Page 43 of Joey

“Ash will tell Dante and Lorenzo that I’m with you. I can say I’m staying at your place. They’ll know I’m safe. Just take me to bed. Just once?” I beg him, tears pricking at my eyes.

He stares at me for what feels like forever before he finally speaks. “You’re going to get me fucking killed, Joey Moretti.” Then he reaches down and snatches our helmets off the ground, motioning for me to get on the bike.

ChapterNineteen

JOEY

For some reason, Max drives us further away from the city—away from his penthouse apartment and north toward the river. He eventually stops his bike outside a beautiful log cabin in the woods. He cuts the engine and taps my leg, signaling me to climb off.

“Where are we?”

He frowns. “I never told you about this place?”

“No.”

“Hmm.” He rubs a hand over his thick beard. “I like to come here sometimes.”

“Is it yours?” I look at the beautiful cabin that’s currently shrouded in darkness.

“Of course it is.” He laughs softly and takes my hand, leading me to the front door.

My legs are shaking by the time we get inside. This place is so secluded, I wonder if anyone even knows it’s here. I doubt anyone knows we’re here. Not that I’m scared of being alone with Max, but the thought of being completely isolated with him makes me more nervous than I’ve ever felt in my entire life.

He takes his cell from his pocket and eyes me with concern. “I’ll let your brothers know you’re with me and you’ll be back tomorrow, okay?”

Is he waiting for me to change my mind? Not gonna happen. “Okay.”

I wander around the large open-plan living area while Max types out a text. It’s so cozy. Big sofas with soft cushions. Soft rugs on the floor. A huge fireplace that I would love to see blazing in the winter.

“Do you, uh, bring a lot of women here?”

He tosses his phone onto the sofa and stalks toward me. “No.”

I swallow my nerves. I’m shaking like a freaking leaf.

“Why are you so nervous, baby girl? I don’t have any power over you, remember?”

Holy fuck! Why the hell did I say that earlier? I think I’m going to pass out.

“I d-didn’t—”

“You need me to remind you exactly what you said?”

No. I’d like to make you forget it instead.“You know I was just mouthing off,” I whisper.

He arches an eyebrow. “Just being a spoiled brat?”

“Well, isn’t that all you think I am?”

Sliding his arms around my waist, he palms my ass cheeks and yanks me toward him. He bends his head low so he can whisper in my ear. “Oh, you’re so much more than that, baby girl.”

Before I can come back with a snappy retort, he lifts me, wraps my legs around his waist, and carries me through the living area. He kicks open a door to a bedroom, walks inside, and lays me down on the bed.

I stare up at him, my heart racing wildly and my blood thundering. I’m hot. I’m wet. And I need him so badly. I would do literally anything he told me to right now. Anything.

Max brushes my hair back from my face, his fingertips grazing over my neck as he feels for the fastening of my St. Christopher pendant. My brothers gave it to me when I left for Italy, warning me never to take it off. I rarely do—not because they told me not to, but because it belonged to my mom.

I blink at him. “Why are you taking off my pendant?”