Page 92 of Reckless Desires

“Thanks to you,” Alessio retorts, anger flaring. “None of us would be here if you hadn’t forced my hand into interfering with the Russians because you couldn’t handle it yourself.”

“I would have had the muscle if you hadn’t decimated half my unit,” I fire back with a sharp tongue.

Darius steps into the charged atmosphere, his voice low and heavy. “We can go back and forth all day. What’s done is done. We need to move on.”

“You three stooges are the ones still standing here in my house. You know your way out,” I shoot back, my gaze sharp.

Suddenly, Lily breaks from Cameron's side, collapsing to her knees in front of me, desperation etched across her face. “Please. Let me stay,” she begs, her voice trembling.

“Up,” I command, my tone brooking no argument. As she rises to her feet, I reach around her neck and undo the collar that binds her to me, marking a solid end to this arrangement. “You’re free to do what you want.”

“She’s going home,” Cameron proclaims, his voice laced with authority.

Lily, defiant and undeterred, turns her gaze back to me, her eyes pleading. “Marry me.”

An eruption of harsh remarks and curses from the three of them is heard, but in this moment, it’s just Lily and me, locked in a silent battle. I can feel the weight of her gaze, a desperate hope shimmering in her eyes, and it makes my heart ache.

“I can’t do that,” I reply, watching as the light in her eyes begin to fade.

“Why not?” she presses, her voice cracking. “I do everything and anything you want. I promise I’ll be better.”

I shake my head slowly, the gravity of the moment bearing down on us. “This isn’t love, Lily. Keeping you trapped in this house isn’t love. You have demons you need to face. We both knew this would end at some point.”

Tears stream down her beautiful face, each drop a dagger to my heart. She looks almost lifeless as Cameron, brimming with irritation, drags her away.

Then Alessio steps forward, his presence a suffocating shadow. “I don’t want you on my side of town,” he snarls. “All my men know that if they spot you or any of your crew, it’s a straight hit on the spot.”

I remain unnervingly still, allowing him to believe he has the upper hand. He is blissfully unaware that I’m going to dismantle his reign without lifting a finger. Alessio walks out, leaving Darius still standing here.

“Whatever you have up your sleeve, don’t bother,” Darius warns, his voice low and menacing. “You’ll get yourself and everyone else under you killed. Alessio isn’t joking about killing any of you on the spot.”

“He can’t afford a war on both sides of his territory,” I counter. “I have no desire to see any more of my men killed, but I won’t stand for another threat from anyone serving the Costello Family at any rank they stand in.”

“Things shouldn’t have gotten this far, Killian.”

“Well, they have.”

“You’ll be missed, dear friend.”

I watch Darius leave before tossing the cup across the room. Darius has been an old associate turned friend, just as Cameron has become. Friendships don’t last when power is at play.

Chapter Sixty-One

Killain

Day three of no sleep. My body aches and my mind is restless.

When I get to the clubhouse, Tommy is standing by the front doors outside. He’s got a cigarette between his fingers, his glare menacing. There’s a new cut down the side of his face, jagged, likely from a blade that wasn’t sharp enough.

“What happened to you?” I ask, nodding to the cut.

“Nico Vidalia came around here looking for you. Fucking prick tried to get inside the club. I told him to wait outside. He threatened me. Knives were pulled. He’s tied up and waiting for you now.”

“Fucking perfect,” I mutter under my breath, pushing my way into the club and heading to the conference room. Sure enough, there’s Nico Vidalia strapped to a chair, looking furious.

“Well, finally he arrives.” Nico shakes his head, his tongue running over his teeth. “Your men ever heard of hospitality?”

I go and let him free. “They didn’t know who you were or what you wanted, and with the trouble that’s plaguing this city right now, my men act the way they should. You don’t just come walking onto another person’s territory like you own it and demand to see them. I don’t know how you do things overseas, but here there’s a certain level of respect to follow, and you would do well to remember that going forward.”