Now

Evan

RY AND I ARRIVE unannounced at Franco’s warehouse, although I’m sure he was expecting us. Without fanfare or trouble, we’re escorted to his office where he sits arrogantly behind his desk.

“Good afternoon, gentlemen. I expected you earlier.”

“Well, you know, we had other, more important things to do,” Ry says, deadpan.

Chuckling, although he’s anything but amused, he motions for the door to be closed. “I’m guessing you found my present and you’re ready to talk business?”

“Present?” Ry asks.

“Yeah, Mr. Hart knows what I mean. He wanted him out of the way, and now he’s out of the way. You’re welcome.”

“You say it like I thought he was a problem or a threat, which he wasn’t. You could’ve left him alone. Hope you didn’t go to all that trouble solely on my account.”

I’m hinting at Greg’s sister, Franco’s real reason for killing him. It’s the whole reason Greg got into this mess to begin with. From what Tommie gathered, the Cavallo family is involved in human trafficking. They have close ties to Richard Sach, a well-known money launderer, known for cleaning the funds made in selling skin.

We couldn’t find any real proof, but by all accounts, it looks like Greg’s sister, Elizabeth, was abducted from one of the Cavallo clubs. Why they’d kidnap a girl from one of their businesses, something that could cause way too much heat, is anyone’s guess and not my problem. Anna is my only interest where Franco is concerned.

“It’s a shame you underestimated him. Mr. Hart, it would do you good never to do so. You see, I could have considered you, an eleven-year-old boy at the time your father died, as insignificant, but I was smart enough to keep tabs on you all your life. It was only when you disappeared that I had to resort to bringing in outside help. Pity though, he never got me any information.”

Ry and I tense. Fuck, I left Carys for fear of bringing the mob to her doorstep and little did I know, the fucking mob was watching me my whole life. Franco doesn’t say it, but I’m sure I was of interest in case he wanted to exact revenge for my father’s actions. What better person than his son?

Choosing to ignore him, I ask what I really want to know. “Are you interested in our offer?”

“Hmm, it does interest me and would certainly solve a problem, but I’m not interested in the terms.”

“We won’t do it unless you promise to leave Anna alone for good.”

Standing, he comes around the desk to stand only a few feet from us. “You forget, I’m the one in the position to negotiate. I don’t see how you are.”

“Well, that’s where you’re wrong. Balducci is hitting you where it hurts, raiding your businesses. You may be consigliere, but your hands are tied. Cavallo won’t sanction a hit or punishment and in the meantime, Balducci robs you blind.”

He raises a single eyebrow before his dark soulless eyes narrow and his jaw clenches. We tried to figure out why Balducci is targeting Franco, why he’s stealing shipments and why the boss is letting it slide, but we weren’t successful. While we could keep digging, it isn’t worth the trouble. All we care about is using their feud to our advantage.

“Fine, a couple of conditions,” Franco spits out and folds his arms over his chest. “No indication that it was me. You do it where and when I tell you, and ideally, no casualties, although I’m not averse to it. As for Anna, I reserve the right to change my mind up until she’s thirty.”

“No fucking way.” My clipped tone has his men inching a bit closer to us.

The hard glint in his eye and superior grin make me want to punch him in the face. There’s no point even agreeing to this because I’ll bet my life he’ll change his mind. Anna’s twenty-four, and six years is a hell of a long time for him to run into trouble where he’s going to want to forge an alliance with a marriage.

The reality is, he will change his mind no matter what our agreement is, and now that I’ve heard his terms, my suspicions are confirmed. I’ve got a loose plan in mind. It was to be a last resort because it’s not ideal, but I have to do what I have to do.

I’d naïvely hoped that maybe Franco would play ball, but now, hearing his condition, I know that’s not the case. The man will come after Anna no matter what the terms. That reality and the futility of what we’re trying to do hits me in the sternum like a roundhouse kick.

My plan will have to be put into place at some future date. This façade of an agreement is what I need to give me time to get everything into place.

“Well, take it or leave,” Franco orders.

Turning from us, he heads to the bar and takes a cigar from a box, one of the finest Cuba has to offer. Ry and I share a few glances and I’m fortunate to have him here. We’re fucked, and he knows what I’ve been mulling over is our only way out. Our negotiations today will only buy time. It’s not ideal, but it’s all we have.

“Twenty-six,” I counter, even though it’s absurd.

I’ve surprised him, and he pops his head up from lighting his cigar to look at us. The end glows red hot as he takes a long puff and smoke billows from his mouth on the exhale.

“Twenty-seven, and that’s my final offer.” We both nod, knowing we’ve made an agreement with the devil. “Very well, I’ll be in touch with the details.”

§

Two weeks pass before I get the call from Franco. In the meantime, we move Anna out of her aunt’s, which was another ordeal because she wanted to stay. It’s the only home she’s ever known.

I tried to impress upon her that while we made a deal with Franco, he could renege at any minute and unless I had men on her 24/7, I couldn’t keep her safe. She didn’t like it, but she understood.

Franco gave us five days to plan, and while we’d have liked more, it was a straightforward job to destroy Balducci’s shipment before he could make a profit. Franco’s intent was age-old, an eye for an eye, and while didn’t want the job linked back to him, he had to know that it wouldn’t be a stretch if Balducci accused him once all was said and done.

Last night, Carys became quiet after I told her and Anna that today was the day. I didn’t tell them everything, but I wasn’t going to keep things from them, even though my natural inclination was to protect them. I promised to let Carys in, rather than leave her blind to what I was doing.

