Page 61 of His to Keep
“About?”
“Carl’s out.”
“What the fuck. How the hell could they let him out?”
“I told you, Jamie, he has people in his pocket…but so do I,” he growled.
Jamie lifted another couple of beers from the cooler and handed one to Marcus. “I’ll keep my ear to the ground. I know you’ll sort it out like you always do. Are you going to tell Lana that Rory is off the hook, at least?”
Marcus jumped up. He was antsy and angry. How the fuck did that sick fuck get out of prison so soon. He marched to the wrought iron railing that sat between the terrace and the sprawling ocean, stretching across to Mt. Vesuvius. The sun heated his golden skin and fury scalded his organs.
“I don’t know how to let her in without fucking it up and getting both of us burned in the process.”
“Well, you better be careful because Falcone has her in his sights, and the last thing I need is you busting up my deal.”
“I know. I told her to stay away from him.” He shook his head. “But she’s into him for fuck sake.”
Jamie rested his elbows on his knees and chuckled. “She’s so not into him, dickhead. I’ll bet you a mill she’d drop him like a dirty dick if you told her how you felt. Let Falcone sign on the dotted line, in blood, before you declare your undying love.” His laugh rumbled. “I can tell she wants you - it’s pretty damn obvious.”
“Falcone better keep his hands to himself or I’ll bust his face.” Marcus grimaced, shaking his head to banish the memory of her insides squeezing his fingers.
“Look, Marcus, please don’t fuck up this deal. I’ve been working on these guys for months now. All you have to do is wait until the contract is signed. I’ll even escort her to your bedroom after the deal’s done,” Jamie pleaded. “Then you can talk to her and make her understand that she has your nuts in the palm of her hands.” Jamie kicked back his feet and stretched out under the sun. “I’m sure she’ll understand why you pushed her away.”
“I don’t know if I can watch that asshole, Falcone, put his hands on her.” Marcus’s eyes narrowed.
Jamie crossed his ankles and raised his bottle in the air. “Marcus, it’s only for few hours.” He clucked his tongue. “Good luck! Can’t say I’ll be delighted about you joining the other side and becoming a boring brother. You’re supposed to be my wingman, but I know Lana means something to you. I guess it leaves more pussy for me.” He snickered with a wolfish grin dimpling his cheek. “What about the merger with Devereux?”
Marcus strode back to the lounger. “Like I said, I flew straight to Italy when I heard she touched down in Naples airport. Devereux is in New York. He can wait a day or so until I get what’s mine.”
Jamie’s eyebrows shot up. “You held back on the merger to come out here? You really are crazy about her or just pure fucking crazy!”
Marcus’s mood was up and down. One minute his head was screaming about revenge, the next his heart was exploding for Lana, and now his gut was twisted at the thought of Carl on the loose.
“And Dad? Is the carer going to bring him out here?” he asked Jamie, trying to pull himself together with a mental slap. If anything could do that, it was thoughts of his father.
“Sure is. Rebecca is worth her weight in gold. I was going to fly him over yesterday, but I’ll get the deal closed first. I’ll send for him in a few days. I want Becks to fly with him, but she has an appointment of her own to attend. I wouldn’t trust him flying on his own. Not after the last time,” Jamie said with a solemn tone.
“Heard from Cherie Monique lately?” Marcus grinned playfully.
Jamie pulled his hands behind his head. “I owe you for that hook up, brother. Her sexy mate arrived minutes after you left with the English girl. How could I say no to both of them? They kept me entertained for most of the night.”
Marcus shook his head. Although he was proud of his brother’s wily ways, he was ready to give it all up for Lana. He wasn’t interested in meaningless sex anymore.
What he wanted ran deeper. He was bored with the long shameless list of female faces without names.
It was Lana who teased his feelings to the surface, and now he was going to win her back.
26
Carl’s plan was becoming his reality.
He had gone over the details in his head multiple times. He didn’t need to ask the guys behind bars for her location. He knew it already. Paul was a magpie for information as well the king chess piece with the law.
Donna Marie didn’t have golden hair, and that made her repulsive. Her payback would be fitting, something symbolic.
After this little visit, he was primed and ready to seek the most satisfying revenge of all. To finish Marcus McGrath.
The guy was a cocky asshole who was finally in reach. Carl was going to piss on his parade by whipping up a cataclysmic nightmare, with an ending that he’d never wake up from.
