Page 99 of Precious Hazard

She didn’t!

“Tara!” I yell, spinning around. My gaze collides with my wife’s as she casually leans against the jamb of the front entrance.

“I told you,” she hollers back. “You’re not going anywhere today, DeVille!”

That’s it! I sprint across the driveway, straight to the house. Tara lets out a high-pitched squeal and dashes inside, slamming the door shut behind her. I reach it just in time to hear the deadbolt turn, locking me out.

“I’m gonna wring your neck!” I slam my fist on the wooden surface.

“All I’m trying to do is make sure you follow the doctor’s orders.” Her voice sounds muffled behind the barrier. “Chill out. I already made the arrangements for a tow truck. It will be herelater today. And you’ll get your SUV with brand-new tires back tomorrow, just in time for Ilaria’s directive for bed rest to come to an end.”

My forehead furrows. I thought she went stabby just for the sake of riling me up. “You mean, you couldn’t think of another way to keep me in bed besides slashing my tires?”

“I… guess.”

Squeezing my temples, I shake my head. A grin is fighting to come out, distorting my face despite my efforts to hold it at bay. “Tara… I own other cars. But even if I didn’t, how do you think our security guys get to work?”

“I don’t know. Bus?”

“Their cars are parked right beside the gatehouse.”

“Oh,” she sighs.

She sounds so defeated and glum, that I can’t keep it together anymore. I stuff my fist into my mouth to keep my laugh from escaping.

“Yes.Oh,” I snort, fighting to sound even-keeled. “Open the door.”

“No, I don’t think I should.”

“Please.”

Several beats pass in silence before I hear the unmistakable click of the lock. The door cracks open, but barely five inches.

“What?” Her freckled face peeks through the gap.

I lean down until our eyes are level and touch the tip of my nose to hers. “Don’t fuck with the Land Rover again, Tara. You got me?”

“Don’t expect me to nurse you back to health when your pneumonia returns. Gotthat, darling?”

“As if you would.”

“Of course I wouldn’t. Not even for an extra million in the bank.”

Just as I thought.

My eyes drop to her lips, but the phone in my pocket starts ringing again. It’s the fourth time in the last handful of minutes. I take it out and bring it to my ear. “What is it?”

“You need to get to the Brooklyn construction site,” Nino says, sounding grave. “Like right fucking now.”

“I’m on my way.” I glance at my wife, who’s staring at me with squinted eyes through the narrow gap. “I should be home for dinner, and I’ll pick something up for us. Tell Greta to stay out of the kitchen from now on. Her cooking is even worse than I remembered.”

Instead of a response, the door slams shut in my face.

“That’s for the booth at the far end.” Jelena sets two White Russians on my serving tray. “So hey, not that I’m not happy to see ya, but how come you’re here right now?”

I shrug in response.

“Did your sexy hubby finally let you out of the bedroom for a breath of fresh air? Wouldn’t surprise me, if that’s whatactually happened.” Leaning over the bar, she grins and wiggles her eyebrows at me. “Is it true that Italians are beasts in bed?”