Page 16
I took a deep inhale off my joint. Tendrils of smoke curled over my lips and nose before I let out a cloud. I caught movement out the corner of my eye and effortlessly slipped brass knuckles over my fingers. I flexed my fingers a few times, preparing myself. I brought the joint to my lips, pretending as if I hadn't noticed who ever had the balls to sneak up on me.
I was outside, the freezing air doing its best to break through the thick layer of clothes and coat. It was getting colder and colder by the day. Snow was fickle, coming some days and gone the next. It only left the city with slush, full of grime, and clinging to the sides of the road.
The hand that reached out to me didn't make it. I dropped my joint and twisted us around shoving them against the wall of the building I was posted up on. My hand cocked back ready to slam into the idiot's face. I stopped short, my brass knuckles seconds away from crashing into Blake's face. His blue eyes were wide as he stared at my fist. His cheeks were a stark red along with his nose from the biting cold.
"What are you doing out here?" I asked, my hand still raised as I held him against the brick wall. He wasn't a threat, but I wasn't all that into letting him go.
Blake blinked a few times, his thick black lashes falling over his cheeks. He shook as if collecting himself and shoved his hands against my chest.
I smirked and pushed closer, wedging my leg between his thighs, seeking out more warmth. "If you wanted to touch me, baby girl, all you had to do was ask."
His grimace was cute. "You were going to hit me."
I chuckled, dropping my fist and grabbing his face instead. "I was going to do more than just hit you. Survival of the fittest out here, doll."
He rolled his eyes, pushing at me again, but I wasn't ready to part just yet. Maybe it was the lack of ass lately, but I was feeling needy in the touch department. I liked human contact. Maybe it was my empty upbringing, but I craved another person. Normally, rolling around in the sheets with a stranger did it for me for a while, but having Blake around made it difficult.
"What are you even doing out here?"
"Was waiting for you, of course." I grinned and leaned in closer, eating up the small distance between us. If I could I'd strip us both just so we could be closer.
"Really?"
Blake looked intently into my eyes, and I knew I needed to take a step back. My body didn't move. Instead, I chuckled low and lowered my head until our foreheads touched. "Don't be so gullible."
Blake grunted and shoved at me again. "Fuck you. I'm not."
"You believed I was standing out here in the middle of fucking winter waiting on your ass like some desperate whore."
Blake smirked at me. "The way you shove your cock down my throat and cling to me says you are."
This little fucker . Any other man would have said that to me and I would have to flatten them. Blake said it and my head was filled with all the pleasure we'd dabbled in. I wasn't going to admit that I'd spoken the truth, that I had, in fact, been waiting for him. There was only so much vulnerability I could let show.
How did I explain that I was waiting for him to get back? Shit, I couldn't even explain it to myself.
"Move."
"Why?" I ground my thigh against his cock, dragging out a needy groan from him. His head fell back, exposing his neck for a brief second.
I licked my lips greedily thinking about attacking him. There was something about Blake that drew me in each fucking time no matter how much I knew it was a bad idea. He was a Vitale for one. Two, he was only using me for my place. And three, he kept ending up on top. I needed to change the last one if I was ever going to save face.
"Was this how you wanted me to move, baby girl?" I purred into his ear. I ground against him, my own body responding to the groans he allowed to escape.
Everything bled away; the sounds of the city, the cold air, the people, and left us to the heated exchange between our clothed bodies. My phone did what it did best and interrupted. A heavy sigh left me as I pulled back slightly to pull it out. Sure enough, Daiki was calling.
I looked between the phone and Blake. It was a no brainer who I wanted to choose, but if I continued to fuck up, Daiki had the capabilities to make me disappear. Without anyone backing me, I stood no chance at all. Before I answered, I leaned forward and bit Blake's bottom lip, making him yelp in shock.
Laughter flowed out of me with ease as I took a step back. I had no idea why it was so easy for me to be playful with Blake, but it felt natural. He flipped me off just as I answered the call.
"You took too long to answer."
I swallowed back my retort. "What can I do for my favorite boss?"
"Don't test me, Quincy." Daiki grunted. "お前はもっと前に殺されているべきだった。” You should have been killed a long time ago.
