Page 51 of Vicious Games

I wait for the trainer to check on the poor fucker inside the ring before flashing Marcello a grin so bright it could sell toothpaste.

“What makes you think I need something? Maybe I just wanted to see my big bro?” He cuts his eyes at me, and pins me with a look. “Fine. Do you still have Jude’s spare keys to his place?”

Marcello grabs a towel from the bench and wipes the sweat from his face. “Yeah. Why?”

“I need them.”

He studies me through narrowed lids, skeptical as hell. “For what?”

“I’m taking Frankie there. To tutor her.”

Marcello stares at me as if I’d just told him I’d joined The Boy Scouts or some shit.

“Tutor?” he repeats slowly.

“Yes, tutor.” I cross my arms. “What else do you think I’d want Jude’s apartment keys for?”

“Not tutoring.”

“Jesus, Marcello. It’s not like that.” I groan.

“It’s not, huh?” He folds his arms over his chest, amusement flickering in his eyes. “So you don’t need our brother’s penthouse just to make a move on your new little study buddy? Is that what you’re telling me?”

“I hadn’t even considered it.”

His stare sharpens as if trying to read me.

Here’s the problem—I hadn’t considered it until both Marcello and Enzo put the idea in my head.

But now? Now it’s all I can fucking think about.

Sure, Frankie and I are polar opposites. And yeah, she infuriates me like no one else.

But…

Would it be so crazy if I did try to put the moves on her?

I mean, if Enzo can pull a priest, I can pull a would-be nun… right?

Damn you, Marcello. Why the fuck did you have to say that shit for?

Still, I keep my face blank.

Marcello watches me for another beat before sighing. “Fine. I’ll give you the keys.” He moves further away from the ring, his opponent still out cold on the mat despite his trainer slapping his face countless times.

The girls watching from the weight racks practically swoon as he walks past, but as usual, Marcello ignores them.

Seriously.

Annamaria might want to be a nun, but it’s Marcello who’s taken a vow of celibacy.

Fucking waste.

He tosses me the keys from his jacket pocket that was hanging on the wall, and I catch them easily enough.

“I’ll be home for dinner tonight, so I want those back.”

“Yeah, yeah.” I flash him a cocky grin, already planning to make a copy for myself before I return them.

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