I sat back at my desk and listened as David gave a rundown of all our operations for the day. We expected another large shipment of weed later that night. This time, we’d send a contingent of men to guard it along with Peter. David would continue his search for the rat. There had to be one. It simply wasn’t possible for the Russians to know our moves with such detail unless someone was squealing to them.

“If you find him, bring him to me.”

Peter nodded, but David’s eyes glinted, his signature violence trying to claw its way free.

I pointed my finger at him. “David, you’ll get your chance at him, but I need to see him first. Got me?”

“I got it.” David cracked his knuckles. That alone would make grown men with bigger balls than me piss themselves. The Butcher was aching to put a hurting on someone. “As long as I get to finish him.”

“You will.” I rubbed my temples as the clock in the hall chimed nine.

“We’ll get to work.” Peter rose, and he and David left for the day. I’d join them on the marijuana shipment later. Nothing could go wrong with this one. If we lost it, we’d be out of the dealing game for a week. A lot could happen in a week. New dealers would poach on our turf, and we could end up fighting the Russians as well as the other syndicates openly, just like the old days. I couldn’t have that.

It was time for breakfast, but I hesitated at the door to the hall. Sabrina would be there, and after last night—the night I spent in a cold shower half the time—I needed to play this the right way. She could go to Temple, but she needed to find a place on campus or in the city near the school. Staying here would be too dangerous. I hadn’t let her come to the house for quite some time, mainly because of the threat from the Russians. Getting her out of here was the smartest play. And not just based on safety. I needed to erase her from my mind, keep her at a distance. The thoughts I’d had about her before I knew who she was—I shook my head. And then the rest of the thoughts I’d had about her even though I knew good and damn well who she was. My cock tried to kick awake in my pants, and I balled my hands into fists.

“Focus, perv. She’s your ward. Not your plaything,” I mumbled to myself, though I didn’t put much conviction into it. Uncle Nate. Her words echoed in my mind. That had been a nice touch, one that screamed “DO NOT FUCKING THINK ABOUT IT,” but I’d thought about it quite a bit since the moment I saw her in the pool.

Sabrina had grown from a timid, beautiful girl into a woman that could turn heads and shred hearts. Smart enough to get a full scholarship to Temple and with a body that made me want to—I stopped myself from continuing the thought. I was responsible for keeping her safe after her foster parents had been murdered in some ugly business to do with the old boss. That was five years ago, and Sabrina was all but forgotten in underworld dealings. Raised in the finest boarding schools money could buy, she was a stranger to this life, and I intended to keep it that way. I took a deep breath and let it out before adjusting my semi like a fucking teenager.

Sunlight filtered through the bulletproof windows along the wide hallway at the back of the house. The wood floors gleamed with fresh polish as I turned left into the main hallway, the walls still decorated with art procured by the Genoa family ages ago. I had no idea what they were worth, or if they were any good. Seen one, seen ‘em all—that about covered art, as far as I was concerned.

The scent of bacon and eggs wafted through the house, tempered by the perfectly bitter tang of fresh coffee. Voices bounced off the mahogany paneling, one high and sweet and the other belonging to Peter.

My back stiffened as I strode into the breakfast room. Sabrina, her blonde hair falling in loose waves down her bare shoulders, sat at the table. She wore a sun dress with tiny spaghetti straps, the fabric so thin it was nearly see-through. Her eyes turned to me, the bright cornflower blue dazzling when she smiled.

“Nate.” She stood, giving me a clear view of just how short her light pink dress was. Mid-thigh was a stretch. I wanted to drape her in my suit coat. Peter grinned.

“Don’t you have work to do?” I bristled and strode around to the chair at the head of the table.

“Yes, boss.” He gave Sabrina a small nod. “Good to meet you.”

“Same here.” She took her seat and placed her napkin in her lap.

When Peter was out of the room, I managed to relax a hair. But then she turned that smile on me again. So bright and full of life. Did she have any idea how radiant she was?

“Since I’ll be staying here, I was wondering if I could redecorate my old room?”

I compared how she looked now to the small, scared girl I rescued from a shoot-out five years prior. The eyes were the same—enthralling, and the hair still had a golden hue, but the rest of her was different. Her face wasn’t as round and had turned into more of a heart shape. Smooth skin, even white teeth, and plump lips. Disconcerting, to say the least. I had a distinct image of her in my mind whenever I happened to think about her away at school. It was always the same terrified little girl, her big blue eyes begging for me to save her. That child was gone, and a stranger had appeared in her place. A hot one.

Opal entered from the kitchen with my coffee and a plate of bacon, eggs, and two fluffy pancakes. She beamed at Sabrina. “So nice to have another woman in the house for once.”

I sipped my coffee and gave her a stern look. She took the hint and bustled out again as Sabrina took a bite of her waffle.

“God, this is so good.” She swallowed. “We didn’t get food like this at school.” She cut another bite, then glanced up at me. “Are you going to eat?”

I realized I’d been staring and hadn’t said a damn thing. Setting my coffee down, I leaned back and focused on keeping my gaze on her angelic face. “I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to stay here at the house.”

Her face fell, and it was like taking a bullet. “But I just got here.”

“I know.” I draped my napkin across my lap. “And I’m sorry. But—” How could I phrase this? “The business has been having some trouble lately, and I want to keep things running smoothly. You’d do better on campus or maybe in an apartment? I can have that arranged for you.”

She placed her fork on her plate. “Business?” Crossing her arms under her breasts, which drew my eyes to the hard points of her nipples—Jesus—she said, “I know what sort of business you’re in, and I’m not scared.”

