Page 21 of Red Retaliation

Del sits opposite. He’s talking, and I should be listening, but I’m not. He’s speaking about the huge cocaine shipment and what we’ll do if there is indeed a thief in our midst, but I can’t concentrate. My mind is stuck on Arianna.

Arianna, Arianna, Arianna.

Since she arrived uninvited and unannounced in my life, my mind is stuck. Although I found the situation in the room just now amusing, it’s not funny in reality. Nothing with the power to deflect me is amusing. It’s the exact opposite. But I can’t get her out of my head.

I can’t get her out of my cock either. I only have to think of her and it goes off on one.

The constant ache in my balls grinds me down as I readjust myself in my leather chair. Relieving myself twice in the shower this morning didn’t sate my appetite, and my usual raging thirst has ramped up with a vengeance. Even imagining Arianna in that plain underwear is enough to get me going.

Underneath the table, I push down on my aching crotch.

Jesus Christ! Why do I let her get under my skin like this? Lorna was a hot chick who I’d planned to marry for God’s sake, but compared to Arianna...

No! Shut up! Lorna was a liar and a traitor!

I wipe the slick sweat off my forehead with the back of my hand.Realizing it’s gone quiet and Del is no longer talking, I look up to find him scrutinizing me. “What?”

“I could ask you the same thing.” Del lights a cigarette, not taking his stare from me. “What’sreallygoing on between you and that woman?”

“What the fuck do you mean?Nothingis going on!”

Thankfully, Steve lumbering into my office interrupts the conversation.

“The Bristoni corpse is here,” he says in his monotone voice. “An utter shit mess retrieving it and a bit of bloodshed, but nothing I couldn’t deal with.”

I snatch my jacket off the back of the chair. “Good. Get my brothers to dig those rings out. I’ve already told them where to look.”

That didn’t go down well either.

Tough shit! Whatever needs doing, gets done. That’s how things work, and that’s why we’re successful.

Without looking back, I storm out of my office. I need some air. I also need to get my head in gear. Digging around inside the corpse of Roberto fucking Bristoni looking for rings belonging to the woman who causes me to lose a grip of myself is not what I need right now. Furthermore, if I set eyes on the cunt who hurt Arianna so badly for her to run to me in the first place, I’m fairly sure I’ll rip the body to pieces with my bare hands and deliver the bits to share between Edoardo Bristoni and Emiliano Galvatore for putting her in that position in the first place.

For fuck’s sake! Why do I give a shit?

My polished leather shoes echo on the marble floor as I stomp through the casino reception, ignoring attempts to acknowledge me. I don’t speak to anyone. I don’t look at anyone. I won’t do one more fucking thing until I’ve calmed down.

CHAPTER

14

Arianna

“WHERE ARE WE GOING?” I stumble along the corridor between Liam and Oscar Bateman. One of them has a painful grip on my arm, and I can barely keep up with their determined strides, especially as this skirt isn’t the best for maneuvering in.

How was I to know they’d burst into the room, giving me no choice but to accompany them, when I was in the middle of trying on those clothes Red ordered?

I trip slightly as I’m dragged around a tight corner of this seemingly never-ending maze of corridors.

“You didn’t need to dress up for the occasion,” Liam sneers, a distinct edge of hatred in his voice as he eyes my new skirt.

“I wasn’t planning on going anywhere.” I refrain from spitting out the more sarcastic retort that wants to leave my mouth.

Suddenly, a horrible thought scurries into my head. Where is Red? Surely it should behimescorting me from where I’ve been locked these past few days? He said I was not to leave that room under any circumstances.

What if he’s decided I’m not worth the trouble? What if my admission about the rings and the added problems that brings is one step too far to honor the protection he promised me? What if the threat of retaliation from my family and the Bristonis is not something he’s willing to shoulder any longer? Maybe harboring me is too much hassle, and I’m now surplus to requirements?

Panic bubbles as the hard grip on my forearm throbs. “Please slowdown,” I gasp, resisting the pace I’m being pressed to match. “You haven’t said where we’re going. Where’s Red?”