I'd heard it all before and I'd hear it again. I smiled, although all I wanted to do was go to him and put a bullet between his eyes. There would be big repercussions. The entire yakuza would be after me and anyone associated with me. I glanced over at Blake. He'd be fine, he had the Vitale name protecting him. I wasn't even sure why for a second I worried about him. Unlike me, he had family. I shoved the bitter feeling that twisted my gut at the thought.
"いつの日か." Someday.
"Not soon enough," Daiki spat. "You still haven't taken care of what I requested of you."
Did he forget the way he allowed his goons to beat the living shit out of me? I was out for an entire week. The few jobs I had gotten done were easy. I was mostly healed up now, the bruising was light and the cuts weren't splitting open, but I was in no rush to get anything he asked of me done.
"I haven't forgotten, I'll take care of it." I motioned to Blake to light up another joint. I'd dropped mine the moment he'd tried to sneak up on me.
He didn't question me, pulling one out of his pocket and sparking it. He took a few drags before passing it over. I parted my lips but made no move to take the weed from him. His glare was no more intimidating than a kitten’s. The right corner of my mouth ticked up in a smile.
"Who's schedule are you on?" Daiki growled. "Your usefulness is only determined by what I think. Right now, you'd be more useful as fertilizer for my girl's tulip garden."
"I don't know. I smoke a shit ton of weed and the amount of alcohol I consume should be illegal. Liver is probably pickled and my lungs are shit. I might kill off the flowers instead of making them grow."
Daiki started cursing in Japanese, and I ignored it, letting him have his tantrum. Fucking first born rich kids were all the same. Privileged assholes who couldn't see past the silver spoon coming toward them. It was a shame. I knew Daiki had grown up under the same father as Harlow, but unlike Harlow, he was the legitimate heir. He was special in his own right.
Blake's eyes flickered over to the phone and it was as if a cloud of darkness came over his face. His mouth was in a straight line and his brows relaxed. If I didn't know him, I'd say he was about to murder someone. There was an air of intensity around him I wasn't accustomed to. I snapped my fingers in front of his face and he blinked a few times, turning those blue eyes my way. Without further instruction, he held the joint to my lips so I could pull in a lung full of smoke, not once breaking eye contact.
My gaze dropped to his mouth on instinct and the first thought in my head was how good I knew his lips felt. I pulled back as Daiki's voice broke through the constant sexual tension between me and Blake.
"What?"
"Are you incapable of understanding English now? Didn't that worthless mother of yours teach you anything?"
I stood up straight, anger rolling through me at the mention of my mother. "Watch it," I warned. There was a lot I could handle being said about me and to me.
"Sore spot for you? You're just like Harlow. I see why he easily rolled around with scum like you."
My muscles ached with how tight I was wound. He was saying everything to piss me off on purpose. All Daiki needed was a reason to put me six feet under. Shit, he'd probably leave me dead in the middle of the street. Why bother wasting any energy in giving me a grave?
"Have something to say? Adachi?"
I bit the inside of my cheek until blood trickled over my tongue. I swallowed the coppery tang and forced a smile on my face. He couldn't see me, but he wouldn't get the goddamn satisfaction of making me careless.
"Not a single word, boss man. Oh shit, sorry. Junior boss man." It was known Daiki hadn't taken over the yakuza and that was for one reason; his father still didn't think he was ready. It was a sore spot in his pride. I'd pay for my words another day, but I wasn't too worried right now.
"死ね" Die.
Before I could say anything, Daiki kept speaking. "The meeting is happening in Manhattan. You're to be there at seven. I'll send you the location."
Manhattan? "That's Vitale terri?—"
The call ended before I could say anything more.
"What?" Blake asked, smoking and practically shivering. His California blood wasn’t used to the cold.
I dragged him close, only because I was seeking warmth as well. My arm tightened around his shoulders until we were practically plastered against one another.
"Nothing. Just work, peaches. I'll be back as soon as possible." I flicked his nose before stealing the joint out of his hands.
"Hey! The fuck, Quincy."
"What? You got complaints, short stuff?"
He glared up at me. I expected him to attempt climbing me like a damn spider monkey. I knew he could do it. Instead, Blake shook his head.
"When do you have to head out?"
I didn't need to check my phone to know I should have left already. "Now. Why? Want a quickie?" Weed never failed to get me hard, not that I needed the help. Being close to Blake was its own aphrodisiac.
