Page 86 of Thorns of Desire

I glanced at Enrico, who must have come to the same conclusion. I stood and began rolling my sleeves down, then I put my jacket back on.

The man begged for his life, sobbing as his shoulders shook, and it was Enrico who put him out of his misery with a single bullet.

Enrico and I left Umbrio to clean up, heading back upstairs to my office. We ran into the boys, their smirking faces buried in a book.

“What are you two reading that’s so entertaining?” Enrico called.

Their heads whipped up and a blush crept up their olive skin as Amadeo quickly snapped the book shut.

“Nothing.”

I flicked a glance at the title along the spine and groaned. “Didn’t I tell you to stop reading that stuff? You’re too young.”

Enzo rolled his eyes, but Amadeo shoved the book behind his back as if to keep me from snatching it.

“We are not,” Amadeo protested.

“We’re learning the art of lovemaking.”

“Che?” Enrico asked, confused, his eyes darting between his sons incredulously. “Whatlovemaking?”

I groaned, muttering a prayer. “Dio mio, salvami.”

“You boys better explain,” Enrico demanded.

Amadeo shrugged. “It’s a romance novel.”

Enzo smiled. “It’s good education.” This confused Enrico even more.

“We just learned how to give women cumlashes,” Amadeo explained, chuckling and grinning like a fool. “Our women won’t stand a chance.”

“You two will earn a kick in the balls if you attempt that with the wrong woman,” I warned them, then added, “Mi dispiace—with the wronggirl.”

Amadeo puffed out his chest. “Woman or girl, she’ll like it.”

Enzo elbowed him, hissing something under his breath, but his brother ignored him.

“Give me that book,” Enrico gritted, extending his hand, “before I decide to beat you with it.”

I found myself praying Athena was carrying a girl.

I took a shower in the guest room and got dressed, then entered the adjoining walk-in closet to put on my vest, tie, and jacket.

The back of my neck itched as I worked on my tie, and as I turned around, I found Alexandra lounging on the bed of the guest room. The dress she was wearing was hiked up, her thighs spread, giving me a clear view of her underwear.

I breathed harshly through my nostrils, my anger igniting.

“Like what you see, baby?”

My anger turned into rage and I had to take a step back to keep from murdering my soon-to-be mother-in-law.

“No, and if you had an ounce of respect for your daughter or yourself, you would get the fuck out. Your games aren’t welcome here.”

She palmed her breasts, moaning. It was like watching a budget porno. I really should have followed my intuition and not invited the bitch. The woman was a snake.

“Get the fuck out, Alexandra. You’re in the wrong room,” I stated, my voice cold as ice while my control teetered on the edge. There was nothing about her that tempted me—not evena little. “Go help your daughter get ready or I’ll make you regret ever stepping foot on these grounds.”

Alexandra smiled, showing her full set of teeth, her likeness that of a shark.