“No. Nope. Out,” I said, pointing toward the door like it might cast a spell strong enough to erase everything I’d just seen.
But he didn’t even pause. Just toed off his shoes and pulled down his sweatpants like it was nothing.“Relax, I’m just showering.” A beat, then a smirk. “Unless you wanna wrestle me out of the rest. Again.”I made a strangled noise in the back of my throat and bolted like the room was on fire.Ridiculous. Absolutely infuriatingly dangerous.And the worst part?I couldn’t stop thinking about the way the muscles in his abs shifted when he breathed. The line of that wound. The heat behind his starless dark eyes.And that damn crooked smirk.My face flamed hotter than the eucalyptus-scented steam, and still, my thoughts circled back to him.Because of course they did.Because even when he wasn't trying, Misha Ashford knew exactly how to wreck me.No. Bad, Lorraine.‘What? Excuse me??? Lorraine. What. The. Actual. Hell.’And a second later, ‘Why are you drying that fucking manipulative lying bastard’s hair in a mafia boss’s lair?!’Of course, before I could reply, Sadie also texted, ‘Are you fucking nuts from all the fucking fucks?!!!’I had never known her to curse that much in a single sentence. Both verbally and in a text. So, yeah, I knew I screwed badly.I stared at Sadie’s triple-exclamation tirade until the screen dimmed, the faint sound of Misha’s slow breathing anchoring me in the absurdity of it all.‘Deep breaths,’ I typed. ‘This is not the worst decision I’ve ever made.’Three dots appeared.‘You married Misha without talking about it first!’‘Okay, fair. But aren't you the one who made me kidnap him in the first place? You were so proud of me, remember?’‘Technically, yes. But that is so not the point!’I sighed, tugging the rob
“No. Nope. Out,” I said, pointing toward the door like it might cast a spell strong enough to erase everything I’d just seen.But he didn’t even pause. Just toed off his shoes and pulled down his sweatpants like it was nothing.“Relax, I’m just showering.” A beat, then a smirk. “Unless you wanna wrestle me out of the rest. Again.”I made a strangled noise in the back of my throat and bolted like the room was on fire.Ridiculous. Absolutely infuriatingly dangerous.And the worst part?I couldn’t stop thinking about the way the muscles in his abs shifted when he breathed. The line of that wound. The heat behind his starless dark eyes.And that damn crooked smirk.My face flamed hotter than the eucalyptus-scented steam, and still, my thoughts circled back to him.Because of course they did.Because even when he wasn't trying, Misha Ashford knew exactly how to wreck me.No. Bad, Lorraine.
My head whipped toward him so fast it almost gave me whiplash. “Misha,” I choked, voice strangled somewhere between outrage and complete mortification.He didn’t even slow down. Just kept walking, hands in his pockets, that maddeningly smug glint in his eye.I hurried after him, practically tripping over my own feet, face burning so hot I was sure I’d combust. “You can’t just say things like that!”He glanced over his shoulder, completely unfazed. “Why not? It’s true. I’ve been good all week.”My jaw dropped. “We are in Vincent Vescari’s house. There are probably microphones in the walls!”He tilted his head, mock thoughtful. “Then let them listen. Might give them something interesting for once.”“Misha!” I swatted his arm, scandalized, but he only laughed.God, my face was on fire. I could feel my cheeks flaming, ears glowing, pulse thudding in places I didn’t want to think about. I turned away, trying to coll
We passed by a doorway where I caught a glimpse of a poker table mid-play. A man in a sharp blue suit looked up as we passed, holding a hand of cards and a glass of bourbon. He winked at me.Misha subtly shifted to block the view, making me heave a sigh of relief. Renaldi pushed open a pair of heavy oak doors. “This is the library.”It was massive. There were many shelves of aged leather, handwritten ledgers, and framed contracts under glass. A spiral staircase wound up the side like a snake around a tree. The fireplace flickered low. It looked more like a strategic planning room than a reading space.“Mr. Vescari often works from here,” Renaldi said. “Files, archives, history. You’re free to enter, but nothing leaves this room.”I nodded, though the knot in my stomach was growing tighter.As we left, someone else entered, a tall man with a scar on his neck and a tablet in his hand. He didn’t look at me, but I felt the chill beh
The gates creaked open and swallowed us whole.Vincent’s car rolled in first, black and gleaming like it had been forged from oil and smoke. Ours followed behind, the hum of the engine too quiet for how loud everything else felt inside my chest.When we finally stopped at the front steps, I couldn’t move for a second.The mansion towered in front of us. Too big and old for my liking. Its windows stared back like watchful eyes. Ivy climbed the walls like nature itself had tried and failed to reclaim this place.Misha opened the door for me without a word, like a gentleman he sometimes was. I stepped out, heels clicking on the stone driveway, and tried not to look like I wanted to throw up.Vincent was already out of his car and Renaldi hovered just behind him.“Lorraine.” His voice was calm as he called my name. “Welcome home.”I tensed at the word.Home.He said it like it was some long-lost inheritance
“You could’ve shot him, you know?” I said to Misha, watching his reaction from the corner of my eyes. But he didn't give much, merely turning on the wheel as the road made a turn ahead. “I could.”“You made me bring your gun in my purse and you knew I was scared. You could’ve ended it right there. But why not?”Misha didn’t look away from the road. “That’s not how this works. I wouldn't want to be in jail for killing a mafia boss. That'd be dumb.”“You’ve killed before.”“Yes. When it mattered. That wasn’t the time.”“You made me bring a gun,” I snapped. Misha chuckled at me. “You're scared shitless earlier, now you're so eager to see me use it on your dad?”I gaped at him. “He’s not my dad.”“Sure he is. Already done the DNA test, he just confirmed.”Huffing, I turned to the window on my side. “He may be my biological father, but he's not my dad.”“And Zachary Redmond is?”