"You want to fuck outside in this cold?" He stared up at me as if I'd lost my mind. "My cum would freeze."
"Don't be a pussy. And no need to worry, you can cum down my throat."
Blake's mouth dropped open as I shoved him between the buildings, slipping further into the darkness. People continued to move around outside. No one gave a shit in New York, everyone had their own lives to worry about.
"Scared?" I taunted.
Blake looked around as if he was expecting someone to pop out and say boo. I snickered and pressed against him again. My hand dropped down to his tight black jeans, feeling the outline of his cock. He was as hard and needy as I was. He made it seem like I was insane for wanting to fool around, but he was descending into hell along with me. I popped the button on his jeans, desire rising to new heights inside of me. I needed to get laid, maybe visit Silver Dreams. Even the thought of that didn't stroke my arousal as much as the thought of having Blake's cock. There was something seriously wrong with Vitale dick. They shot out addictive drugs or something.
"Thought you had to go?"
I shrugged as I shoved my hand into his pants. It was like sinking into an inferno as I wrapped my fingers around his length. "I'm horny. Do you expect me to handle business like this?" I pointed down to my crotch, knowing just how hard I was.
Blake smirked as he pumped his hips up, fucking into my hand. His mouth fell open slightly as he let the pleasure roll over him. His eyes glazed as his pupils dilated.
"If you can't do it, I can always seek out something before heading out." I was half-joking. There was nothing going on between Blake and I except the occasional fuck. At the end of the day, it meant nothing, and yet I held my breath for some kind of reaction. I'd take a frown, anything to show someone gave an iota of a fuck about me.
It was probably sad and desperate that I clung to something so artificial, but when you grew up the way I did, there was nothing ever left for me.
Blake yanked my hand out of his pants. Panic trickled down my spine and it took all the effort in the world to hold my reactions back. I smirked at him. I was desired, but I was never wanted.
"I should get out of here." I made a move to leave.
He stopped me in my tracks, staring into my eyes as if he was trying to read my mind. I kept my facial expression blank, not wanting to show any more vulnerability than I already had. He pushed me, my back hit the opposite brick wall. I grunted in response, a little surprised by Blake as he crowded my space. He went on the tips of his toes, and his hand pressed the back of my neck, bringing my head down so he could kiss me. No, kiss wasn’t the right word, it was as if he was trying to scorch his touch into the fiber of my being. The way he devoured me through a single kiss had my already needy cock weeping for more. My entire body lit up as if he'd fed me flames. He coaxed a moan out of me easily and swallowed it greedily like he'd been thinking about kissing me this entire time.
My mind was blissfully blank. Pleasure, I could do. There was no thought that went into it, and when Blake and I crashed together, it was pure carnal instinct. Our chemistry was off the charts.
"Touch me," Blake demanded as he nipped at my chin.
I should be leading this, and normally, I would, but fuck, it felt good not to. The cold barely touched me as Blake littered my neck with hot wet bites. How insane was it that I wanted him to leave evidence behind. I wanted to step out into the world sporting a neck full of hickeys. A moan ripped from my throat creating a cloud of smoke above my head. My fingers tangled in his soft strands, and I pressed his face against my throat.
Just one. I never allowed anyone to leave marks on me. For what? No one ever wanted to keep me past the night.
My fingernails scraped over his scalp dragging a groan from Blake. He didn't ask and I didn't voice my wants. Our bodies did all the talking and I fell further into the abyss of pleasure that was ever growing between us. His teeth scraped over my flesh drawing a needy mewl from me. I didn't have the forethought to cover my mouth, and there was no point. The sounds of the busy city would have to be enough to drown me out.
He sucked on my throat, sending shock waves of ecstasy straight to my cock. If I could, I'd cum from him leaving hickeys on me.
"Fuck, that's it, baby girl, ma—" I bit my tongue, swallowing the word down. "Do whatever you want to me."
"See? Desperate whore," Blake moaned. His blue eyes were full of mischief and I couldn't help but smile even as I pulled on his hair.
"You're the one who can't keep his hands off me. I'd say you're the slutty one out of the two of us."
