Page 45 of Veiled Amor

“Thanks,” Arson said. “I mean it, thanks.”

While Arson waited in his truck, talking to Tag, Danny made the calls to a few friends who could help. Not even ten minutes later, there was a roar of a motorbike coming along the street. Tag stepped down off his Harley, jutted his chin to Danny, but his focus was on his friend.

Arson didn’t believe he deserved help.

But what he’d learn in the hard, grueling months ahead.

People turned up when you asked for help.

FOURTEEN

“Jealousy is a puta.” - Capone

What Capone planned went off without a hitch.

He led the asshole a merry dance around the airport, making like he was putting Lucia on a plane to New York. While Tiger got Jacie out of sight, Capone stood by a pillar, watched Nicholas’ goon buy a ticket, and boarded a plane.

He’d text Lucia twice to check-in. He’d expected her to call, and she hadn’t.

Not once.

Irrationally pissed about it, he’d wanted her to need him.

Climbing out of Tiger’s Ram, he stomped his way toward the entryway, acknowledging how fucked up he was. He’d been the one to push her away, holding her at arm’s length, he couldn’t feel pissed off that she hadn’t reached out.

The tension riding on Capone’s shoulders didn’t lessen when he strode through the double doors, his eyes searching her out. It was late. She was probably in their room. He was gonna grab a beer and then…

Nah, she wasn’t in bed. He spotted her sitting around a table holding cards, laughing at whatever Sideways was saying. The big bruiser was rubbing at his hair, flashing his teeth at Lucia. When Sideways noticed Capone glaring at them, he jutted his chin to Lucia. That’s when she swiveled around on the chair. Her smile was hesitant, but it loosened something in his chest when she tossed down the cards and headed toward him. “Hey! You’re back. How did it go?”

“There weren’t any issues.”

Lucia beamed a grin up at him, and he felt the smile deep inside.

“That’s good, right?”

Capone grumbled, still throwing a stare at Sideways. Considering putting the smirking man through a window.

It was Lucia’s hands on his chest, which brought his attention back. “Thank you, Capone, for doing that. It was so nice of—”

“Stop.” He growled, dropping his head. “Don’t thank me for shit, Lucia.”

“Oh,” she blushed, smiled a little. “I’m still grateful.”

Under his breath, Capone grumbled in Spanish. Then asked her. “Have you been okay here? No one bothered you?”

“No, everything has been fine. I ate dinner with,” she named four of the boys, making Capone grind his back teeth. “Then I creamed Sideways at Black Jack. I’ve won a whole pack of hard candy so far.”

Fucking friendly of Sideways. He glared to see the man watching him with a sly grin.

“You wanna play with us?”

“No.”

From a seat at the bar, nursing a beer in his hand, he watched her for the next hour as she laughed through game after game. It was only when she turned her head to meet his eyes that Capone’s burning chest felt better. He couldn’t erase his scowl fast enough, and her smile fell.

He was jealous.

Down to the bones jealous.