Page 35 of Dirty Hearts

He took hold of my hands, which I didn’t realize were shaking. Concern washed over his handsome face. “Are you afraid of me?”

“Should I be?”

“No, never. You think I’d ever hurt you?” He cupped my face and held me closer.

I shook my head slowly. I knew he wouldn’t hurt me, but I wasn’t sure about other people.

“Claudius…”

“Ask me, Angel.”

“Are… you a mobster?” As soon as the words left my lips, I wished I hadn’t said them.

“Yes,” he answered on the edge of a breath and held my gaze. Then he chuckled. “Did I just fuck things up and lose you?”

“No.” Maybe I was crazy, but I didn’t want to believe there was any darkness in him. In his eyes was a light that didn’t reflect that. “Do you kill people?”

“I take care of me and mine. Protect myself if I need to.”

That sounded exactly like what he said, but did the job of a bookie mean it was that dangerous?

“Is it dangerous?”

“Yes and no.” A cautious expression washed over his face. “Ava… you can do better than me, but I want you too much to leave you alone. I don’t like mindless killing, but in my world, you kill or be killed to protect people you love and yourself. There are crime families who are messed-up fucks, and neither of us would want to cross them. That’s not me. But I’m not a good guy either.”

Question answered, so what did I do with the knowledge?

He brought my hand up to his lips and kissed it. Melting my heart, making me fall for him just a little more.

“Still want me for yourself?” The smile was gone, and he was serious.

I noticed how he threw the ball back in my court several times. Giving me the chance to back away.

I knew what my heart wanted. It wanted him, so the answer was simple.

“I want you for myself.”

He pressed his lips to mine and stood up with me. I slid down him and watched him walk over to grab my carry-on that was sitting on the floor next to the wardrobe.

What was he doing?

He opened a few of my drawers and shoved some clothes inside. A couple of T-shirts, and I nearly died when he grabbed a handful of my panties.

“What are you doing, you crazy guy?”

“Come on, let’s get out of here. You’re staying with me while you’re here.”

My eyes widened. “What? That’s the whole summer.”

He shrugged. “Yeah, kind of is.”

“You want me to practically live with you for the summer?”

“Doll, correction. You’regoingto live with me for the whole summer.”

“I…” I didn’t know what to say. I looked around, then back to him. “I need more clothes.”

“No, we’ll be naked for most of the time.” He reached for my hand and pulled me away. Marissa met us downstairs. In her hand were some brochures for the pizza place nearby.