Blake’s hands were hot as they wrapped around my cock. I hadn't noticed at all that my pants were undone, let alone my cock out. My breath hitched as he flicked my piercing before stroking me in a firm grasp. A sound achingly close to a moan ripped from between my lips and bounced off the brick walls.
"I know you said quickie." Blake rubbed his cock against my leg, a look of need covering his face. "I want to bury my cock inside of you."
Fuck. Blake liked to play innocent sometimes to see if he could get his way but I always saw through his bullshit. Right now, as he gave me doe eyes and his face mirrored my own desperation, I was hard pressed to say no.
I twisted around, facing the brick wall, and shoved my pants down as much as possible, leaving them around my knees.
"Damn, your ass looks good. I wish we were at home."
"Hurry the fuck up before someone comes and ruins this."
"I don't have lube."
"It’s never stopped you before.” I groaned when he hesitated. Always worried about me. But I liked the pain. “Don't be a pussy, Blake. Fuck me like you want to."
A sharp slap to my ass had me reflectively thrusting forward and then back. Blake groaned before dropping down behind me.
"We don't have time—Fuck." I moaned as Blake's hot tongue slipped into my hole. He wiggled it around, thrusting in and out, teasing my body for what it really wanted.
I was starting to lose it. My legs trembled as he sloppily licked my hole, making me nice and wet. Against my better judgment, I reached back and shoved his face further between my cheeks. I was in blissful heaven as he ate me out like it was a goddamn competition. If I was ready to cum before, I was seconds away from blowing my load now.
"Baby girl, enough." My voice sounded strained.
"I'm not done," Blake teased. He swiped his tongue over my entrance one more time pulling more needy sounds from me.
"You need to learn the word quickie,” I grunted.
Blake held my cheeks apart. "Your hole is sexy as fuck. How could I stop?"
"Shut up." He was breaking my body down and working overtime on my mind. If he kept up with the praise, he was going to get a side of me that had him running for the hills.
The head of his cock finally touched my hole before he sank into me. I had to bend over more, lower myself to make up for the difference in my six-foot-four height to his five-foot-nine. All thought blissfully vanished and I was left with nothing more than pleasure. I clenched and unclenched around his cock. Loving the full feeling. Blake didn't hesitate as he started to fuck me. My moans filled the small space surrounding us.
"You like that?" Blake did it again, shooting pleasure straight to my balls. "Fuck, you get so tight every time I play with your piercing." Blake slammed up into me, hitting my prostate and driving me insane.
I bit my tongue as I caught myself against the brick wall.
"What else do you like, Quincy?" He sounded just as needy as I felt. Another hand skirted up my side exposing my flesh to the brisk cold. It didn't matter if there was a fucking snow storm happening around us, I was engulfed in the heat of the moment. Blake pinched my nipples, and it was as if there was a live wire connecting the sensitive buds to the tip of my cock.
"There," I moaned.
He was ruining me and I was voluntarily offering myself up to be wrecked. His cock slid out of my hole before he was slamming back in without hesitation.
I reached back grabbing a fistful of his soft hair. I twisted at a weird angle and bit his lips like I'd wanted to. "Fuck me harder. Don't be soft, baby girl."
A glint shimmered in Blake's eyes before he started fucking me as hard as he could in the narrow space. If anyone stepped too close, there was no mistaking what we were doing. I wasn't going to stop, not when it felt so fucking good. Blake tweaked and rolled my nipples, abandoning my cock to torture me.
I lifted on my tippy toes as pleasure built inside of me. My eyes closed, and I let him go to cling to the wall. I needed something solid to grasp onto. As I got closer to cumming, Blake pulled out. Anger didn’t have a chance to settle as he twisted me around to face him.
"What the fuck are you stopping for?" I was focused on what we were doing but I wasn't an idiot. There was no one in the small gap with us and no one had stopped near the entrance yet either. I had my knife ready if they did.
Blake smirked at me, stroking his cock and licking his reddened lips. "You want me inside you that bad, huh?" His hand moved faster over his length, daring me to deny his words.
"Either get back inside of me or shut the fuck up," I warned.
"Yeah, you want me."
My breath caught as he twisted me back to face the wall and slammed back inside of me with no warning. My eyes rolled to the back of my head as ecstasy stole my breath away. Air was scarce but it was hard to give a fuck when Blake's cock was sliding in and out of me. Every single time he dragged his length out, I tightened, trying to keep him in.
