Page 97 of Ruthless Lord

“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 fuckinghatewaiting. Almost as much as paperwork.”

Chapter 30

Stefano

There is nothing worse on God’s green earth than sitting around in a car for hours.

Every time a new set of headlights appears on the horizon, I keep thinking, thank the Almighty, finally there’s salvation. Except the cars keep whizzing past and the truck remains where it is, the bright orange safety cones placed around the back and side, its four-way lights blinking yellow. The driver sits on the back gate smoking cigarettes and looking almost as bored as I feel.

I’m set back from the road on a gravel path. My car’s hidden by trees. I can’t start the engine or turn on the lights, so I have all the windows cracked. Cool evening air blows through as I thumb mindlessly at my phone, waiting for something to happen.

Stefano: This is even worse than you said it would be.

Charlie: Aren’t you used to this sort of thing?

Stefano: When I worked on the street, I was never the most patient crew leader. We didn’t do stakeouts.

Charlie: It’s a miracle you got this far.

Stefano: Not really. I’m very good at hurting people.

Charlie: When everything’s a nail, you should just be a hammer, right?

Stefano: Now you’re getting it.

Charlie: Just stay patient. He’ll show up. Would it help if I told you that I’m waiting back in our bed for you?

Stefano: Not really.

Charlie: Well, then I won’t mention how I’m wearing this new lacy bra with these very transparent cups…