Page 127 of Joey

My cheeks flush pink at his praise. I didn’t realize we were having company tonight, so I’m dressed in a pair of ripped jeans and a tank top. My hair is piled on top of my head in a messy bun and I don’t have a scrap of make up on, but Max makes me feel beautiful no matter what. “Thank you,” I whisper.

His hand slides down my thigh until it settles on my knee, which is a much safer place for it to be when we’re in this room, but I pout anyway, which makes him laugh softly. “My hands will be exactly where you want them later, baby. Promise,” he whispers.

“I’m gonna hold you to that, DiMarco.”

He gives me a soft kiss on the cheek and rejoins the conversation without missing a beat.

Dmitri and Kyzen are here tonight too, and while they’re not blood, they’ve been here so often the past few weeks, they’ve practically become part of the furniture. Our two families have formed a solid alliance that my brothers seem confident will be good for us all.

Once dinner is over, Dante abruptly returns the conversation to business. “Pushkin is dealt with?” he asks Dmitri.

Dmitri gives a solemn nod. “I know you wanted to deal with him yourself, but he was expecting us. He would have killed Kyzen, and I had to take the shot.”

Dante nods his understanding. He would have done the same if it had been Lorenzo.

“But we have made it clear that he was killed in revenge for the murder of your father and that we took him out as a sign of respect for you.”

“It’s not ideal. I would have preferred to deal with him myself, but we can work with it,” Lorenzo replies.

Kyzen leans forward. “Also, Ivan was killed in Russia last night. My cousin put a bullet in his head. I’ve seen the pictures. He is dead.”

“Then there’s no further challenge to your leadership?” Max asks.

Dmitri and Kyzen nod.

“Good. No more Pushkins.” Dante smiles and raises his glass of whiskey in a toast that we all join.

Shifting the conversation, Lorenzo turns to face Max’s uncle. “What’s the plan for you and Kristin now?”

“We thought we might head back to Jersey. Now that there’s no longer a threat from the Pushkins, I don’t see why we can’t go back to our old lives.” He looks over at his daughter who nods excitedly. I figure she’s more than keen to get back to her old life and try to find her baby daddy while she’s at it. “We’ll be leaving the day after tomorrow if you don’t mind putting us up until then?”

“Of course. Any family of Max’s is welcome here,” Lorenzo says.

“Thank you for everything you’ve all done for us.” Kristin’s eyes shine with unshed tears. “It means so much. And I know it was awful the way we met, but I’m still glad that we did.”

“Me too,” I agree, and she smiles at me.

“Especially you, Max. I had no idea I needed a big brother until I found you.”

Max laughs. “Well, you’re not all bad, sis.”

Vito looks down at the table and Kristin puts an arm around him. “It’s okay, Dad. I understand why you did what you did.”

“It’s water under the bridge now, right?” Max adds.

Vito looks up at his nephew. “You are a more gracious man than I, Maximo,” he says as a tear rolls down his cheek. “Your parents would have been very proud of the man you’ve become.”

Max’s grip on my thigh tightens, but he keeps a faint smile on his face. Before the awkwardness becomes unbearable, Dante suggests drinks in his study. I go to stand but Max takes my hand and pulls me back down, indicating I should stay in my seat, so I remain at the table and watch everyone else file out of the room. Dante turns and looks at Max and me before he leaves. The look he shares with Max must appease him because he walks out of the room, closing the door behind him.

“Come here, baby girl,” Max says as soon as we’re alone, lifting me onto his lap until I’m straddling him.

“Someone could come back in here.”

“They won’t,” he assures me. “Besides we’re not doing anything wrong.”

I bite my lip but wrap my arms around his neck. His cock is already getting harder. “Hmm. Not yet.”

His eyes narrow as he stares into mine. “Not now, Joey.”