Page 13 of Blood Money

At his greeting, I relaxed, and my grin returned. At least it did until I saw the girl Luciano had brought with him. Then I ground my teeth and squeezed the neck of the bottle so hard I was surprised it didn’t break.

“Damn, who’s that?” Roman asked, but I didn’t answer because I was too busy holding myself back from punching my friend in the eye. And that sucked.

Scuffed checkered Vans led up to long ivory legs that disappeared under frayed denim shorts. She wore what looked like a vintage Black Sabbath T-shirt that fit snug over her tits. I shifted in my seat to adjust my dick that had come to attention as if it had recognized her before I did.

It was the Walgreens chick—Mystery Girl.

I was unreasonably angry that she was with Luciano. Hell, I didn’t know her. I certainly had no claim on her. Yet I was so pissed I was practically seeing red, and it wasn’t her hair.

“Hey, everyone. I hope you don’t mind that I brought my cousin. This is Kendall. She’s visiting for the summer,” he introduced.

Two things immediately hit me—relief and confused disbelief.Damn, it’s a small world.

Everyone gave her a warm welcome. Well, everyone except for the chick on Gabriel’s lap. She placed a possessive hand on his chest and shot Kendall a narrowed-eyed glare.

Fuck her.

Leaning forward with my elbows on my thighs and my bottle dangling between my knees, I silently watched Kendall and waited for the recognition to hit. As she glanced around nervously at everyone, she faked a smile and gave a little wave. Until her eyes locked on mine. Then her mouth fell open, and I smirked.

Luciano headed for the cooler, where he snagged two beers. After opening them, he handed her one. She took a sip, but her nose wrinkled almost imperceptibly, and I knew immediately that she wasn’t a fan of beer.

I smirked.Pretty little good girl.

They made their way toward me, and he took the last chair next to mine. It left her standing awkwardly beside him.Fuckin’ douche.

I stood up. “Here, you can have mine,” I offered.

She gave me a sweet smile that jolted my chest as if I’d been hit by lightning. It was the same feeling I’d gotten when I ran into her in front of Walgreens a few days ago—literally.

“Thanks,” she murmured as she sat down.

I took a seat on the grass next to her chair.

Big mistake.

Because the smooth skin of her legs was within reach, and whatever perfume or lotion she’d used was reeling me in. My fingers itched to touch her. My palms twitched to test my theory that her legs were covered in silk. I wanted to trace the slight smattering of freckles with my tongue.

Christ.After dragging my gaze from her, I cleared my throat and took a long pull from my bottle.

Luciano was talking animatedly to Bobby and Vincent. Trying to keep my gaze averted, I picked at the label on my beer.

“I don’t really like beer. Do you want this?” she whispered as she nudged me with the cold bottle.

I glanced up and stared at her through my overgrown bangs. “I didn’t know Luciano had a cousin,” I murmured as I took the proffered drink.

She quickly withdrew her hand after our fingertips touched, and I wondered if it was because she noticed the almost visible spark that flew between us each time we touched.

A tinkling laugh left her perfect lips, and I had to look at her. She was like a siren that called to me, daring me to risk smashing into the rocks to be with her.

“Well, if you want to get technical, we’re second cousins or something like that. His grandfather is my grandmother’s brother. My mom and his dad are cousins,” she explained with a shrug.

“So you don’t live around here,” I clarified, unsure why that bothered me so much.

“No. I live in Grand Rapids, but I came to stay with Nonna for the summer,” she explained. She leaned forward with her elbows on her knees and her chin propped on her hands. Slowly, she scanned the small gathering, then returned her attention to me. “I love Chicago, but I don’t think I could live here.”

“Why not?” I asked.

She sighed. “I don’t know. I’m sixteen and I have my license, but I couldneverdrive here. It would scare the crap out of me. Besides, all my friends are there.”