Page 34 of Ruthless Lord

Charlie

S tefano’s barely paying attention to me as he stretches. His body’s lean and gorgeous in the low light of the private box Albert gave us again. I sit with my legs crossed at the bar, sipping wine, my lips pressed together, glaring at him impatiently.

“You’ve barely been home,” I complain loudly as he cracks his neck and starts shadow boxing. He dances around, warming up for the fight. “I made dinner for you last night, and all you could do was sit on your phone, texting.”

“It’s called work,” he grunts at me.

“Yeah, right. I know what your work really is, you asshole. You could at least look me in the eye.”

He doesn’t bother turning his head. “You’re being needy.”

“It’s not needy when a wife wants her husband to treat her like she’s more than furniture.”

He pauses and glances at me. “You are furniture.”

“You fucking asshole.” I glare at him, jaw working. “You need me as much as I need you.”

“You’re wrong about that.” He goes back to working out.

“I don’t even know why I’m here. After this fight, you need to start paying attention to me.”

“I told you, I’ve been busy at work.”

“You keep saying that. It’s not impressive, and I really don’t care.”

He glares at me. “There’s a massive shipment coming through. I’ve got my whole team working on it. I’m up to my fucking asshole in manifests, hidden compartments, inspections, and truck repairs. You think the depot runs itself?”

“I think you’re not as important as you pretend you are.” I get up and throw back my wine.

“And I think you’re just a spoiled, entitled rich girl who’s mad she’s not getting what she wants.”

“Fuck you, mafia prick. You’re just a brainless loser. Look at you. More muscle than IQ.”

“Brat.”

“Asshole.”

“When this shipment comes through, I’m going to punish that filthy fucking mouth of yours.

” He stalks toward me, looking like an avenging god of death.

A real thrill of fear slices into my guts.

“When it’s done, every fucking state from here to California’s going to be flooded with Marino coke.

I’m talking hundreds of millions, wife of mine, and I’m taking a cut of it all.

When it’s done, I’ll get you down on your knees, and you’ll beg to get a taste. ”

“Good luck with that, you arrogant fucking asshole.”

“I thought you wanted me to pay attention to you.” He sneers in my face. “I’ll be happy to, so long as your mouth’s sucking my?—”

I whip my hand and slap him straight across the face. It cracks into his cheek and leaves his face slightly reddened. He doesn’t move, only looms there, glaring death at me as I back away.

“I don’t care how much money’s coming through on those dumb trucks. Treat me better.”

“Earn my attention.”

“Go to hell.”

I turn to leave, but there’s a knock at the door. Albert opens up, pressing his head in. He looks at me for a moment, and there’s a strange curiosity in his gaze. Like he hurried here to make sure I was okay.

“Fight starts in five,” he says, glancing over to Stefano. “You should make your way to the ring.”

“Gladly.” My husband grabs his bag. “Wish me luck, wife?”

“I hope you end up a vegetable.”

“Sounds like that’s another thing you won’t be getting.”

He strides out, leaving me alone in the room. Albert lingers for a moment, and I wonder if he’s going to check on me. But instead, the old mafia fixer discreetly slips away, closing the door behind him.

I refill my wine glass and perch myself on the outside balcony to watch my husband.

Stefano’s nose is crooked and stuffed with cotton from where his opponent caught him with a lucky hook.

His knuckles are swollen and bruised from breaking his opponent’s jaw in ten places.

He storms out into the parking lot, leaving me to trail behind him.

We get into his truck together, not saying a word, until the engine’s on and we’re safely behind the dark-tinted glass with the radio turned on.

I throw myself across the seat and kiss him. He kisses me back with equal hunger. “I’m so sorry,” I breathe, tugging at his hair. “God, that really sucked.”

“I’m sorry too. I was worried I went too far.”

“Too far? You were perfect. I almost believed you hated me.” I kiss his cheek, his nose, his lips. “I shouldn’t have slapped you.”

“No, baby, the slap was great. Very believable.” He strokes my cheek lightly. “Hurt like hell. You’ve got a good arm.”

“Thank you.” I kiss him again, lingering against his lips. “I hate watching you fight.” I lightly pull the cotton from his nose. Luckily, the bleeding’s done.

“Even when I win?”

“If you could win without getting hurt, it wouldn’t be so bad.”

“Wouldn’t be a fight worth having then.”

“Which is how I know you’re a sicko.” I kiss him, harder this time. “Still going to punish my filthy mouth?”

“You know I absolutely am.”

“Good.” I grin, biting his lower lip, before returning to my seat. He puts the truck into drive, and we pull out. “Did you notice the way Albert appeared right as our argument was heating up?”

“It seemed like a coincidence.”

“No way. He was checking on me. They hadn’t given the five-minute call yet.”

“You think so?” His lips tug deeper. “That means?—”

“I saw him surrounded by his lieutenants on the way out here.” I lean on the center console and put a hand on his leg. “All the top-level guys were at his table. What do you think they were discussing?”

“Plans to play bridge?”

“Or maybe the biggest coke deal of the century happening soon.”

Stefano grunts and stares straight ahead. “Bastard really was listening.”

“I bet they have all those back rooms bugged. Not just for us, but for everyone. You ever talk about work in the warehouse?”

“Occasionally, I’ll take a call.” He curses, grip tightening on the wheel. “I’ve said things over the years when I thought nobody was around.”

“You probably were alone. Only there are bugs in the damn walls.”

He lets out a frustrated groan. “I should’ve seen that.”

“It’s okay. How could you have known? You’re paranoid, but you’re not insane.”

“Still, I’ve been careless. I thought the fights were important. I let them distract me from what really matters.”

“Which is what?”

“Business. Family.” He glances at me. “That means you.”

“I figured. But I wasn’t in the picture until recently. Don’t beat yourself up.”

“Why? Because I have plenty of opponents who will do that for me?”

“Exactly, you masochist.”

He grins at that. I smile back, feeling my belly twist with butterflies.

How can a man like Stefano make me feel like this?

A killer, a pit fighter? A smuggler and a monster?

But we fit together, even if we’re from different worlds.

He’s older, stronger, more grounded. He evens me out and makes me see life differently.

Not everything is money and power. He makes me want to find out who I really am and what I really want in life.

He makes me feel like I might actually be able to do it.

“Alright, we put on your little play. What’s the next move?”

“The trap’s set. Now you just have to wait for the mouse to stumble in.”

“Sounds so easy when you put it that way.”

“I have a feeling this will be the hardest part for you.”

“Why’s that?”

“It’ll be a lot of waiting.”

He sighs, scrunching his broken nose. “I fucking hate waiting. Almost as much as paperwork.”