Page 75 of Sinful Bargains

I couldn’t pretend I wasn’t afraid. Only a fool isn’t scared of what happens when Vincent decides you’re no longer useful. But I wasn’t going to run. Not from Vincent, not from my choices. If they were going to take me out, they’d have to look me in the eye when they did it. If tomorrow was the end, at least I’d have the satisfaction of knowing I lived for something, even if it was just for a little while.

“Paul, promise me something?” His eyes met mine. He knew what I was about to ask, even before I asked it. “Promise me you’ll take care of Adriana and Antonio if I don’t return.”

Paul wasn’t the emotional type—not any more than I was—but there was something in his expression I hadn’t seen in all the years we’d run the streets side by side. It was pain. The lives we’d chosen, the men we’d become—there was no outrunning any of it.

“You know I’m good for it, Joey,” he said.

“Good,” I said, “that’s all I needed to hear.”

Paul’s lips twitched in a faint, grim smile. “Don’t make me keep that promise, yeah?”

“You won’t have to, if I can help it,” I smirked.

But we both knew how this could end. Every sinner has their day. We could only hope mine wasn’t tomorrow night.

ADRIANA

Joey parked in front of an estate, cutting the engine off. I tilted my head, confusion dancing in my eyes. “Where are we?” I asked.

He grinned widely, stepping out of the car. I followed, meeting him at the hood. He reached out, taking my hand in mine. “Come on,” he said, leading me up the pathway. He pulled a set of keys from his pocket.

“Joey,” I whispered. “What’s going on?”

He squeezed my hand, turning the key and twisting the knob, pushing the door wide open. He turned to me, a smile plastered all over his face. “Ladies first,” he said, stepping aside so I could walk in first.

I crossed the threshold of the house, my eyes scanning the grand foyer. The ceilings were high, the floors marble, and a sweeping staircase with iron railings leading upstairs. Crystal and brass chandeliers hung throughout the downstairs. The place was completely empty—no furniture in sight. And I knew what was happening before I even asked him.

“What is this, Joey?” I asked anyway.

He bridged the gap between us, slipping an arm around mywaist. “It’s ours,” he said. “Our house. For you. For Antonio. For us. It’s supposed to be a fresh start for all of us.”

My hand flew to my gaping mouth, tears pooling in my eyes.

“I told you I’d take care of you, didn’t I? I meant every word, Adriana. I’llalwaystake care of you.”

He bent down, scooping me up in his arms. My feet left the ground, and my arms wrapped around him. Our laughter echoed off the walls. “It’s perfect,” I said.

He set me down, his hand finding mine as he tugged me toward the living room. It was huge. Velvet curtains hung, parting to reveal the backyard. I rushed to the window, my gaze fixed on the lush view. I couldn’t wrap my head around the fact that this was mine.Ours.

“Let me show you the best part,” Joey murmured. He stood behind me, his hands gripping my hips as his lips grazed the exposed part of my neck. He guided me forward like this until we reached the kitchen. He spun me around, and I draped my arms over his shoulders, our lips meeting again.

“You know, most people get engaged, get married, buy a house, and have babies.” I grinned against his lips.

He smirked, pulling me closer, his voice rough against my lips. “We’re not most people, Adriana. We make our own damn rules.”

There was something powerful about those words.We make our own rules.I knew Joey lived by his own code, but now, so did I.

I tugged his lips back down to meet mine. My tongue slipped between his lips to taste him.

“You like that?” He chuckled, his forehead resting against mine. “You want to make your own damn rules? Feel powerful, like you’re in control?”

Yeah, starting now.

My fingers trailed down his body, and his eyes darkened the lower I went. I flashed an innocent smile, batting my lashes as Iundid his trousers. “Adriana,” he murmured. “What are you doing?”

“You know what I’m doing.”

I pushed his trousers down, watching as they fell to the cool marble floor beneath us. I followed them down, sinking to my knees. I held all the control, and I could see in his glazed eyes that he was aware of this, as well.

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