"Fuck, you're so needy," Blake said against my ear, dragging his tongue over my flesh.
Pleasure robbed me of any thought, leaving nothing behind but pure ecstasy. I twisted my head as much as I could, desperately seeking out Blake. Our lips met in an inferno of need. It was like we were sitting in the middle of bomb fire as heat coursed through and over me. My toes curled and I moved my hips in time with his. I chased after his cock, making sure it stayed inside of me, slipping further into the desperation of lust and need.
Blake 's hands were all over me as he fucked me. Our tongues twisted together and I tasted every inch of his mouth. There was still the faint cinnamon from the gum he liked to chew so much.
"あなたとのキスは病みつきになる。気をつけないと。" Kissing you is addictive. I should be careful.
Blake's dark brows scrunched together and he slowed down for a second. "What did you say?"
I laughed. "If you're worried about what it means, you're not fucking me hard enough. What's the matter? I won't break, so stop playing around."
A sharp pain shot over my shoulder and shot right down to my cock. A long drawn out groan was pulled from my toes.
"Did you bite me?"
Another sharp pain followed my question before his hot tongue soothed some of the ache.
"Do it again," I moaned.
"Beg me." Blake changed the angle his cock was entering me and my toes curled as my vision went white for a second.
I'd beg for the sky to turn purple if that was what he wanted. As long as he didn't stop what he was doing.
"More," I growled. I needed more. I tried arching my back as much as possible. There wasn’t a whole lot of room to move. I never wanted to be back at the apartment so damn badly. My eyes rolled to the back of my head as I was sucked in by pleasure. My breath caught as I ground back against him. "I want your hand on my dick."
Blake bit down on my shoulder in response, dragging a needy whine out of me. Fuck, I needed to keep it down but I couldn't find an ounce of fuck to care about people hearing, let alone seeing me spread open like a charcuterie board for Blake to sample.
"Say please. Beg me like the cock-hungry whore you are."
Fucking hell, he was going to be the death of me. "Please, baby girl, stroke my cock. Make me cum while you fill me with yours."
Blake swore as his hand wrapped tightly around my cock. His thumb played with my piercing steadily as he fucked me with hard thrusts. Each time he hit my prostate, I lost a little more sanity. I was pretty certain my legs were going to give out the moment I came and I'd hit the ground hard.
It'd be worth it.
"Come on, Blake, fill me with everything you have. I want to walk around knowing I'm stuffed full of your cum."
Blake groaned and shoved his hand against my mouth. He fucked me relentlessly, not letting up for a single second, and I loved it. My muscles tightened the moment it became too much. My eyes squeezed shut as I came. I bit down on Blake's hand, and in return, he bit me back. The pain heightened my orgasm to another level. I was going to lose my fucking mind.
Hot splashes of cum followed quickly after filling me with warmth. No fire could ever come close. A groan slipped between my lips as I reflectively clenched around Blake's cock.
"Damn it, Quincy." He shivered against me, slipping out of me with a wet squelch.
How insane was I to want him back in? To have him rearrange my guts until I couldn't think straight? I licked my lips, staring up at the cloudy sky. I had somewhere to be, and much like so much in life, my wants and needs came second.
I twisted around to face him again. I shrugged my jacket back up. I probably should change shirts since Blake had stretched the one I was wearing. It was well worth it. My flesh tingled everywhere his lips and teeth had touched. I leaned heavily against the wall for a second as I remembered how to function like a normal human being. My eyes slid closed as I felt every tight muscle and my sore ass. My lips tilted up in a smile.
"Nothing like a good fuck," I said trying to dissolve the pressing tension between us.
I could feel Blake's eyes on me like he was trying to understand what was happening in my head or between us. I had no answers. I just knew when we were together, the sex was mind-blowing, and I came every single time.
"Can't believe I did this outside," Blake muttered.
I chuckled, shaking the remnants of euphoria off so I could move. "An orgasm a day keeps the doctor away."
"There is seriously something wrong in your head."
"Not at all, doll. Your dick just cleaned it all up." I winked and instantly regretted looking at him. Fuck. He's so fuckable.
"Who's your backup?" Blake asked. His face was flushed, shoulder length hair a mess. I wanted nothing but to drag him upstairs and see what else we could do.
