Page 8 of Driftwood Daffodil 2

Gio’s chest heaved with a huffed out sigh. “Fine.”

Did he just agree? I was kind of shocked and not entirely sure what to ask. There were so many things I wanted to know, but there was only one question picking at the back of my mind.

“Atlee… said that you would…”

“Fuck you?” He interrupted.

Two words, that’s all it took for the chill in the air to seep into my bones. The fact that he finished the question for me kind of answered it.

In that moment I suddenly realized how much smaller than him I was. My tiny form barely filled out the tan romper I was wearing, while there was nothing but a hulking mass of muscle under his black t-shirt and jeans.

If Gio wanted to do something to me, there was no way I could fight him off. But that wasn’t what had my body shivering.

Something else was causing the air around me to heat up, making me oddly aware of the stubble on Gio’s chin darkening the sharp lines in his jaw.

I’d seen his equipment, and knew what it felt like to have his body pressed against mine, and I’d never been more terrified in my life. Because some deep-seated part of me liked it. But a bigger part prayed that he was just messing with me.

“You don’t… I mean… You won’t… Will you?”

For a moment I thought Gio wasn’t going to answer, and when he did, I wished I’d never asked.

“Yes.” He said. “I’ll fuck you.”

I felt my stomach drop as the urge to run in the other direction tensed my muscles. The only thing that stopped me from taking off at full speed was thinking about my brother unprotected in his cell. What if he didn’t survive next time? I already lost Veda. I couldn’t lose him too.

Mustering up all my courage, I lifted my foot and stepped inside.

For Kato

GIOVANNI

Istood in the window watching Nova pace back and forth and wondered if she would ever get the balls to knock on the door? Yes, she put up a good front. Acting all defiant with her chin in the air. But deep down she was just a scared little girl who kept running back to her truck. Stubborn didn’t mean brave.

Could she actually do the job and trade herself for her brother?

A little indecisiveness was expected. There would be something seriously wrong with Novalee if she wasn’t a little unsure–other than the obvious mess she was, that is.

No one signed their life over without at least considering the consequences first. Of course, there were the odd few that didn’t take such a deal seriously. No court of law would ever uphold the contract. It wasn’t legal in the least. A broken deal with the mob wasn’t argued about with lawyers and a judge, though. But there was almost always an execution.

Not that I thought that would be a problem with Novalee. I was pretty sure the numerous beatings her brother had taken proved just how serious this was. So she had no excuse. Nova had every opportunity to walk away. The only question was… did I want her too?

“Will you answer one question?”

My gaze trickled down the tan spaghetti strap wrapped around her shoulder.

Not sure what more she needed to know. From what Atlee said, he clued her in on a few things to expect, and I wasn’t about to give her a rundown of what her daily life would be like. Beyond making her life hell, I wasn’t even sure what the hell I was going to do with her. I had a few ideas, though.

“Fine,” I sighed, not because I was annoyed by the question.

Curiosity and annoyance went hand in hand with Novalee Ford.

What I had an issue with were the images flashing through my mind.

I couldn’t stop thinking about the bruises she must have on her ass. Knowing that I’d marked her stirred something primal inside me, and I didn’t like it. The only thing I should be focusing on was exacting revenge for my brother. Not how many times and in what ways I was going to exact said revenge.

Nova dipped her head and whispered, “Atlee said that you would…”

“Fuck you?”

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