Page 32 of Sinful Bargains

“Nah, not mine. It’s for Adriana.”

The grin slid from his face as he cocked his head, one eyebrow arched. “Adriana?” he repeated, studying me like he was trying to solve a riddle.

“Yeah,” I confirmed, fishing the keys from my pocket. “I need you to take it over to her place for me. I’ve got some business to handle.”

The business? Plotting out how the hell I would confront Adriana.

Paul let out a low whistle. “Hold up. You’re giving her a car? What the hell happened to Gino fixing hers up?”

“Her car’s a death trap.” I shrugged. “It’s not safe for her or the kid.”

That earned me another smirk, this one sharper, sizing me up. “Ah, I get it now. The knight in shining armor, swooping in to save the day, huh?”

“Knock it off, Paul. It’s not like that,” I said. On a normal day, that would have caused me to grin. Not today. Not with all the loose ends I had to tie up.

“Sure it’s not,” he shot back, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “Just a charitable act, out of the goodness of your heart, like the good, law-abiding citizen that we all know you to be. If that’s the case, then I’m the fucking Pope.” He chuckled. “Come on! You don’t hand out new rides to just anyone. This has everything to do with whatever is going on between you two. And Idon’t know why I’m not in on it. I’m your brother, you know I’ll have you back.”

I stared at him. “She’s got a kid, Paul. That changes things.”

He nodded, lips twitching like he was fighting back laughter. “Ah, it’s for the kid. Right. Has nothing to do with the fact that you can’t stop thinking about her. I mean, half the town’s noticed your car parked outside her place more nights the past few weeks. I’ve had people ask me if you lived there.”

“You’re out of line,” I said. “What I do is nobody’s business but mine. I don’t need to explain myself to this town. This is my fucking town. I’ll do what I please.”

Paul held up his free hand, the other still gripping his coffee. “Okay, okay, no offense meant. Just saying—you’re not exactly subtle.” He paused, leaning closer as if to make his point.

“I’m just looking out for them, that’s all.”

“Of course you are,” he said, unconvinced. “And next week? What’s the plan—buying her a house? Maybe a ring while you’re at it? Will I be the best man at the wedding? Godfather of your children?”

His words stung because they weren’t far from the truth. A house, a ring, a life with Adriana and Antonio—those thoughts had been creeping into my mind more and more lately. But it wasn’t that simple. I had Renee and Vincent breathing down my neck. If I didn’t play my cards right, they’d play for me, and it wouldn’t be a game I’d survive.

Adriana must have been holding onto the gun she thought she’d use to kill her husband. If the cops came looking for her, they could never find that gun. Not in her hands, not anywhere near her. But that didn’t change the bigger problem. I still had to finish what she started. I had to take care of her husband. She’d tried to kill him, but she hadn’t finished the job. I would. I had to. For her. For us.

There was no backing out now. If I was going to protect Adriana, if I was going to get her out of this mess, I had nochoice. I couldn’t let him live to hurt her again. And if that meant finishing the job myself, then so be it. I had enough blood on my hands; another man wouldn’t keep me up at night. Certainly not a man who had already put his hands on someone so precious.

“You done? Or do I need to find someone else to deliver it?” I barked.

Paul chuckled, raising his hands in mock surrender. “Relax, Joey. I’ll take care of it.” I tossed him the keys, not bothering to say thanks. I heard him laughing softly behind me as I headed to my car.

ADRIANA

Iwas tidying the kitchen after breakfast with Antonio when movement outside caught my attention. I spotted a car pulling into the carport through the living room window. My stomach knotted as I peeked through the blinds.

It was Paul. Dressed sharply in a pinstriped suit, a toothpick dangling between his lips. He leaned casually against the hood of a brand-new Chevrolet. Before I could fully process what was happening, Antonio bolted to the front door and stepped outside, leaving me no choice but to follow.

“What’s this, Paul?”

Paul’s grin stretched wide. “This?” He tapped the car’s hood with a knuckle. “This beauty is yours, Adriana.”

My brow furrowed as confusion hit me like a freight train. “Mine?” I repeated.

Paul straightened, arms open like he was showcasing the car on a game show. “Joey’s orders. Said you needed something reliable, so here it is.”

I crossed my arms. “No. Absolutely not. I didn’t ask for a car.”

Paul shrugged. “Doesn’t matter. Joey’s not really the ‘waituntil you ask’ kind of guy. He does what he wants, if you haven’t noticed. He prefers to live by his own rules.”

I scoffed. “Well, you can tell Joey I’m not taking it.”

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