Page 59 of Blood Money

Cautiously, I set the cupcake on the island, then silently approached the door. A quick peek through the peephole showed a man in a suit with his back to me. My heart started to hammer, and I stepped back. The wood floor creaked, and I went still.

“Kendall? I know you’re in there!” I heard through the door.

My shoulders drooped, and I pursed my lips in frustrated relief. I was pretty sure I recognized that voice. Another quick peek confirmed it.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I whispered to the gods of karmic bullshit.

“Kendall,” he pleaded.

Caving, I opened the door, bracing it so I could look out but he didn’t get the idea that I was inviting him in.

“Can I please come in?” he asked.

“Why?”

He took a deep breath that he let out in a rush. “We have some things to talk about.”

“Why does everyone think I need to talk to you?” I huffed.

He tilted his head in confusion.

I pinched the bridge of my nose and gestured for him to come in. Once he passed by me, I secured the door again. Needing a moment, I leaned my head against the thick wood as I fought for composure. Finally, I took a fortifying breath and turned to face him.

God, that wasn’t enough time.

“Was that you following us?” I blurted.

He winced. “Not exactly.”

“So it was one of your goons.”

“Please don’t call them that,” he said as he palmed his face, then let his hand fall back to his side.

“Vittorio.” My voice cracked, and I hated that. “You can sugarcoat things however you want. Either way, you had someone following me. Why are you here?”

That muscle clenched in his strong jaw, and for the first time since seeing him again, I studied his face and the changes ten years had wrought. The fine lines that fanned out from the corners of his eyes were new but didn’t detract from his attractiveness. My fingers twitched at the need to feel the scruff that covered his jaw. It certainly wasn’t there before, but I sure as hell felt it on my face when he kissed me this morning. His hair was no longer carelessly shaggy but rather perfectly trimmed and styled. I wanted to reach up and mess it up out of spite.

“Because I told you we had unfinished business. I need to come clean about a few things.”

My spine stiffened.

“When you left ten years ago, I wanted to leave with you,” he continued.

I crossed my arms protectively and snorted at the bullshit he was spouting. “Uh-huh. That’s why you didn’t show up, right? Because you wanted to go so bad.”

“It was a complicated situation.”

“Jesus,” I muttered as I rolled my eyes.

“Fucking hell, Kendall. Will you please let me finish?” he asked as he covered his mouth in exasperation. He dropped his hands and began to pace. With each pass he made, I caught a whiff of his cologne and clenched my fists.

“By all means, finish so you canleave.” I propped my fists on my hips.

He blew out a huffed breath. “You know what I am now, right?”

I sneered. “Yes.”

His Adam’s apple bobbed, and he nodded. “Remember when I said my grandfather expected me to join the family business? This was my father’s position when I met you. My grandfather was the don.”