Page 127 of The Devil's Heir

When Jarek is finished, he rests his chest against my back. He moves some of my hair aside and places a kiss on my neck just under my ear. Then, I hear it as he softly whispers his thoughts to me.

"I love you, Liliana Sumner—more deeply than words can hold, and I will never let you go. Now that my heart has found its home in you, it will only ever beat for you. You are mine, now and always, for all time."

FIFTY-EIGHT

Jarek

I had said it. I told Liliana that I loved her. I hadn't expected her to say it back, but it doesn't mean I didn't feel disappointed when she didn't. I did a despicable thing to her, and she's slowly forgiving me. I can't expect her to fall in love with me just because the sex is great. She will in time, as long as she stays and gives me the chance.

I've spent the last few days with Lily, giving her my every moment, but I couldn't put off the inevitable any longer. As I walk into The Reformatory, the workers nod as I pass them, and I return their greeting with my own nod.

I enter thebasement, where we keep our cells, and am greeted by Frankie. He immediately unlocks the door to the hall leading to the cells.

"Have they given you any issue?"

Frankie smirks, "Only when Joey comes and visits Zita Rossi."

I narrow my eyes and ask, "Why is that?"

"Have you never heard those two go at it?" Frankie asks astonishingly.

"Un-fucking-believable! He knows better than to fuck the prisoners." I yank the door open and walk over to Zita's cell.

Opening the small window on the door, my eyes bulge when I see the state of the cell. Not only did Joey give her the biggest cell, the one with a bathroom attached, but he's also brought her all the comforts of home.

The pretty woman's head snaps to the door, a smile growing on her face until she sees that it's me, and scowls.

"What do you want? Haven't you done enough?" she spits.

I scoff. "You've got the wrong guy, honey. You're not here because of me. You're here because my capo couldn't leave you behind."

"Lies! He told me that he was only following orders. You are the one my father tried to kill—" Her Italian accent is thick, but I understand her every word.

"But I'm not the one who was injured because of it," I respond, cutting her off. "Would you fuck Joey if you knew that it was his idea to take you?"

"What kind of woman do you take me for? I would never let him touch me if that was the case…"

"Well, I don't know what to tell you. I didn't know you were on my plane until we were well on our way home. Joey took you, not me. However, I am keeping you here until your father shows his face."

"You're such an asshole, Jarek Falcon!" Zita huffs.

"Call me whatever you want, but remember, I can take away all this shit that Joey has given you to make your stay comfortable. Keep it up, and you will find yourself in a filthy, musty cell." I slam the window closed and turn away.

Frankie stands close by, grinning. "Man, Joey is going to catch hell when he comes to visit her. I hope I'm still on duty when he gets here."

I return the smile with a wicked one of my own. "I know. That's what he gets for pulling this shit." I point at Zita's cell. "She isn't a guest; she's a fucking prisoner, and that shit won't fly with me. He put her in this situation; he can deal with her wrath."

Frankie shakes his head, laughing as he fishes out the keys to open the other cells. "Which traitor do you want to talk to first, Boss?"

"I'll leave Richards for last," I tell him, waiting until he unlocks the correct door.

"Well, well, looks like you got yourself into a little pickle," I say cynically. "How were those errands you were running for your mother? Were they before or after you took a very important possession of mine—two of them if I want to be technical?"

Lansky's head comes up slowly, and he glares at me but doesn't say anything. Frankie steps forward, about to give the fucker some incentive to talk, but I stop him.

"Just stand by. I'm going to be the one to get my hands dirty," I tell him, and he nods, steps back, and smiles.

I pull the black leather gloves from my pocket and pull them on as I address the redheaded asshole. "Tell me, Lansky. Was it in the plans to get hired and steal from me?"