Page 51 of Ruthless Lord

“I don’t thinkanybody’slife is set up for that, but you’re in a whole different league.” I shake my head at him, completely appalled. “Don’t tell me you’ve got hand grenades in the bathroom.”

“No grenades. Just a submachine gun in the kitchen and a bazooka in the basement.”

My eyebrows raise. He stares back, unsmiling.

“I really hope you’re kidding,” I murmur, struggling to process. God, this is frustrating. I know I didn’t do anything wrong, but now I understand why Stefano was worried about having Emily digging in his stuff. The man’s got actual loaded weapons stashed around. He’s probably afraid she’ll shoot herself in the face. “I need to be able to have people around my house. Do you know what I’m saying?”

He grunts in reply. “I hear you.”

“Thanks for those three helpful words, but I’m going to need more than that. Can you pleasedisarmthe house?”

“No.”

I throw up my hands. “Why the hell not?”

“Because my job isn’t safe.”

That shuts me up. I lower my arms, frustration like an ocean tide in my stomach.

I understood that coming into this. He’s a member of a powerful criminal organization. At best, they exist in a gray area in this city, brokering deals and amassing wealth through shady means. Stefano’s a violent man, and he’s right in the middle of all that crime.

Obviously, he’d have enemies.

Which means he needs lots and lots of guns around like a much more attractive Rambo.

But seeing the gun with my own eyes changes things. He’s not just a violent man. He’s also a killer. What else are guns for? You’re not just hurting someone with a bullet. You’remurderingthem.

And the worst part is I can’t even pretend like he’s being absurd.

Because I know for a fact that one of his enemies is sleeping in his own bed and wearing his wedding ring.

I take a deep breath to steady myself. “I want to know where the guns are.”

“Why?”

“Because at least that way I can steer people away from them in the future.”

He tilts his head to the side. “Do you know how to shoot?”

“I have absolutely no reason to.”

“You’ll learn.”

“No thanks. I ride horses. I don’t blow people’s heads off.”

His mouth quirks. Is that a little smile? “I’ll teach you proper gun safety and how to handle a firearm effectively.”

“Like I said, no thank you.”

“That’s the deal. You want to know where the guns are? You have to learn how to use them.”

“You just love making deals, don’t you?” I step toward him, getting pissed again. “Remember the last deal you made? Didn’t work out great for you, did it?”

He comes toward me. I stop in my tracks, heart suddenly leaping into my throat as he lingers inches away. Not touching, but so close one wrong twitch would send him careening into me.

“Who said I lost?” He licks his lips very slowly. “I have a cherished memory to enjoy as I see fit.”

I fight against the blush I feel creeping into my cheeks. “You’re… cherishing it?”