After Anna calls it a night, I take Carys to bed. It’s early, but she’s been distant and quiet since dinner.

“Sweetness, talk to me.” I tilt her chin up and lightly kiss her.

“I’m just worried. I know you have to do it and I know I asked you to tell me everything, but maybe I don’t want to know it all.” On a slow exhale, her pretty mouth turns down into a frown.

With a small grin, I pull her close, into my arms, and kiss the top of her head.

“Too late. I will tell you what I can from now on and you can take it, I know you can. It’ll be fine tomorrow. It’ll all be over before you know it.”

“Yeah, right. There’s tonight and the whole day tomorrow that we have to get through. I won’t be able to think of anything else.”

“Well, I can help you, distract you.” My tone is suggestive.

We break apart and her smile matches mine. We both lean in, our lips crushing together as my tongue breaks through the crease of her lips, exacting and desperate. With my hand on her bottom, I lift and line her up with my growing erection. A growl pushes past my lips when she shivers in response to my touch.

“Christ, Sweetness, I need you now.”

With one sharp flex of my hips, she moans, tilting her head back as my cock rubs against the hot apex of her thighs. It feels so fucking good, even through our clothes.

“Take me,” she huskily whispers.

With the eagerness of a horny teenager, I’ve got her down to her underwear in seconds. If undressing your partner were an Olympic sport, I’d be taking home the gold. Staring at her sexy body, in white lace boy shorts and matching bra that barely contain every divine curve, makes my dick harden to steel.

My mouth roams greedily over her neck and I carry her to the bed. Stripping each other, our urgency and need can be tasted in our kisses. Once naked, my tongue flicks at her nipple and her knees shake.

I lay her on the bed and she spreads her legs, willing and eager for me as she plays with her breasts. Her hooded eyes are mesmerized by my hand pumping my cock a few times before I fill her, sensually taking my time. Savoring every thrust, moan, and clench, we ride the wave of heady bliss together.

We spend hours loving each other, making up for lost time, and awaken the next morning to pick up where we left off.

We don’t leave our room until nearly eleven in the morning and are greeted by Anna laying out another plate of muffins. She’s been baking.

“Good morning, sleepyheads—or should I say, did you get enough sleep?”

“Morning,” Carys says, heading straight for coffee.

“Morning, smartass,” I say, shoving a whole blueberry muffin in my mouth. Anna giggles and blushes as I grab for another muffin. “Damn, these are good, sis.”

She gasps, eyes widening as she stares at me in wonderment. Her lips slowly arch upward into a smile.

“Thanks, bro,” she says, coming toward me. She stands on her tippy toes and I still have to bend so she can kiss my cheek. “That means a lot. Thank you.”

“No thanks needed. That’s what you are to me. You’re very important to me, to both of us.” I wrap my arm around Carys’s waist and draw her in.

“Yes, you are,” Carys adds.

“Thanks, guys.” Anna pulls back, a bit uncomfortable but still smiling. “I’ve got to get ready for class. Eat as many muffins as you want, Evan.”

We spend the rest of the day together. I’ve cleared my schedule to be with Sweetness, both for my sanity and also for her comfort. As the clock rolls past five thirty, it’s time for me to get a move on. We’re meeting at HC to go over the plan and pack up our gear.

“I gotta go. Don’t wait up—I’ll wake you when I come in.” Leaning in, I press my lips to hers. She grins at me, her eyes glittering with determination.

“I’m coming with you.”

“No, you’re not,” I immediately counter, as I head to the door.

Close on my heels, she defiantly says, “Yes, I am.”

“Dammit, Carys, you’re not!”

The air stills as we stare intently at each other. She knows I mean business. I can see the wheels turning in her head as she contemplates what to do.

“I need to go.”

“I can’t have you there. You are my only weakness.” My voice cracks as I grip the sides of her head firmly but gently.

Pulling her forehead into mine, I inhale her scent and gather my thoughts. I need to get through to her. This isn’t an option. She simply can’t come. Like mine, her breathing is heavy, and her warm breath tickles my face.

“You are my only weakness,” I repeat. “I can’t have you there. I know this about myself. Whenever you’re in the room, no matter the circumstance, you’re the only thing I can think about.”

“Evan…” Her hand trails over the side of my face. “I’m scared to death of losing you again. We spent much of our lives leaving each other and I don’t know how to be okay with you leaving now. I know you’re coming back, but I don’t know how not to have this kneejerk reaction that I need to hang on to you for fear that I’ll never see you again.”

Tears fill her eyes and her voice wobbles. Her fear is palpable and it breaks me to know I’m putting her through this, even though we both know it must be done.

“I can’t fathom just getting you back only to lose you again. It would break me,” she cries.

Tugging her into my arms, I hold her tight and make us both a vow.

“I swear to you, on everything, on my life, I will come back to you. There’s no fucking way anything is stopping me from coming back to you. I swear to you, nothing will tear us apart. Everything will go as planned.”

“I’m going to hold you to that. You better come back to me, because if not, Evan Hart, you will wish that you never met me.”

“Not possible,” I jest.

“Oh, yes it is.”

“I’ll never regret you, ever.” My voice is low and raw. “And as for coming after me, I would expect nothing less from you.”

“You’re supposed to be shaking in your boots, scared of me, not all lovey dovey.” She playfully shoves at me.

“Never. You all fiery and angry only turns me on,” I confess, my voice heavy with desire.

I refuse to even consider that this might be our last time together, even with her fear right in my face, reminding me that fate hasn’t always been on our side, reminding me of all the times we were separated. I truly believe it won’t happen this time.