactly to my preferred order—double-espresso—I click into my chat thread with the girls.

Stella:

Look at this bitch, I say one ride and the next thing I know she’s moving in with him. Now that’s what I call some magical dick.

Evie:

Stella! I literally do not want to think about Marco and his dick at this hour of the morning.Ever.

Stella:

Oh no, that’s right. You’d rather fantasize about Seb and his dick.

Evie:

Stella. Again, respectfully. Shut. The. Fuck. Up. I don’t know how many times I need to say it, we’re just friends.

Stella:

Okay, boo. Denial doesn’t look that cute on you. But whatevs…

Stella:

Anyway, let’s get back on track. Paging Sophia. Please let us know you haven’t choked on Marco’s giant…

Before I can finish reading Stella’s message, the shrill of my ringtone sounds, and my eldest brother Raf’s face fills the screen, his name flashing like a distress signal. After pretty much disconnecting from the world for the entire weekend, more concerned with being connected to Marco and the impressive parts Stella is referring to, the tolling sound spikes my heart rate and anxiety. Uggh! I realize in this moment how much I hate this ringtone. I honestly don’t know why I haven’t changed it yet.

I think about ignoring it, seeing as I’m about to be in the office in the next twenty minutes, but considering I report to him, I’m not sure that would be very professional.

“Hel—“

He cuts me off before I can even get out the greeting.

“Soph, why the fuck haven’t you answered any of my messages or voicemails,” he says slowly and measured with just the right amount of menace that I know whatever he’s about the say next is not good.

“I forgot to turn offdo not disturb. Now I kinda wish it was still on,“ I sass back.

“Firstly, from now on out, I always need to be able to reach you, sodo not disturbis not applicable to you. Secondly, this is serious. Where’s Marco? Why the fuck isn’t he answering his phone either?”

“I’m guessing because he’s busy working.”

“Well, I need him to call me the fuck back. Luca and Sebastian were involved in a fight that almost became an all-out brawl at Bella Donna last night. Luca took issue with some dudes who came in looking for Marco. It escalated when they made derogatory comments about Arabella. They threatened to come after you both if we didn’t deliver Marco. Luca and Sebastian let their fists fly.”