"Don't need or have any." I buttoned my jeans and headed for the exit.
"Then I'm coming."
"No, you're not."
Blake went around me and headed back toward our building. I caught up with him easily in a few strides. He looked determined as he bypassed the door and went to the back where there was a small parking garage. Most people parked on the street but there was also a garage for the tenants.
"What are you doing?" I asked as I crowded him against my car.
"Going."
"I said no."
"You can either let me go or I can find a way to follow you."
"Blake, this is no time to joke." I went to grab Blake's chin but he slipped around me. The car unlocked and he slipped into the back seat. He easily climbed to the front and buckled up.
I patted my jacket before I groaned. He was shaking the keys at me tauntingly. "Blake, get out of the car."
The little bastard had the nerve to face forward. I grabbed the handle and it was locked.
"I don't have time for this," I warned. The back alley fuck had already ate up enough of my time. I checked my phone and groaned as Daiki's message came through with a location. I was right, it was a part of the Vitale's territory. I was even more sure that I didn't want Blake to go. Why the fuck would Daiki need to set up a meeting there? We had plenty of neutral ground he could have used. I had a feeling he was screwing with the Vitales for fun.
"Open the goddamn door. Now."
Blake's brow lifted as if telling me to give in because he wasn't changing his mind.
"You're not going."
It was dangerous.
Blake shrugged and fiddled with his lighter. He twisted it over the top of his fingers, flipping it between each one. He flicked it open, lit it, closed the thing, and started doing it all over again. It looked like a practiced move he'd mastered after years of messing with the thing.
I contemplated breaking the window but then I'd be the one suffering with a broken car window in the middle of New York winter. That was asking for frostbite.
"Fuck it! Fine."
I headed over to the driver side and he unlocked it the moment I reached for the handle. I took the keys from his hand. "When did you even take them?"
"When you swung at me earlier."
"Fuck, for real?" I started the car and stared at Blake. I hadn't felt shit. He had a gift if I, of all people, hadn't noticed he was robbing me. I stopped and reached for my inner coat pocket.
"Here." Blake held out my wallet, not an ounce of shame on his face. He was grinning from ear to ear as if he was proud of himself.
"Thieving ass." I snatched it back and shoved my wallet where it belonged. "You know I could report you to the cops for stealing," I joked.
"They'd arrest you before you even got to put in a report," he shot back.
I laughed because he wasn't wrong. I'd seen the inside of the police stations more times than I could recall. I pulled out of the garage, and Blake and I instantly fell into a comfortable silence. It never felt strained. It happened naturally whenever we were home together. Over the past couple of weeks, it had started to feel normal having Blake in my space.
The last thing I wanted was for him to be here, but I couldn't quite quell the piece of me that was ecstatic to have backup again. I was thinking a little too much into it, but fuck, it was nice not to have to run solo.
I wasn't all that excited that Blake was with me, but he wasn't a delicate flower that I had to protect either from the big bad world. I glanced over at him as we pulled to a stop at the docks.
"Text Benito and ask if he had any vodka and fish today."
Blake pulled his phone out. "That's all?"
I nodded.
Blake did what I asked, his phone ringing in the next second. He glanced at me before answering and hitting the speaker.
"What are you doing at the docks, Blake? I don't recall asking you to go there."
"Sightseeing," Blake said.
I cocked a brow at him, shocked that he'd lie to his brother on my behalf. There wasn't a need but it struck something in me when he did. My fingers tightened around the steering wheel at the unfamiliar feeling.
"Un altro fratello che pensa di essere intelligente." A heavy sigh filled the car as Benito continued to mudder in Italian. "Idiota. Perché io?"
I chuckled. "He's with me."
"What did he say?" Blake asked.
"Said you're the best little brother in the world and he can't wait to buy you cake."
Blake flipped me off, and I couldn't help but laugh. The gesture was starting to feel comforting in a strange way.
"Why are you with my brother at the docks, Quincy?"
"Business," I answered, knowing Benito would need more clarification. I was a member of the yakuza. I technically owed him no loyalty outside of my friendship with Harlow. I wouldn't tell him why, but knowing Blake’s location was his business. I wasn't betraying anyone.
"Personal?"
"No."
