Page 43 of Arturo's Temptation

Was I pissed because Isabella could have injured herself or worse? Most definitely.

Was I going to punish her for it? Hell fucking yes.

And if she thought the spanking I gave her a fortnight ago was bad, she was about to get a rude awakening.

With a flick of my head, I stepped past the bouncers. The bigger of the two nodded at me. Charlie and Dan had both been in this place since it had opened. Aside from the times I showed up delirious and bleeding all over the show, this was usually the only place I’d come after a kill when I needed to wind down.

I looked over at the bar and absentmindedly noticed it hadn’t changed in the eight years I’d been drinking here. Right down to the shitty ‘80s carpet, weird looking dangling lights, and its dark, tempting corners.

I weaved through the sea of people, it was busier than usual but I knew I’d be able to pick her out. There was no way in hell I wouldn’t be able to. I was drawn to her like a moth to a flame.

Where are you, hermosa?

“Arturo, buddy, what can I get ya?” Josh asked, he worked here most days of the week, he practically lived here.

“Nothing mate, I’m drivin’. Logan about?”

“Nah, he’s in the city dealing with the books. So, what brings you in? Haven’t seen you in a while.” He placed a bottle of water down in front of me with a smile.

“Lookin’ for someone,” I took a swig out of the bottle, wishing it was a beer.

“New target? ‘Cause you know Jay’s got rules,” he whispered over the music.

Like Jay, Josh was also one of my only friends. The first day we met was over a pack of peanuts and him sewing up my abdomen. He knew what I dabbled in… most of the time.

“Nah, mate. But it’s important I find her.”

“Ah, it’s a chick! Wait, don’t tell me… You’re looking to get your dick wet!” He chortled, throwing back a shot.

“Mouth like that will get you into trouble.”

“So what does the future Mrs Sit-On-Your-Balls look like?” He wiped his hands on a towel before rounding the bar.

“Five-five, long brown hair, blues eyes, curves for miles, shitty fuckin’ attitude and currently testing my patience,” I hissed.

“Pfft. Even if the chick you’re describing had entered our establishment, she sounds way too hot for me to tell you, pal.” Josh joined me on a bar stool and opened the bottle of Bud placed in front of him. When I didn’t laugh he frowned. “Damn, mate. She a job?”

“Somethin’ like that.” He pressed his lips together and nodded, looking around.

“Who is she?”

“Isabella Ricci,” I replied, making Josh spit his beer out.

“Fuck off!” His eyes went wide as he wiped his mouth.

“I shit you not.” I didn’t have time for this, but if anyone knew where she’d gone it would be Josh. He knew everything that happened in this place.

“Let me get this straight, the chick you’ve currently got a hard-on for is none other than Lorenzo Ricci’s daughter? Big, scary dude that runs half of New York?” I stared at him, a small smile making its way to my eyes. “Are you fucking crazy? Do you know what he’d do to you for simply looking at her—” Josh stopped on a frown. “Wait, hang on… I heard something about this. This isn’t the deal I heard rumours about the other week, is it? Are you really working for the Lorenzo Ricci?”

“Ain’t a rumour, mate,” I deadpanned.

“Holy shit, dude. They got you on retainer or some shit?”

“Nah, it ain’t like that. The old man hired me to train her. Watch her back that kind of thing.” Which right now was proving to be like trying to ensure water didn’t fall through a sieve. Pointless.

“Arturo, pal… I think we can both agree you ain’t a bodyguard.” I shrugged noncommittally.

“Uh-huh, and I did tell the geezer when he offered me the job.”

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