Page 89 of The Mafia's Bride

“Try it.” Killian smiles from the doorway, leaning against it.

The trademark smirk is there, but it’s not friendly. It’s dangerous and I measure the distance between me and safety carefully. “I’d love to see you try, heir. Really.”

He slithers close, smelling like death. “Piece of advice.” He leans close, Ace watching from my back. I don’t like having her there with a weapon but I’m at a disadvantage. “Don’t threaten the captain ever again. Especially infrontof me.”

I narrow my eyes. “Still the perfect lapdog, I see,” I retort.

Killian chuckles but it’s not humorous. “Want to see if my bark is bigger than my bite?”

Ace interrupts. “Make sure my shipment makes it where it belongs. And fucking do a better job of protecting my sister, Alessio.”

35

LEX

The night is dark and cold. So much for the warmer weather.

I tighten my leather gloves, pulling my cuffs down to hide any expanse of skin. Tony on my right shifts, blowing into his bare hands to try to relieve the sting of cold on them. Killian lights a cigarette next to me.

My fingers itch to do the same. I hate having him near me, unease and dread twisting into a nasty concoction in my gut.

That morning was an absolute disaster. It didn’t help I was on edge, but the minute Ace decided to treat Sloane like she was nothing, I lost all semblance of control. My wife has a way of making that happen, even if she’s not the cause.

“They’re late,” I mutter to Killian, eying him with disdain. Tony knows what happened and is keeping track of the hitman too.

“They’ll be here.” He inhales the smoke, letting it simmer in his lung. It curls around his nose like a dragon. “Have patience.”

“Patience,” I echo, crossing my arms. “Something I don’t think you know much about.”

Black eyes look at me. “I know more about it than you would think.” He inhales again. “Ballsy to challenge Ace in her own home. Stupid, but ballsy.”

Glaring, I palm my gun at my hip. Just one shot, I’d feel so much better after one shot. “I’m supposed to let her treat my wife like some kind of burden?”

The reaper smiles, looking to the sky. “God, you’re clueless about everything, aren’t you?” He chuckles like I’ve told some joke.

I hate the implication that I’m in the dark about something. Before I can ask, Killian flicks away ash, taking out his phone. “The crew member is clean, by the way.”

“Is there anything left of him for me to interrogate?”

His silence is enough confirmation that no, there isn’t.

Now I can’t help the curl of my lips. He’s a fucking sick bastard. “Does Ace let you do that to all her suspects?”

He slips the phone back into his pocket. “She hasn’t employed me. But she knows. We were taught the same.”

A low horn blows in the harbor, pulling us back to the task at hand. The ship sails through the calm waters, smoother than my own shipments. The chipping paint of the hull catches the spotlight, and a few dockhands make quick work at securing the ropes.

We climb the steps to the ship’s deck, Tony ready with his clipboard and numbers. Killian throws the butt of his cigarette into the sea without a backwards glance.

I stop dead once my feet hit the steel floor.

No crates. No boxes. Nothing.

Three blank faces stare at me in confusion.

“Where is it?” I growl, prowling to the closest man. Another seaman, he’s shorter than me with a wet hat and rubber boots. “Where’s the shipment?”

He backs up, stuttering as all three of us turn toward him. “It’s already been picked up. At the new location. Like ordered.”