Page 84 of Joey

I chew on my lip, and he palms the back of my head, pressing my face close to his.

“Stop chewing your lip and kiss me, baby.”

I do as he asks, pressing my lips softly over his and slipping my tongue inside his mouth until heat blooms beneath my skin. He pulls back, leaving me breathless and wanting more—his goddamn superpower. “I love you, Joey.”

I blink away tears. I’ve waited my whole damn life for Max DiMarco to look at me like he is right now and say those words. Monique told me to never tell a guy I love him unless I have his ring on my finger. She says it gives them too much power, but this man right here already has me in a choke hold and he knows it. “I love you too.”

He cups my chin in his hand, tilting my head to a slightly different angle and kissing me again. And this time, he takes full control, claiming my mouth the way he’s claimed every single part of me—with fire and dominance.

ChapterThirty-Three

MAX

“Tell us who were these fucks who took you, and what the hell did they want?” Lorenzo asks, his face set in a grimace as he stares at me from across the desk.

His and Dante’s eyes bore into mine while they wait for answers. I sit on the opposite side of their desk, but it’s no longer because we’re not on the same side. And I’m reminded even more of this fact when Joey reaches for my hand and curls her slender fingers around mine.

I tell them everything I know about Kristin and Uncle Vito. About my planned trip to New Jersey and the tape recording that my uncle supposedly has and Monty’s suspicion that the video has something to do with their father. Finally, I describe the woman with the stroller and tell them to check the security feeds outside my building so we can ID her.

“I suspect the Russian goons you killed were the ones who actually took me off the street after she stuck me with something, but we should check it out.”

“And those three guys you saw, you recognize them at all?”

I shake my head. “Nope. Did either of you?”

“No,” Dante says with a frown.

“What did they want from you?” Lorenzo asks.

“They were working for someone. They made it clear their boss wanted to speak to me. But I didn’t see their boss, and I don’t know where he was because he didn’t show his face the entire time I was there—which was how long exactly?”

“About thirty-six hours as far as we can tell,” Dante replies.

Lorenzo leans forward. “Did they say why their boss wanted to speak to you?”

“Not really. But when I heard their accents, I assumed it had something to do with the takeover. But then they started talking about how I’d taken what was his and touched his girl, and it all started to make sense.”

“You touched his girl?” Joey says, her brow furrowed in a frown.

“The father of Kristin’s baby is Russian Bratva, at least I think he is from what she told me. I’ve been looking into him too, but he was less of a priority than Vito. Maybe he’s the key to it all though? Maybe that’s why Vito is missing? Revenge for taking his daughter away?”

“But did anyone even know that Kristin was with you in Chicago?” Joey asks. “I mean, we didn’t.”

I squeeze her hand at the reminder of her pain over the whole Kristin situation. “I guess if someone was looking for her…they could have seen her going into my apartment building. She went to the deli down the road a few times.” I chuckle. “Apparently they make cheesesteaks as good as any you’ll find in Philly.”

“You think this is all to do with your sister? They think you and she were—” Lorenzo doesn’t finish the question, but he doesn’t need to.

“Well, nobody knew I had a sister except for her and Vito. She only found out herself two months ago, so she couldn’t have told Jakob.”

“Jakob?” Dante asks.

“He’s the baby daddy, right?” Joey says.

“Yeah.”

“Hmm.” Dante runs a hand over his beard, a scowl on his face.

“Your uncle Vito though? He’s your sister’s dad? What’s that about? I don’t even remember you having an uncle,” Joey says.