Chapter 44

44

Massimo

I whip my head around to find a stranger peering through the window. He's gesticulating and saying something. I roll down my window.

"—what the hell, dude? Why are you parked in the middle of the road? If you're having an argument, why don't you go home and?—"

I shoot my hand out through the window, grab his collar and jerk his face forward. "You were saying?" I snap.

His eyes bug out, he opens and shuts his mouth, then shakes his head. I thrust him away from the car, then roll up my window and release the brake. This time, we drive in silence.

How could she compare what we have to what that figlio di puttana threatened her with? How could she compare me to him? I hadn't meant to pull my gun on him, but when he touched her, I lost control. It's only the fact that killing him would have led to a full-out gang war that stopped me. I'm trying to keep her safe, and all she does is resist me. I thought we were safe in London. With Diego dead, and the last of our enemies killed by Luca when he saved Jeanne, I was lulled into complacency. No more. I'm going to ensure we have round-the-clock security, and eyes on her at all times. Hell, I'm going to make sure I don't take my gaze off of her. Going to make sure I'm always in her vicinity, until I've dealt with that bastardo, Alvaro.

We reach Hyde Park, turn onto another street, then a side road that leads to a set of gates which open as we approach. I drive onto a secluded driveway, and guide the car forward under the canopy of trees, then pull up in front of a large Queen Anne-style Victorian home. It's three stories tall, and made of painted brick with church-like roof finials on the steely pitched roofs. On either end of the house is a rounded tower with a turret that draws the eye upward. In the gathering darkness, it seems medieval, with the mist rolling in from the park to wreath the top of the roof.

I round the car to find she's already stepped out.

"This is JJ Kane's home?" She glances up at the imposing house.

"One of them."

"Huh. Does he live here alone?"

"I think his son and daughter used to live with him, but they've moved out now."

She purses her lips. "It's not very welcoming, is it?"

"Doesn't matter either way." I walk up the steps and toward the massive door. When it swings open, JJ Kane stands silhouetted in the doorway.

I close the distance between us, until we face each other. Our gazes meet, connect. For a few seconds, neither of us move. Then, he holds out his hand.

"Alvaro is here in London?" JJ straightens in his chair. He brought us straight to his study, a massive room with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves that cover one wall, stacked with books. Olivia left us to go browse amongst them, for which I'm grateful. If I'd asked her to leave us so we could talk, she'd have made sure to stay. Of course, she can see me from across the room, but hopefully she's out of earshot. While I have nothing to hide from her, I prefer to have this conversation with JJ on my own, so she won't see just how worried I really am.

"Motherfucker walked up to me in the restaurant, in front of a roomful of people, and threatened me." I reach for the glass of whiskey he poured me. He ushered me, not to the comfortable arm chairs in front of the fire, but to the antique desk in front of the window in the far corner. He took the armchair behind it, leaving me to slide into the chair opposite. If he's trying to intimidate me, he's going to be disappointed. I'll take his Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and raise him Goodfellas.

"I'm going to kill him." I raise the glass to my lips and toss back the alcohol.

"What does he want?" JJ asks.

"A billion dollars."

He tilts his head. "Which you can arrange for, no doubt. So why did you come to me?"

"You need him out of this city as much as I do."

"Do I?" JJ's lips draw up in the semblance of a smile, which makes him resemble a shark.

"Stop fucking around." I lean forward in my seat. "The last thing you need are the Mexicans moving in on this city."

"Haven't you heard? Like the Cosa Nostra , the Kane company is going legal with its businesses," he murmurs.

"All the more reason you want to see him gone. You can't have him set up operations here, and upset the balance of power."

He surveys my features, then glances toward Via. I follow his gaze to find her reaching up on her tiptoes to pull out a book.

"You love her?" he asks.

I watch as she walks over to an armchair by the window and sinks into it. She snaps open the book, then pulls her legs up and under her as she begins to read.

"Do you?" JJ prompts.

I turn to face him. "I married her, didn't I?"

"So, you do love her?"

"What's that got to do with anything?"

"What would you give to see her safe?"

"My life," I say simply.

He searches my features, then jerks his chin "What do you need from me?"

"Security. I want to have someone on her twenty-four-seven, I want our home protected, and I need your help tracking down Alvaro. I want eyes on him. I want to know if he so much as takes a piss."

