Page 27 of Blood on Ice

“You’re fucking stalking him?”

“Maybe.”

“Vito, what are you thinking? The last thing we need is a fucking family scandal. We get away with a hell of a lot, but that could come crashing down if we start being stupid. This arrest puts you on the cops’ radar again for no fucking reason other than you’re playing games with a man and letting yourself lose control.”

“I’ve been good for ages. I’ve kept my anger in. I’ve done every fucking thing the family has asked of me.”

“Behaving like a sane person isn’t supposed to be something with a time limit. Not losing it and punching cops should be something you always do, just like going after willing men and women, and not stalking an NHL player. You’re going to get in serious trouble.”

“It’s just a game. I’m not doing anything seriously wrong.”

“Vito, I just had to come get you out of jail and burn a favor to get the charges dropped. That’s not fucking nothing. Do you really think being a stalker is a game?”

Did I? “Relax. I’m not going to hurt him.”

“Ask him out or walk away.”

“Like you did with Liam?”

Val snarled. “Don’t bring Liam into this.”

“Right, because you can do whatever the fuck you want, but I’m supposed to play by the rules. That worked when we were kids, but not anymore.”

Val huffed. “You’ve never played by the rules. I’ve just kept you from self-destructing.”

“Well, now you’re not around to do that. I’m on my own, and I’ll do whatever the fuck I want.”

“The fuck you will.” Val shoved me against the wall and pinned me there with his hands on my chest. I pushed at his shoulders, but he didn’t budge. I hated how he’d always been the strongest one in every possible way. He was always going to be the one ourfather trusted, the one Lucien trusted, the one they considered a leader.

“I do my work. I deserve to have a little fun.”

“You can have fun without acting like a fucking psychotic stalker.”

“I like watching him.”

Val let me go and held up a hand. “Please don’t give me details about your kinks.”

I grinned. “What’s the matter? Afraid you’ll find out how boring you are?”

“There is nothing boring about what I do with Liam.”

I grabbed my glass and downed the rest of my drink. “I don’t want to be bored either.”

“I’m not asking you to be bored. Find somebody for whatever kinky shit you want to do. Hire somebody. I don’t care, but do not get yourself arrested for stalking. You know what Pops is going say when he finds out.”

“Any chance he won’t?”

Val raised his brows and stared at me.

“Yeah, I know. That’s a stupid question. Does he know already?”

“I didn’t tell him.”

“Thanks.”

“Seriously, Vito? Do you think I’m ratting on you to Pops now?”

“I don’t know. Things are…different.”

---