Page 67 of Merciless Queen
“I’ll help. Are you two done making pasta?”
Antonio nodded. “Yep. Be prepared for a week's worth of pasta. She did a good job.”
“And it’ll be delicious. You can go, Antonio. Thank you for doing this with Harlow today.”
“It was my pleasure. Give me a few more weeks and she’ll be a certified chef.”
Antonio left the kitchen, and I walked to Harlow, pressing her against the counter. “I missed you today.” She wrapped herarms around my neck, the flour-covered apron dirtying up my clothes. “How are you feeling today?”
“I missed you, too.” Harlow pressed her lips against mine in a soft kiss. “I’m better. Therapy was hard, but it’s getting easier to talk to Serena.”
“I could get used to you in my kitchen. Maybe naked so I can properly feast.” I licked my lips, tasting the hint of flour left behind. In an instant, her hands flew to my chest, cupping my breasts and leaving perfect flour handprints behind.
“Perfect.”
I grabbed Harlow, picking her up and placing her on the counter as her arms wrapped around my neck and her lips crashed against mine. This kiss was vivacious and hungry as she deepened the kiss. I might have initiated this, but she was one hundred percent in control. She tasted sweet like strawberries, but there was a hint of flour from the mess she created in my kitchen. I already knew this would take a while to clean, but I would enjoy this moment with the woman I loved.
Harlow pulled away from me and pressed her forehead against mine. “Are you really going to help me clean?”
I laughed, kissing the tip of her nose. “Let’s get this done with so I can take you to bed.”
“After a shower.”
Someone wanted to get stabbed. It was the only explanation for them calling me at this hour. I peeled myself away from Harlow, reaching for my phone and answering whoever it was that calledme. It was important because no one called me this late, but I was still bitter.
“What is it?”
“Vincenzo torched the docks. Another shipment was destroyed, and this time, he killed someone,” Cornelius said, annoyance in his voice.
I sat up in bed, careful not to wake up Harlow. “Who died?”
“Homeless man sleeping in one of the containers. He didn’t have any family.”
Roman wouldn’t do anything to help even with an innocent man dead. Their treaty only involved his family being harmed or betrayed. “Pay for a service regardless. I’m sure he had a friend or two who will miss him. Was everything destroyed?”
“Yeah. Weapons are destroyed, and the shipment of marijuana, as well.” I needed that marijuana to make up for the previously lost shipment.
“We will deal with it. Make sure the dock is clean. I’ll make some phone calls in the morning to get this situated. I am about to have pissed off clients and angry families.”
“I’ll see what I can do to get you something to give to the buyers. Maybe that way, it wouldn’t get destroyed if they didn’t know.”
“Let me know. I’ll set up a meeting in a few days to figure everything out.”
“Copy, boss. Go back to sleep.”
I disconnected, running my hands through my hair. Vincenzo was starting to piss me off. It was one thing to target me, but he was destroying my livelihood. We would be fine regardless, but I didn’t need to have a war started because I failed to deliver. My reputation was slowly becoming squandered because of him destroying shit for a childish vendetta. Harlow was mine, and he would never harm her again.
Roman needed to help me. I knew it was the only way to successfully get rid of him without harming Harlow. If she wasn’t involved, I would find a way to deal with his childish games. I wanted Vincenzo destroyed so I could have a normal life with the woman I loved. The thought of ever wanting a domesticated life with a wife, my Dobermans, and maybe a couple of kids was something I never thought I’d want until Harlow. I saw forever with her, and I wanted a life that wasn’t surrounded by our family’s name.
CHAPTER 53
Harlow
When Natalya wasn’table to be here due to assassin business, Caterina and I sparred together. It was more intense foreplay than actually learning self-defense, but I wasn’t complaining. I liked doing things with her, and it made me feel safe and loved knowing she wanted to help me. Maybe wearing tiny biker shorts and a revealing sports bra wasn’t the way to go for this training session, but oh well. I was a glutton for punishment.
I dodged Caterina’s fist, hearing the wind whistle past my ears as I did a fancy two steps away from her. Caterina wasn’t going easy on me today. The last few sessions we had she would fumble or miss, but today, she was all in. “You missed me.”
“Being bold today, princess?”
