Page 55 of One Wild Night

I had up-tempo music playing in my ears, helping me keep a brutal pace. I couldn’t rely on Otis today. He would only make me think of Siena. Instead, I had Justin Timberlake singing in my ear about bringing sexy back. Bennett had downloaded his workout playlist onto my iPhone last week. I wasn’t sure it was really getting me ready for the day ahead, but I continued to run regardless.

I was covered in sweat by the time I arrived back at my apartment. Jamie was already parked outside with Bennett. My boys were eager to get started.

“You guys are early,” I panted, tossing my keys as they followed me into my apartment.

“Bennett can’t wait to see Tony’s face this morning at the debriefing. I mean, he lost the East District, the fucking idiot,” Jamie smirked. Bennett had already wandered into my kitchen and was helping himself to food from my fridge.

“Make yourself at home, Bennett,” I chuckled as I went to grab a shower and get changed.

Bennett was munching on some leftover mac and cheese when I emerged, fastening my cufflinks as I walked.

“Is there anything you won’t eat?” I asked, pouring myself a fresh cup of coffee.

“You need to get some new music on your sound system, Ryan. Some of that shit I’m sure my mother wouldn’t even know.” He snorted into his food.

“Funny.” I rolled my eyes, looking at Jamie, who was trying to hold in his amusement. “It’s not my fault you have no taste in soulful music.”

“Soulful? Ryan, it has too much meaning for a heartless bastard like you. I don’t get your love for it.” Bennett would never understand. My love for Motown music came from my mother and her preacher friend who put us up when I was younger.

“Come on, you can finish that in the car,” I called as I began to head outside toward the Cadillac Escalade. “I’m taking my car, too. I have a few errands to run on my own after the meeting.”

“Can I come in your car?” Bennett teased. The fucker knew I wouldn’t let a single drop of food near my baby. “Is that a no?”

“That’s a fuck off,” I replied, getting into my car.

I arrived at the Valenti mansion before the boys. I wondered if Carlo had already had a chat with Tony. I strolled up to the big grand doors, noticing him smoking outside.

“How’s the head?”

“Fuck you, Lawson!” Clearly he still had a hangover.

“Nice,” I chuckled, leaving him with his temper.

“You think you’ve fucking won, don’t you?”

“I’m just doing my job. I really don’t understand why you hate me so much. We used to be friends.”

“You really think you can run the East District better than me?”

“Your father and uncles made the decision, Tony. I didn’t ask for it. We need to end this feud. Enough already. We’re on the same fucking side.” I needed Tony on my side if I was ever going to work out what this motherfucker had been doing. He wouldn’t have told Carlo the truth, if he had said anything to him at all.

“It’s never going to be like before...and you know why that is.”

“Please tell me this still isn’t about Trixie,” I sighed, undoing my jacket. This asshole was already giving me a headache.

“I asked her to marry me yesterday.” Oh fuck, here we go; get the motherfucking violins out.

“She said no.”

“Tony, if you stopped fucking around and treated her with the respect she deserves, maybe she would have said yes.”

“She’s given me six months to change my ways.”

“Do you think you can?”

“Honestly?” Tony smirked. Yeah, motherfucker, I know you, and so does Siena; you’ll never change. “I’m not sure I can.”

“Then you don’t deserve her,” I glared as I wandered into the mansion.

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