Page 88 of Embrace the Darkness

“Finn,” he corrected in a gruff voice that could rival Dean’s.

“Well, Finn, they were going to kill all of you. It would’ve been a hell of a lot easier, but I decided to spare you. You’re alive right now because of me.” My eyes locked with his dark ones. With it being nighttime, I couldn’t make out the color. “You can glare at me and hate me all you want. I find defiance in a man entertaining. So if you’re looking for attention, handsome, please continue. You have it. I should warn you; I may be a lot more tolerable of your prickly behavior than, say, Samuel, but even I can grow bored and I know everything there is to know about you. Like where your son lives with your ex-wife. Where he goes to school. What nursing home your father’s in.” I took a step back and glanced at the other guy, Gavin, I thought his name was, and let my threat sink in. “You’re both on probation. I’d tread carefully. Really think about what it means to be part of this family and I’d mull over the definition of loyalty.” I waved them off and a few goons escorted them to an Escalade.

I spun on my heel to rejoin Nicoli and my father, who had been quietly watching. Nicoli appeared to be slightly impressed where Stefan was proud. I scrunched my nose and glanced down as my heels sunk into the rocks. “Well, these shoes are ruined. You couldn’t have picked somewhere with a flat solid surface?” I complained to Stefan.

“I’m sure we can get you another pair,” he drawled.

I sniffed. “That’s not the point. It should be a sin to ruin something so beautiful.”

Stefan just blinked at me before his eyes shifted to Nicoli, who was wearing a bemused expression. “Mydaughter says she would like to set up a dinner for us. I think that would be a good opportunity to get to know each other and maybe settle some differences.”

Nicoli nodded. “I agree. As long as your beautiful daughter can join us, that is?” The don phrased his response as a question. It was clear it wasn’t.

Stefan gave him a fake smile. “Of course. Like she’d let me go without her. She’s my heir, after all.”

His revelation was like a punch to my stomach. Which I had to quickly recover from before anyone noticed. I had to put that on the back burner for now. Now was not the time to question or freak out on Stefan.

“Until then, De Luca,” Stefan said and walked away with his goon squad following. Just before Stefan climbed into his Escalade, he whispered into the ear of a goon, who waved at another to join him. The two goons returned to our group, choosing to stand next to Dean. Stefan glanced back at me one more time before shutting his door and driving away.

Looking around, I found Louie had finally convinced Jamie to leave while I must have been busy, taking Dylan with them. The bodies had been cleaned up as well. This whole execution had been handled seamlessly. All who were left were Nicoli, his four men, Dean, Asher, Stefan’s goons, and me. It was then that I realized that if Stefanhadn’t left men behind, Nicoli and his men would have outnumbered me. This was why he was the boss.

“Shall we do this exchange?” I asked Nicoli, tilting my head towards my car. His fifty kilos were currently sitting in my trunk. The don held his hand out for me to walk ahead. I led the way to the back of my Escalade, where Asher opened the trunk, revealing six large duffel bags. I had to thank Rourke for retrieving the remaining fifty kilos from McLoughlin’s for me.

Two of Nicoli’s men returned from his car carrying a heavy bag each. We exchanged bags and took our time making sure everything was legit.

“This was definitely the most entertaining exchange,” Nicoli stated.

“It was. I wound up owing you a favor.”

A mischievous smile pulled at the corner of his mouth. “You do.”

“A small favor,” I added.

His smile only grew. “A small favor that I’d like now.”

“Oh?”

He nodded. “I want a kiss.”

I didn’t fight my disbelief from showing.Really?“You’re not going to offer to buy a girl a drink first, huh? You’re just going to dive right into it?”

He chuckled. “Do you want me to buy you a drink first? I know a club I can take you to right now, but it won’t count as the date you still owe me.”

I shook my head because I couldn’t believe I was going to agree to this. “Let’s get this over with, Casanova,” I said, flicking my fingers between us, but I cemented my feet where I stood. If he wanted me, he’d have to come and get me.

As if reading my mind, he gave me a knowing look. My stubbornness didn’t seem to deter him. If anything, it amused him. He fluidly closed the space between us. His arms reached out, one circling around my back while the other sank into my hair and cupped the back of my head, pulling my body flush with his. A little flicker of panic fluttered in my chest. It wasn’t enough to affect me outwardly, but it was enough to let me know it was there. I’d almost forgotten what it was like to feel that way when touched sexually. Jaime had been the exception.

“You know, most women would be a little more eager—show a little more enthusiasm when kissing me,” he murmured softly, lips a few inches from mine.

My eyes locked with his gold ones. “I’m not most women. Killing turns me on. You’re lucky you caught me at a good time or else I might not have been so agreeable.”

“Turned on? I’d hate to leave you in such a state. Just say the word and I’d be more than willing to help with that.”

I couldn’t help myself. I laughed. “You’re incorrigible.”

He tightened his arms around me. “And you’re beautiful. I must admit, I’m determined to have you.”

“I’m not one to discourage someone’s dreams.”