Page 110 of Restless Hawke

“Oh, hell yes. But like I said, you’re the only woman I’ve ever brought to Sunday dinner. And given all the issues going on, they probably didn’t want to do anything that might send me running again.”

“You would run? But I thought you were like basically in charge of the hotel and are helping with the second tower across the street?”

She reallywaspaying attention at dinner.

“I am…and I actually like it. I didn’t think I would, to be honest. Nothing else has ever really seemed to click. Maybe it’s because I spend so much time in hotels and casinos, but it feels more like home, like where I’m supposed to be, than any other job I’ve ever had in the family business.”

Her hand slides around my side, and she squeezes gently. “See? Not so restless after all.”

I chuckle low. “I wish that were true. But I’m here, aren’t I? Chasing another tournament win.”

Allegra doesn’t need to knowwhyit’s so much more than that, why it’s so important. The less she knows about the Satriano situation, the better. I can keep her insulated from it—from him. I can keep her safe.

She kisses me gently, letting her lips linger on mine. “That doesn’t mean you have tokeepdoing this.”

I tighten my grip on her, and she lies back down, settling her face into the crook of my neck, comfortably tucked in like she belongs here.

AndGod, I wish what she said were true…

For the first time in my life, I might actuallywantto stay. I might actuallywantto take a role in the Hawke empire for longer than a few days, weeks, or months.

And it might not be possible.

I try to hide my reaction to her words, how easily she says it when I know I can never stop, that I will have to keep doing it as long as Satriano demands it.

I’ll have to play for him, win tournaments for him, rig them any way he sees fit, for as long as he asks me to.

Just like Pope, I’ll be stuck in this strange relationship with the man who could easily destroy all of us.

And he’s going to make me do that, too.

Deep down, I know where thisthingwith him is heading.

He’s going to make me betray the Hawkes.

He’s going to make me fuck it all up all over again.

I trail my fingers down her back, feeling her relax more and more into me until she finally falls asleep, her even breaths floating across my skin, her hand pressed over my heart.

It’s the kind of vulnerability that’s so hard for her, but she’s doing it so easily with me.

She’s already revealed so much of herself to me tonight.

But she still hasn’t answered that question about where she went after her mom died…

Wherever it was, whatever happened there, it scares her enough that she doesn’t want to confide in me about it. Either she’s still running from those memories or still living through them, and it’s almost like she doesn’t want to get me involved the same way I don’t want her anywhere near the mess I’m currently embroiled in.

And that scares me almost as much as Satriano does.

16

ALLEGRA

The rustle of bedsheets and the slight creaking of the bed from the other room float out to me in the living room area of the suite before Coen’s voice.

“Allegra?”

I hear it—thepanicin the way he says my name, mixed with the last remnants of sleep, that makes him sound even rougher and more gravelly than usual.