Page 38 of Reckless Games

“Yeah. In your stomach." I poked my index finger into his stomach before he laughed at my words.

“I don’t get butterflies, baby. I get a whole damn zoo!”

***

Chapter 19

Lorenzo

"Leonardo sent an email. He got leads on the mole from Italy. The bastard uses a different number every time to contact Nikolai, but the pattern is the same. Nikolai is already in Sicily. They will be meeting in an hour," Giovani informed me. So that bastard was already here? And I did not know?Who knew Sicily as well as I did?Something did not add up.

"Where are they meeting?" I asked Gio.

"The club,Heaven on Earth." Perfect.

"Prepare the men. Double the guards at the mansion for Angela’s security. We're leaving."

"Yes, Capo." This was going to be fun. I was going to have a good time with Nikolai once I got my hands on him. The fool actually thought he could outsmart me on my own territory. He had no idea who he was messing with. And now, there was no way he could escape the consequences. Soon enough, he would understand the gravity of his mistake. There would be no escape, no mercy. I would relish every moment of our encounter, savoring the fear in his eyes as he realizes the full extent of his miscalculation. This wasn't just business; this was personal. And I was going to enjoy every second of it.

My shoes clicked against the tiled floor as I left the study room to see Angela before I left. Ever since she stepped into my life, she had become my saving grace, my light in the darkness, my North Star, always there to guide me. She was the missingpiece in my life I never knew I was searching for. Loving her felt like breathing; effortless and essential to my existence. I could not leave for this important mission without getting good luck from her.

She had come back earlier from dropping Emily off at the airport and was currently sprawled on the couch, weeping over some cliché heartbreak romance scene playing on the screen. She tossed a piece of popcorn into her mouth, wiped her tears with the back of her hand, and sniffled softly. A smile tugged at my lips as I watched her, so absorbed in the movie that she had not even noticed me standing there, observing her.

This was her habit, a charming quirk of hers. She never realized all the times I had watched her, whether she was lost in a fit of giggles with Emily, sharing a joke, or shedding tears over her boss making her stay late back in Italy. I had always been there watching her. She was always immersed in the moment, blissfully indifferent to what others might think. This endearing trait made me fiercely protective of her.

Angela did not just exist; she lived her life with a passion and authenticity that drew me in like a moth to a flame. She experienced every emotion fully, unguardedly, and it made her all the more captivating. And as I stood there, watching her, I knew I didn't just want to be a part of her world; I wanted to live it with her, every moment, every heartbeat.

I sneaked up behind her, covering her eyes with my hands. "Lorenzooo," she drawled, chuckling as she instantly guessed it was me.

"That was quick," I said, plopping down on the couch beside her before popping a piece of popcorn into my mouth.

"As if anyone else would dare to do that with me in your house?" She scoffed, smirking.

"Ourhouse,” I corrected. “And no, they wouldn’t even dare look at you for longer than a second. Let alone touch," I challenged.

"But what if someone does look at me for longer than a second? What are you going to do,Mr. Big Bad Mafia Wolf?"

"So that’s what you're calling me now?" I raised my brows at the nickname.

"Yep, I like the ring of it. Anyway, that's not the answer to my question."

"Well, for starters, if they look at you for longer than a second, then I’m going to have a problem with it."

"Yeah?" Angela turned all her attention to me, the movie now long forgotten. "What are you going to do, Enzo?" She scooted closer, her intoxicating musky scent making all the blood rush to my crotch.Again.

"I will gouge their eyes out, pack them in a box, and set them in a museum as a reminder to every guy on the planet of what happens if they even as much as look at what's mine," I answered, my voice growing heavier.

"Oh!"Angela spoke seductively as her hand trailed her index fingernail down my cheek, beckoning me forward. Her lips were just centimeters away from mine. "Then what about those who touch me?"

"Trust me, Angel, you don’t want to know," I chuckled darkly.

"Good," she piped, retracting within seconds as if we hadn't just been having a moment. I shook my head at my little vixen’s behavior. She popped another popcorn into her mouth, her eyes now fixed on the television.

"I’m leaving for a mission," I said, making her head snap back to me in seconds, clear worry marking her face.

"Mission? What kind of mission?" Her eyes narrowed as her hand paused from taking another popcorn.

"An important one," I sighed.

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