Benito went silent for a second. "No one should be there. We haven't heard of any movement on our end. Give me one second while I reach out to a few people."
"Don't really have a second, and the only reason I'm reaching out is because I owe you one," I said.
Benito huffed out a short laugh. "Blake is paying for the medical bill against Harlow's wishes. You owe me nothing. Not to mention, if I didn't help I'd never hear the end of it out of my husband's mouth."
I smiled at the mention of my lunatic friend's antics. "You married the psycho."
"Forced marriage," he grunted.
"Not the second time."
"I'll either send Enzo in or Harlow if something isn't matching up."
"No need, backup isn't my thing. I don't need you getting involved," I warned.
I could feel Blake's eyes boring into me. He'd burn a hole in my flesh if he kept staring so damn hard.
"You brought my brother with you. I'm involved regardless. I won't allow anyone to hurt my family and live."
"This is why it's better not to get involved with the Vitales," I said. I finally met Blake's gaze. "I got it, I'll let you know if things get a little dicey. You know how good I am."
Benito grunted. "Blake, do you have the gun Enzo gave you?”
“Yeah.”
“Good. Trust no one."
"I'm not a kid," Blake grumbled but he nodded regardless.
"Quincy." There were no other words beside my name.
I knew it was a warning in itself. Blake might have been a brother none of them knew about, but he was a Vitale all the same.
Blake hung the phone up, and I popped open the glove compartment and passed a switchblade over to Blake. "Hide it. They're going to search you."
He grabbed it, admiring the sharp edge. "Do you think something’s going to go wrong?"
I shrugged. "Better safe than sorry. I take a shit ton of risks but not with you coming along."
He opened his mouth but shut it as three men stepped out of one of the metal containers. One pointed at my car, and I knew we were out of time.
"Blake, you follow my lead. Am I clear?"
He shrugged. "This isn't my first time."
I shook my head. My instincts screamed that there was something off, but I couldn't pinpoint it. I should drive off and get Blake back home safe. I'd deal with the Russian shit when I knew he was safe. "Something feels off and if something happens to you?—"
"What, you'd be pissed off?" Blake rolled his eyes.
"Yeah. Who the fuck else will cook for me? I have home-cooked meals now." I opened my jacket and raised my shirt showing off my abdomen. "Abs are even more cut than they were before." I tried making light of the situation, but I wasn't sure what awaited us. It should have been a simple deal in the making, a make up for something that had gone wrong between the yakuza and bratva. At least that’s what little information I received.
I slipped out of the car with Blake right behind me.
"Мы ждали вас." We've been expecting you, one of the men said. His gaze dropped to Blake and his scowl deepened. "Ты должен был прийти один." You were to come alone.
I shrugged, playing it off. "Он здесь, чтобы наблюдать за мной." He's here to observe me . I grinned, making sure they understood the meaning of my words. "Только тронь его, и я отрежу тебе все пальцы и засуну их в задницу." Touch him and I'll cut off all your fingers and shove them up your ass.
"You threaten my men?" another man asked as he stepped out. His black suit was tailored. The fur coat he wore over his shoulders was stereotypical. I knew who he was, Isaak Antonov. He was one of the top members of his family, a tight-knit group who were just as ruthless as they portrayed themselves.
"Threat, no.” I shook my head. "It was a promise." If he thought he intimidated me he was sorely mistaken.
Isaak's gaze cut to Blake, and I stepped in front of him, blocking his view. "You're big talk like we've heard."
"We have business. Can we get to it?” I asked.
"He can't be here," Isaak retorted.
I shook my head. "I don't recall asking. If you're so worried about him hearing anything, we can continue in Russian."
Isaak's lips dropped in a frown. The two men standing on either side of him took a step toward us. I watched as the one on the right smoothly moved his hand into his coat as he moved to the side of us.
"Вы говорите по-русски? Если да, отвечайте, или я убью его." Do you speak Russian? If you do, answer, or I'll kill him, Isaak directed at Blake.
A gun was pressed to the side of my head but I didn't dare take my eyes off the leader. It was always a fucking battle of the wills with these guys. I just had to make sure mine was stronger, or we would both be dead.
Hands ran over both me and Blake as they searched us for weapons. As he was given the all clear, Isaak stepped forward and shoved a gun against my head.