Page 45 of Possessive

"What is it?" Gianni asked. "Don't tell me they've sold out of your favourite brand of chocolate again?"

Damon gave him a look that would have withered anyone, but Gianni grinned.

"He's a real bitch when he doesn't get his chocolate," he whispered loudly.

"Fuck off," Damon told him. He glanced at Reuben, then at me.

"If it's about Kurt, she should hear it," Reuben said.

"I'm not sure if it is," Damon said. He rubbed a hand over the back of his neck. "Someone matching his description just flew into Sydney from Hong Kong. It could be him or he could be completely unrelated."

A chill passed all the way through me. Was the room this cold a moment before? It felt icy right then.

Gianni raised a hand to touch my arm.

I flinched. I hadn't forgotten about Kurt, but I'd packed him into a box in my mind and pushed him aside for the last hour or so.

Now, Damon's words brought everything back in a rush. I knew I'd have to see Kurt in order to kill him, but the idea of being face-to-face with him, looking him in the eyes, him looking back at me with his usual contempt, made my stomach heave.

"It's okay, sweetheart," Gianni said gently. "You don't have to see him."

"It might not be him," Damon said. "The twins followed him to the location about twenty kilometres from here. They’re keeping an eye on him. They'll let us know if he leaves."

Reuben nodded. "Get the car ready. We'll see for ourselves." His gaze lingered on me.

"I'm coming with you," I said firmly. "If it's him, I need to know. And if it's not, I want to know that too."

"If it is him, chances are he'll be ready for us," Damon said. Again, he looked at me, eyes unreadable.

"We won't let any harm come to her," Gianni said. "I won't let anything happen to her." He sounded ready to take on an army single-handed. "She can bring a couple of knives."

Reuben pressed his lips together, his blue eyes contemplative. "She can come with us. I'd prefer that to leaving her here."

Damon looked irritated, but turned on the heels of his leather shoes and stalked towards the garage.

"I'm guessing he didn't have his quota of chocolate today," Gianni remarked.

"I've never known him to eat chocolate," Reuben said.

Gianni nodded. "That's exactly my point. If he ate some once in a while, he might lighten up."

"Fuck off," Damon said over his shoulder.

"You know you love me," Gianni called out after him.

Without looking back, Damon flipped him off. He wrenched open the garage door and disappeared inside.

Reuben shook his head slightly and rolled his eyes before following Damon.

"Should you antagonise him like that?" I asked.

"Definitely," Gianni agreed. He made no move to touch me or step closer. "I meant what I said."

"About taking care of me, or about me bringing knives?" I asked.

He smiled. "Yes." He grabbed up the box we'd taken outside and tucked it under his arm. "Unless you'd prefer a gun."

"I can shoot." Of course I could. That was a skill we learned from an early age. Both my parents insisted. My father used to take us to the range to practice regularly. "But I prefer knives." They were easier to hide and quieter to use. Subtle and discreet. Until someone had the blade embedded in their brain.