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Chapter Fifteen

Vinny

A fter our meeting with the O’Connells, we head to an abandoned, rundown warehouse on the outskirts of town. One I am very aware was used to traffic women until it was shut down by the authorities.

Rafael’s suggestion to use this as a location for our firearms had me concerned for his well-being, but when he pointed out that everyone involved, including the authorities who know the place is empty and practically derelict, kept a distance from the former trafficking site, I had to hand it to him, it was a great idea.

Hidden in plain sight, so to speak.

We had to remain vigilant in not bringing too much foot traffic into the warehouse so it won’t raise suspicion again, but for now, it’s a good location to hide our firearms while we connect the dots between the O’Connells and the relationship they have with the MC they’re pushing on us .

“Your phone won’t stop buzzing; it’s pissing me the fuck off,” Rafael sneers from the driver’s seat.

Rocco sits forward from the back. “You’re very tetchy today, Raf. Did mamma not give you milk this morning?” I side-eye my son. What the hell is he talking about?

Rafael’s hands tighten on the steering wheel, his knuckles turning white. “Shut the fuck up, and don’t mention Ellie’s tits again.”

Ahh, my son has a lactation kink too, it seems.

Jesus, I’ve created walking red flags with every kink imaginable.

My lips curve, and I turn my attention out the window.

The boys are so much like their father, apart from the remaining-faithful-to-one-woman part.

I like far too much variety to consider tying myself down to anyone.

Besides, I’ve never had the need to fall in love, which would be disastrous.

One of us would end up with our heart broken or six feet under when an enemy discovered my weakness.

I glance at the side mirror to triple check Massio is still behind us. He’s bringing Tommy’s and Rafael’s security details. As much as I’d like more security, it isn’t a good idea; it will only force the eyes on us we’re trying to avoid.

Their SUV is a reasonable distance away, and as we turn into the industrial estate, I’m relieved to see nobody is following behind.

“Papa, does Gracie call you grandpa when she fucks you?” Rocco grins, and his eyebrows dance in jest. I want to wipe the smug little fucker’s smile off his face, but I refrain from doing so when my phone alerts me to another message .

I smile back at the phone; Gracie sent me a photo of Bonnie eating her greens, and it’s by far the cutest thing I’ve ever seen. She has one little tooth sticking out at the bottom, and her face is scrunched up as though she’s trying to say cheese.

“You don’t smile like that when I send you photos of my kids,” Rocco declares, his eyebrows pinched together. He studies me, then looks down at the phone before his eyes come back to mine.

“That’s because they’re your children.”

His face scrunches up at my lame-ass excuse.

The truth is, I love my grandchildren; I delight in seeing their faces and the updates of their antics but admitting that would be too much.

So, I admit that maybe I am placing some misguided love onto Gracie and her child, but it doesn’t take away from the fact that I feel something for them I’ve never felt before.

“She’s not yours.” He motions toward the phone, and I grind my teeth. She may not technically be mine, but it sure as hell feels like she is, her mother too. I have the strongest urge to protect them both.

“They’re mine,” I state.

Rocco throws his head back on a loud obnoxious chuckle. “Fuck me. I really have got a new stepmama coming, and she’s younger than me.”

“Shut the fuck up,” I grunt, but I can’t deny the fact I like the thoughts of Gracie and Bonnie becoming permanent.

I just need her on board with it too. Maybe showing her more of my lifestyle will have her invested in a future with me.

If I can continue to give her the attention she craves and experience highs she’s never felt before, then she will be as eager as the others to stay on.

Until I’m bored, then I will just move on to the next pet.

The thought turns my stomach.

What the hell has she done to me? She might look like an angel, but she’s been sent from hell to destroy me.