Page 75 of A Bond Beyond Blood

Chapter Twenty-Three

Jack

The atmosphere shifted when Vinny stepped back inside the apartment, his body tense with distress or annoyance—I couldn’t tell.A gust of brisk December air followed him inside.Tightening my cardigan around myself, I held my tongue as he walked into the kitchen and opened the cabinet above the sink to retrieve the whiskey I kept there for emergencies—or wallowing, when those moments popped up.

I narrowed my eyes as I watched Vinny pour himself a couple fingers, then toss it back.

Who was on that call?

My heart beat faster as I considered how to ask when it really wasn’t my business.

“Everything’s fine, little Fiorino,” he said, obviously hearing the rhythm of my pulse, but his clipped tone would indicate otherwise.

I sighed and he turned around, watching me from across the breakfast bar.After a moment, Vinny dragged his hands down his face.“I’m not...”He paused, took a deep breath, then gave his head a quick shake.“Never mind.Not today.It’s New Year’s Eve and you had one hell of a disappointing Christmas.”He pushed off the counter and made his way back to me, both physically and mentally it seemed, judging by the smile gracing his beautiful face.

He settled onto the couch and carefully pulled me onto his lap so I straddled him.Sliding his hands beneath my cardigan, he cupped my hips, the thin t-shirt and pajama pants I put on after I finally took a bath this morning doing very little to keep the pressure of his hands from sending a thrill of anticipation through me.

He tipped his head back against the couch cushion and looked up at me.“Tell me, what did you and your old man usually get up to for New Year’s Eve?”

My heart warmed at the question and the sincere curiosity in his eyes.I’d been sparring with Vinny multiple times a week for a year now, and though we’d gotten to know one another in that time, nothing had prepared me for how much he’d truly care toknowme.The way he asked about family traditions and spoke of my father—at times, it even sounded as though he’d known him.

My brow furrowed as I asked, “Did you know my father?”I’d always assumed that he did—everyoneknew the neighborhood butcher—but for the first time, I wondered if there was more than the casual friendship Dad had with most everyone in the borough.

“You know that I did.”

“Yeah, but...”I narrowed my eyes, considering the dates.“You didn’t go to high school together, right?”

Vinny’s lips twitched.“That math...”He chuckled and squeezed my hips.“It’s not mathing.”

Right.I should have known that.Dad would have been in high school decades after Vinny.

“I knew your grandpa, though.Franco’s father.”

The words surprised me, then I giggled at the idea that Vinny and my grandpa would be the same age right now—if Grandpa Gus was still alive and Vinny hadn’t been turned when he was just twenty-four years old.

Vinny’s gaze flicked back and forth between my eyes.“Did that just freak you out?”

I snorted.“Not as much as it should have.”

“You’re coming around,” Vinny said, a hint of pride in his voice.“I like to think I had something to do with that.”

He hadallto do with that.

The scent of whatever was simmering on the stove reached me and I tilted my head, breathing in the richness of fresh basil and garlic...celery...“Are you superstitious, Vincenzo?”I teased.

His eyes narrowed.“Why do you ask?”

“Lentil soup?”

Vinny winked and I melted.“Who couldn’t use a little good luck?”He shrugged and nodded toward the kitchen.“My grandmother’s recipe.”

Could this man get any more attractive?I had my doubts.I grinned and leaned forward, pressing my lips to his in a slow, tender kiss.When I pulled back, his brow was furrowed.

He licked his lips slowly as if savoring the slight hint of me that remained.“What was that for?”

I shrugged.“Just...”Another shrug.“I don’t know, you surprise me.”

Vinny’s eyes glittered with a spark of mischief as his hands flexed on my waist and he tugged me forward, lifting his hips as he did so.He grinned when I gasped at the hard thickness pressing between my legs.“You surprise me too, Jacqueline.”He brought his mouth to my jawline and kissed his way to my ear, sucking the lobe into his mouth and teasing it with a light flick of his tongue.

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