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“I hate fucking liars.” He quickly turned us around and pressed me against the bar. One arm imprisoned my waist, and I couldn’t push against him without making a scene. His finger trailed down the space between my cleavage and circled my left nipple, instantly pebbling it. “See, your body still responds to me.”
“Let me go.”
“Or what?” His blue eyes now seemed steely and detached. Maybe he was a different man than the one I remembered. Maybe he would kill me if I pushed too hard against him. Maybe he was Gavin DeLuca and not just Gavin with me now. I had to be mindful that my once-forever love was a cold-blooded killer. Still, I was a St. James and will never be a punk.
I slid my hand down to cup his growing erection, and I smiled prettily. “I’ll squeeze these balls and drop you to your knees before you know what happened.”
His lips twitched, and a dimple flashed. “I missed your mouth.”
“Naw...you missed what my mouth did for you. That won’t happen again. We will be married in name only.” I reminded him.
He hissed, “Shut the fuck up. I run you and not the other way around. Your family needs me.”
I tried to push against him, and he only pressed me deeper into the counter behind me, the cool marble centering my back. “I swear I will fucking scream.”
Gavin threatened, “Try it.”
I narrowed my eyes, and the minute I opened my mouth, he swooped down and kissed me. Stunning me like he did the night I first met him. He jerked my head back with my ponytail, devouring me with his mouth. I’d forgotten how good he kisses. His tongue swirled with mine. Hot fire shot straight to my pussy, and our moans intertwined. He abruptly stopped the kiss, gripped my hand, and waved bye to an occupied Brocco.
Gavin pulled me behind him as he weaved through the crowd to our table. “We’re going to my place after I speak to the family.”
I tugged against him. “Don’t think that’s a good idea. Xavier still hates you, too.”
“He’ll get over it. We’re about to leave, and leaving without telling your family goodbye is rude. We never know who’s watching. If we don’t show we’re a united front, then Brazino will still attack your family, and then I’ll have to take him out.” Gavin’s dimples flashed as he approached my family’s section with an outstretched hand. “I’m trying to avoid a blood bath.”
Ever the family's peacemaker, Pierre stood first, pulled Gavin in for a hug, and sat back down. Xavier only puffed on his cigar before stretching his arms across the back of the sofa. “Can I help you?”
Pierre exclaimed, “Xa. Come on, he’s marrying our sister.”
Gavin shot Pierre a withering look. “No one ever has to speak for me.” He then addressed Xavier, “Remember who came looking for protection.”
“My father did it against my wishes. I would never ask you for shit, not even for water, if I was on fire.” Xavier took another puff. His dark brown eyes were glossy with hate for Gavin.
Gavin glanced around at the St. James clan, who all stared back, ready to defend or kill if needed. He picked up my hand. “Let’s go.”
As much as I wanted to rebel and stubbornly refuse, my old habit of protecting him prevailed. He behaved like any man who wanted to marry into the family would. Gavin knew my brother would kill him if given the chance. Yet he was willing to shake Xavier’s hand. I recognized that Gavin only tried to honor his agreement with my father. He didn’t have to do anything for my family. Not a damn thing. And Xavier would never show any gratitude. Would never welcome Gavin to our family events. He wouldn’t play the game or the role that my father asked of him. I might be marrying Gavin with the permission of my family. Still, to Xavier, Gavin DeLuca would always be his enemy. Although I mirrored my brother’s sentiments, I couldn’t ignore that my family’s success threatened Brazino, and we were in danger. Whether we liked it or not, joining our families was the best solution. Resolved, I entwined my hand in his and allowed him to lead me away from my family.
Chapter 2
Gavin
We walked outside of the club, and two of my men stood guard by my silver Manzatti. In a formidable tone, I instructed, “We’re going to my home. It’s time you get acclimated to being my woman if we are to be married in a month. Some things have changed in the last seven years, and it’s time for you to get used to me.”
Expecting a protest, Storm demurely nodded and waited as the butterfly doors opened. I assisted her in the car before I slid behind the steering wheel. Soon, we were off. I stewed in the car, the entire forty-five-minute ride back to Brooklyn, replaying Xavier's disrespect and lack of gratitude. Granted, we would never be friends, but I thought we could be polite as we played our roles. I honestly didn’t know if I could be around him for any length of time and not kill him. He was to be my brother-in-law; family trumps personal feelings in my world. I’d already killed her beloved cousin, and if I touched a hair of Xavier, I might as well kill Storm, too. I drove silently, and Storm had been quiet since we had left the club. As we approached my townhome, I checked the status of my home. “All clear?”
Big Tony, my head security, replied through my car’s speaker, “Your home is safe.”
“Stand down and keep post.”
“Done.”
Storm asked quietly, “What does that mean?”
“I usually have two men in my home at all times. After my father was poisoned and the commission chose me over Brocco to run the organization, other families have been upset. Brocco had established relationships with others that I hadn’t. Some of those men want what my brother promised them, and I only approved those that would further the DeLuca name and our organization. No threats have been made, but whenever there’s a change in leadership, shit happens. We have to be on alert. Brocco and my sisters have around-the-clock protection, too. My mother returned to Sicily after my father’s death and is protected by the family there. You will have similar protection, and I want it to happen in a way that’s not intrusive. I own all of the homes on the block. My men and their families live in them. The one across the street is strictly for business, and my men go there and watch over my home when I need privacy.”
“For your women,” she said with no hint of jealousy or malice. Maybe her show of jealousy at the club was for her family only. Disappointment that she didn’t care about me being with other women stung when she was more possessive than I’d been when we were together in the past.
“Yes,” I answered. I would always remain truthful with Storm.
