Page 90 of The Bonventi War
Enzo gives me a look, and I nod. So does Marco.
He stands and walks around to the front of the desk. "The waterfront district, minus the south end. And two blocks, not three."
Ares considers for a moment. "My father will be pleased." He stands, extending his hand. "I'll have the details sent over in an hour. We may not get another chance for some time, so prepare, gentlemen."
Zo and he shake, and then Ares turns to me. "It'll be good to do a hit with you again, friend. It's been some time. Business aside, we're all family here."
I nod. "Glad I can always count on you, Ares."
After he leaves, Zo turns to us. "Get the men ready. Full tactical gear. I want our best shooters."
"I'll lead the strike team," I say immediately walking toward the door to leave to prepare.
"Of course you will," Enzo laughs. "Don't do anything stupid. You're no good to this woman dead. Or to any of us, for that matter."
37
GIO
The drive home feels endless. All I can think about is getting back to Raven, seeing her with my own eyes—because after a night like this, she's the only thing keeping me from turning into a complete monster.
The driver opens my door, and I'm home, finally. I step inside, my body still humming from tonight's activities and the thought that I'm so close to ending all this, to keeping her safe.
As I walk down my hallway, I still feel the adrenaline not fully burned off, but the moment I see her, everything changes.
Raven's sitting at the kitchen island, idly spearing a piece of lettuce with her fork. It's such a simple thing, but it stops me cold.
Her hair is messy, loose, and up in a bun. She's wearing one of my shirts, hanging off one shoulder, my scent all over her. Bare legs, her skin golden under the warm kitchen light.
She looks like she belongs here. Like this is her home. Like she's mine.
And that thought? It wrecks me.
It stirs something deep in my chest. I've never come home to a woman before. Never wanted to. Not like this. Not to someone waiting up for me, completely unaware that I just ordered a man killed and walked away like it was nothing, all for her.
But with Raven, it's different.
I move toward her slowly, my pulse heavy. She doesn't notice me yet, too focused on stabbing a cherry tomato with her fork. My hands clench at my sides because all I can think about is what it would be like to come home to her every night. To have this as my reality forever.
The thought punches through my ribs, hits deeper than anything has before.
And then another thought takes root.
Her, round with my baby, moving around this kitchen. Carrying my blood inside her. Building our legacy. Adding to the Bonventi Dynasty.
Fuck. My cock hardens instantly.
I want that. The kind of want that's bone-deep, primal. It makes my stomach burn, makes my blood run hotter.
She finally notices me when I step behind her, my hands gripping her waist. She gasps, startled, but I don't give her time to react before I drag my mouth over her exposed shoulder, up the side of her neck.
"Gio…" she breathes, her body going soft against me.
I don't answer. I bite her neck, just hard enough. My hands slide down her sides, gripping her thighs, squeezing. She lets out a shaky breath, pressing her legs together.
"You been waiting up for me, baby?" My voice is rough, still edged with the violence I haven't fully let go of.
She nods. "Yeah."
