AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“No thanks. I’m not interested.” I try to push it away, but he doesn’t budge.
“Julien seemed serious when he was asking about you the other day and I’d feel better knowing you at least had a halfway passable weapon on hand in case anything happened. You do know how to shoot, yeah?”
I sigh and punch him lightly in the thigh. “Yes, asshole, I know how to shoot. My dad took me to the range twice a month for over a decade.”
“Then this shouldn’t be a big deal.” He pushes the gun at me, looking serious. “I can’t be around you all the time, love. Carry the piece.”
“This is dumb.” I take it from him and shove it into my bag. “It’s not necessary.”
“But it makes me feel better, and that’s worthwhile. Now, this Rocco fella. You’re serious about him? You think this’ll work?”
“I think it’s a good start anyway. I can’t promise anything.” I push away from the bar and get up. “What about Seamus? Is he going to be a problem?”
“Let me handle him. We can trust Niall, too, in case you weren’t sure.”
“I had a feeling.” I glance at Ronan and he’s watching me with real interest. His eyes slide down my body, along my tights, up to the skirt of my modest dress, and back to my eyes. “Can I help you with something?”
“Not at all. Just thinking about the little show you put on for me the other day, that’s all.”
“It wasn’t a show, you prick. It was more like sexual assault.”
“I’d never.” He grins and puts a hand over his heart. “I much prefer them willing. Begging is always best.”
I lean toward him, putting the sweetest little smile on my face I can manage. “You will never hear me beg, asshole.”
He laughs as I walk away. “We’ll see,” he calls out and my teeth clench because I’m worried he’s right, we really may see one day.
Chapter 12
Ronan
Iassign a few trustworthy men on the Rocco case. Their job is scouting and analysis only—don’t engage, don’t get too close, just gather as much information as possible.
Valentina keeps to herself for a few days. When I text, she claims to be busy on the job, but I think she’s actively trying to avoid me. I wonder if it’s the way I keep looking at her, but I can’t help that. The girl’s beautiful, and I haven’t wanted a woman the way I want her in a very long time, only she pisses me off with her stubborn prideful arrogance, and I doubt this attraction brewing between us will go anywhere.
Which is all for the better. Work goes on, life in the family never stops, and I keep my head down until one afternoon I’m sitting out back with Mother, and she casually mentions how nice it was to see a new girl around.
“I mean, she’s Italian, but that’s not so bad.” Mom lifts her tea to her lips, watching me over the rim. “You’ve got all the aunts talking, you know.”
“I can imagine what they’re saying.”
“Most of them think you’re better off marrying one of the nice, pretty Irish girls always hanging around.”
I snort and glance toward the house. “You mean the same girls I grew up with? The ones I call cousin?”
“They’re not your real cousins.” Mom shrugs a little. “Just reporting on what the aunts say.”
“Tell the aunts not to worry. Things with Valentina aren’t like that.”
“No? Why not? Honestly, Ronan, she was pretty, and you’re the head of the family now. Your father and I were married by the time we were your age.”
I grunt in reply and stretch my legs. “Thank you for the reminder, Mother, but I’m not in the market for a wife at the moment.”
“Maybe you should be.” She says this very quietly. “There’s talk. You know about it.”
I glance at her and don’t like where this is going. Mother’s the heart of the family, but she never let herself get too deep into family politics before. Not when Dad was alive, and especially not since his passing. She always says her role is to keep everyone fed and happy, and in that, she does an admirable job, but I always knew she saw much more than she let on.
“What’d you hear?”
