Page 30 of Wicked Throne

My eyebrow arched of its own volition. "About?"

"Last night...it was...."

Thierry's head tilted a bit, his brown eyes looking thoughtful as he searched for words. We were both never at a loss for words and I didn't want him to start now.

"We're married, guess it was bound to happen between us. And our adrenaline was still high from the shooting. Nothing to talk about."

I wanted to focus on anything but his mouth, and how it was curving up into a smile. There was a piece of toast on the plate that I had decided needed my attention.

"Okay," he said.

After he left, I crashed back onto the bed, toast in my mouth chewing. It had been an eventful few days in the Mediterranean for sure. Of course, no one had expected my brother-in-law to get shot and if you'd told me a month ago that Thierry and I would have ass slapping sex I would have called you the biggest liar on Earth. Briefly, I wondered what Thierry had to do today but I almost didn't want to know. Enzo getting shot couldn't be a coincidence with meeting Thierry's ex last night.

Scooping food into my mouth, I made a mental note to run a Google check on homegirl after my shower. She might have been Italian but she had a very American accent and I wanted to know just who I'd been introduced to.

Chapter 16

Thierry

"Is it done?"

"The raid is taking place in half an hour. This was all done very quietly."

"Good. The money will be there shortly."

"Hey..." Lucia's calm voice trailed off.

"What?"

"I know kicking a hornet's nest is nothing new to you, but....be careful, okay."

"Of course."

By the time I ended the call my driver had already approached the conclave. Vinny rolled down the partition and it made a slight squeaking sound. He adjusted the mirror and tilted his head in an upward motion.

"We're here sir."

"How many cars do you see?"

He went through the motions of counting and came back with a number. I judged that they were expecting me. The Dons and few bosses might be here but not that many men. Me, on the other hand, had rolled up with at least ten men, most of whom would stay in their cars but Alonso and James would follow me just in case things went south.

The Conclave of Dons was an Italian castle on the coast that had been here since Medieval times. A few times a year, including right before Thanksgiving, the Dons met and committed to keeping their hold on the new world. It was a celebration of roots and camaraderie, except my family for nearly twenty-something years had been excluded.

The stone stairs took me up the steps and the door opened.

A man answered and he looked unimportant, just a regular butler. "Can I help you?"

"You can't," I replied as my men flashed their weapons behind me.

"We want no trouble," the man's thick accent floated in front of him.

Shoving past him, I gave orders to my men to watch the door and that I would be back. I already knew that the conclave was having brunch. Eating merrily while my brother lay in a hospital with a bullet wound.

The doors to the room I sought flew open. I expected to find the fat motherfuckers gorging themselves on food but instead I only found Talia, dressed in red and waiting by a fireplace with a glass of wine in her hand.

She let out a slight laugh when she saw my face drop and then toasted the air to my presence.

"I'm afraid you're about three hours too late if you're looking for the others" she murmured.