"Your brother, Axel, is not only an ex-cop, but also runs his own security agency?—"

"He's in Palermo," I interrupt him. "I need help right now to keep her safe."

He tilts his head. "And what do I get in return?"

I drum my fingers on the table. "First, you wouldn't have known Alvaro was in your city unless I'd mentioned it to you. Secondly—" I plant my palm flat on the table "—you help me, and the Cosa Nostra will become your loyal allies."

"Which you already are."

"We have a business alliance in Trinity Enterprises. With this, you cross over to becoming a loyal partner."

He pulls out a cigar, offers me one, then lights them for both of us. He blows out a puff of smoke, then trains his gaze on me. "Partners, huh? I assume you have the authority to deliver on this?"

"You doubting me?" I glare at him.

He laughs. "Just making sure you can keep your word, ol' chap."

"You make sure your security doesn't let her out of their sight. Leave the rest to me."

"If you think I'm going to put up with someone following me all the time, you're sadly mistaken." Her voice reaches me from across the length of the room. I'd hoped she couldn't hear what we'd been discussing.

JJ chuckles. "You really have your hands full, don't you?"

"You have no idea." I shoot her a glance to find she's staring at me over the top of her book. I hold her gaze. She flushes, then rises to her feet, and drops the book on the chair, before walking over to us.

"This isn't the dark ages, where you men think you have to protect us women from your work talk. I'm aware that both of you are discussing how to deal with Alvaro."

I hold out my hand, and she hesitates, then takes it. I pull her close and wrap my arm about her waist. To my surprise, she doesn't shrug it off.

"I'm told you're a powerful man, Mr. Kane." She tips up her chin.

"JJ." He half-smiles. "Call me JJ."

"JJ," she corrects herself. "Are you going to help my husband track him down?"

It's the first time she's called me her husband. Is she aware of that? Heat coils in my chest. My dick, which has been in a state of excitement since I made her come in the elevator, hardens further. She's the only woman who's appealed to my heart and to my cock, at the same time.

"Is that what you wish?" JJ leans back in his seat.

"It is definitely what I wish." She inches closer to me.

"Consider it done." His smile widens.

"And you don't put men on me," she says in a casual tone.

He laughs. "I'm afraid I'll have to defer to your husband on that."

She blows out a breath. "It was worth a try."

Forty-five minutes later, I glance through the window of my room to find JJ's men taking up position outside the gates of our home. I'd gone over and introduced myself to Peter, the team leader, earlier, and reviewed the security arrangements with him.

After that catch up with JJ, which went better than expected, we drove home in relative silence. I excused myself to head to the study, where I caught up with my brothers and updated them about the latest incident with Alvaro, and the deal I struck with JJ. I told them JJ would step in with security arrangements until Axel's security firm was able to get on the case.

Michael was insistent about sending some of our own men down to shore up the security and I agreed. There could never be too much security, as far as I was concerned. I also told him to liquidate half of my share of the assets in the family businesses to raise the billion dollars. With luck, that's all I'll need to raise the money. He told me he understood why I had to do it, and promised to help me facilitate it.

I agreed to update him on how things went, then hung up. By the time I came up the stairs, the door to her room was shut. No doubt, she retired for the night. I walked over to the door of her room, raised my hand to knock, then changed my mind. Instead, I went to my room, stripped off my clothes, and flung myself on the bed.

The radiators sigh as the heating kicks in. March in London feels like December in Italy. Fucking weather here is as piss-poor as the attitude of its citizens. At least the English countryside had redeeming qualities to it. Unlike this goddamn city, which takes itself way too seriously. Except when they get ‘pissed.' No wonder the Brits have nearly a hundred ways to say 'drunk' in English. Or so goes a popular song.

I pull up the sheet and close my eyes, then turn on my side. I already checked in with the men around the perimeter of the house, and provided them with enough coffee to ensure they'll be alert through the night. Just having them visible should prove a deterrent for Alvaro and his men. I hope.

I also checked every door and window, to make sure we were secure before I went to bed. I turn on my back, then fling my arm behind my neck. I close my eyes, and images of how she came apart in the elevator fill my mind. How the scent of her intensified, she thrust out her chest, and bowed her back, and I knew she was close. I continued to rock her against my leg, and even through the layers of cloth that separated us, I felt her pussy flutter.

My cock extends, and blood drains to my groin. Cazzo! I'll never be able to go to sleep now. I fling off the sheet, pad toward the bathroom, and switch on the shower.