Page 86 of Lord of Vice

“Were they calls or conversations?”

“Get this. One call that lasted two minutes just yesterday right before the attack. The others I’m uncertain if they were answered.”

While I knew exactly what he was saying, I still wasn’t buying it. “Bullshit. There’s something we’re missing.”

“I hope you’re right, boss. I really do.”

I took a deep breath, closing my eyes. I’d been in business long enough to know two distinct things. That when betrayals occurred, it was often those closest to you. But also, given the age of computers, hackers, artificial intelligence, and graphicssoftware, any photograph and any line of communication could be altered to suit one’s needs.

However, the fact the Morelli brothers were more closely tied to things than I’d originally believed also said something.

“One more thing.” He threw a look toward the kitchen door once again. “One of the numbers that appeared on the list of phone calls came from the apartment where Penny used to live.”

My initial reaction was to fucking kill the man. That’s how possessive I felt about the woman standing looking like an angel inside my kitchen, but I had to think practically. What would be the best way of getting past my internal security?

Using a woman that would catch my heart.

“No one else is to know about this. Not one fucking person.”

“What are you going to do?”

I glanced toward the kitchen, noticing she was standing in front of the bank of windows. “I’m going to handle it. My way. We’re going to have a chat with the Morelli brothers tonight. Be prepared.”

“Yes, sir. You got it, boss.”

I needed a few minutes to collect my shit. While anger burned inside of me brighter than it had even during the attack, I refused to buy all of what I’d seen and read. Still, something was going on, someone playing on my defensiveness and previous losses. It brought far too many emotions that had been anticipated but unwanted.

But if a game was being played, I was the master of them and would continue until I learned the truth.

Then I would crush everyone involved.

I took long strides toward the kitchen, studying the woman I had feelings for from the doorway. The sun was shimmering across her hair, adding an infusion of copper and gold, the dress adding to the perfect silhouette of her hourglass figure. Even now, my mouth watered, my heart racing from the kind of desire that could ruin a man.

Doubting her was difficult. Trusting her even worse. So sweet and innocent. So perfect for my needs.

Possibly handpicked for the job.

I sensed the moment she realized I was in the room, her body tensing and her breath catching. As she slowly tipped her head over her shoulder, I was once again caught off guard by her beauty and the beguiling look on her face. She turned toward me even more slowly, her eyes darting back and forth.

I took a few seconds before I walked closer, trying to determine the next best course of action. She took a step closer. So did I.

Almost immediately, electricity soared between us, the smile on her face turning more seductive than I’d seen before. Goddamn, I hungered for the woman more than I had for any other.

I took a long stride toward her, drinking in her perfume. I wanted nothing more than to have her arms and legs wrapped around me as I drove my cock inside. Whatever was happening, I would take another taste. After all, she belonged to me. What I did with her was entirely up to me.

She offered a slight smile but I sensed concern in her eyes as she finally closed the distance, not touching, not attempting to grab another moment of closeness.

Just observing.

As any good femme fatale would do.

I was the one who reached out, brushing the tips of my fingers down the side of her face to her neck. Unable to help myself, I wrapped my hand around her throat. The move was not only possessive, it was also telling her in no uncertain terms that if she’d deceived me, I would kill her, snapping her pretty little neck.

I tightened my hold to almost the point I was cutting off her breath, and what I found interesting was that there was no fear in her eyes.

Merely lust.

My beautiful Red Penny finally placed her hands on my chest, tilting her head as much as my hold would allow. As she pursed her lips, it became another moment where the draw to her was far too powerful. I crushed my mouth over hers, dragging her onto her tiptoes, immediately thrusting my tongue inside.