I shook my head. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“You’re the head of the Genoa crime family. Or maybe you call it something different now since the Genoas aren’t around anymore. My father was a Russian drug importer. You saved me after the old boss kidnapped me and killed my adopted parents.”

I swallowed thickly and tried to find the right thing to say. I failed.

“Did you think I forgot about all of that?” She shook her head. “I know what sort of life you’re in. I don’t care.”

“You think you know. But you don’t. Things are dangerous right now. Hovering on the edge of a knife. There’s a target on my back. And anyone close to me, the same target is on them.”

“I’m staying.” She set her lips in a hard line. A little firecracker. I wanted to watch the fuse burn until the explosions began.

Frustration welled in my voice despite my efforts to keep my tone even. “I’m glad you think you have a handle on all the intricate workings of the Philly underworld. You don’t. You had a great time in boarding school, and I’m glad.” I took a deep breath. I was glad. I’d wanted her to have as normal of a life as possible after her rough start. “And I’m proud that you earned a scholarship to Temple. I want you to go and pursue your studies.”

“I can do that and live here at the same time.”

“Why?”

“Why what?” Color rose into her face, gilding her cheeks with pink. Unforgettable. Art made sense for a split-second—I would have paid for someone to paint her just as she was at that moment.

I leaned forward and rested my elbows on the table. “I mean why do you want to stay here? What does it matter? Don’t you want to be free to do what you want somewhere in the city?”

“Free to do what I want? Seriously?” She rolled her eyes, acting her age for a split second. “You think I don’t know that you’ve had the same guy watching me for five years?”

I smirked. “You made Hargut?”

“I made him the first week at school. At first, I thought he was a creeper. Then, when I realized he’d been given free rein of the school grounds, I knew he was personal security.”

Guilty as charged. I’d made an arrangement with her school to hire one of my guys, Hargut, on as staff to keep an eye on her. “I had to keep you safe.”

“If you want me to be safe, isn’t the safest place here with you?” She plucked her fork from her plate and ate another bite of waffle.

She had a point. The house was heavily fortified. It would take a tank or a rocket launcher to get through the front door. Even so, I didn’t need her underfoot. Or in the pool. Or anywhere near me, especially when it made my dick misbehave like it was doing right then under the table.

“I’ll have someone look for an apartment for you.”

“No.” She drained her orange juice and stood. “I’m staying.”

The sun hit her dress, revealing a straight shot between her thighs. She wasn’t wearing panties. I gripped the arms of my chair and forced myself to stay seated. What would I do anyway? I had half a mind to yank her across my lap and spank her ass until it was red, then eat her pussy until she came all over my face. Get your shit together.

“You don’t decide if you stay or go. I do.” I stood and tossed down my napkin. Thank god my suit coat covered my lap. “You’re going. I’ll make some calls and see what’s available near Temple. Until then, you can stay here.”

She stepped toward me, her blue eyes glaring up into mine. “You can’t just kick me out.”

I glowered. “I can do a lot of things.”

The pulse at her throat jumped, and she glanced to my lips. “You’re different than I remember.”

“How so?” I cut the distance between us until I caught her floral scent. One more move and she’d be in my arms.

“You used to be the funny one.” A slight smile played at the corners of her lips.

“You want me to make you laugh while I kick you out?” I stuffed my hands into my pockets to keep from touching her. Had a man ever been so tempted? This was bullshit.

“No.” She frowned. “You just seem so much more…troubled, I guess.” She reached up and ran her fingertips down the scar on my jaw. “Banged up.” Her hand traveled higher, smoothing down my cheek with a too-familiar touch.

I leaned into her warmth for a split second before stepping back. Fuck, I needed to think with the head on my shoulders, not the fat fucker hanging between my legs. “Then I guess we’ve both changed.”

“Yes.” She darted her tongue along her bottom lip. “But some things are still the same.”

God, this girl. I had to get away from her before I did something we’d both regret. “Don’t get too comfortable. You’ll be leaving soon.” I turned and walked toward the doorway to the hall.

“Can I at least redecorate my room?” Her sweet voice dripped down my spine like warm honey. “Hello Kitty isn’t exactly my taste anymore.”

I waved a dismissive hand at her. “Sure. Knock yourself out. Opal can get whatever you want.” At the door, I hesitated. “Are you going out today?”

“Didn’t you just say you want me out?”

I glanced at her over my shoulder. She had one hip jutted out, her arms crossed beneath her breasts. A spanking. Definitely a spanking for that one. “I do want you out, but just not in that dress.”

She glanced down, then met my eyes with a sly expression. “Why? What’s wrong with it?”

When I realized she was playing me, my cock engaged in open warfare with my zipper. Brattiness was my weakness, and she had it in spades. “You know what’s wrong with it.”

“I love it.” She held out the hem, precariously close to revealing what was underneath. “I can’t imagine why you don’t like it.” She fluttered her eyelashes, taunting me.

I didn’t have time for her games, but fuck did I want to play. Forcing a clipped tone into my voice, I said, “Hargut will accompany you when you go out. If you want him to see your perky tits, that’s on you.” I strode into the hall instead of throwing her over my shoulder like I wanted. God, the things I’d do to her tight little body and her smart mouth. Gagging her with my cock shot to the top of my list, right behind the spanking. And damn, I would turn her ass redder than Santa’s cheeks on Christmas Day.

Anger boiled inside me at the thought of Hargut seeing her in that dress, but I pushed it down. I needed to be running on all cylinders, and her little peep show had thrown me right out of whack.

One thing was for certain. The sooner she moved out, the better.