Page 40 of There Is No Love

“What are you talking about? He runs us hard every time.” I looked down the line, all the guys loading mags and readying their weapons.

Carlo walked out, standing at the head of the line. He scanned up looking at Luka standing next to me. His face was hard. “I take it you’re Luka Rossi?” Rossi rolled off of his lips like the words on his tongue tasted bitter, as if the letter made the bile in his stomach threaten to surface.

Luka nodded and walked towards him, hand extended. “Yes, and you must be Carlo?”

Carlo looked down at his hand, then back up at his face. “Fall in line. You may have been a big deal in Bellissindale, but here you are the lowest.” He shook his head. “I don’t even know what in the hell you are doing here.”

“I am here because he couldn't find anyone man enough in the Volante outfit to handle his daughter. But don't worry,” He walked back, standing next to me, his hand going over my shoulder. “I am up to the task. Isn't that right, cupcake?”

I wanted to punch him in the face and lay him out right in front of everyone. I hated stupid pet names, and he knew it. But I had promised I would play my part. I grit my teeth taking a deep breath. “Yup.” I simply replied, knowing if I said anything else, everyone would see right through it, especially Nick.

He smiled and kissed my cheek. Carlo shook his head. Nick had a huge smile on his face, a chuckle escaping his lips as he looked down at the mag in his hand, pushing 9mm rounds in with his thumb. Michael however was staring at the two of us, fury in his eyes. He looked like he was on the warpath.

“I want you to have five mags each for your pistol and AR, two full, one with ten rounds, one with three, and one with one round,” Carlo announced. “I will split you into teams of three. Dario, Galen, Georgio. Michael, Alora, and Bade. Nick, Franco, and Luka. Matteo, Aldo, Gentry. Group up, gear up, and take your spot on the line.”

I looked down and started filling mags. “What is his problem?” Luka whispered in my ear.

I looked up, Michael still giving us the death stare. I knew what was wrong, he was pissed I had turned him down. Pissed he wasn't getting what he wanted anymore. I knew I couldn’t tell Luka that. Oh, he’s just the guy I have been secretly sleeping with for the last year right under my dad's nose. My own little F U dad. Luka probably thought I was a virgin, saving myself for whatever a-hole my dad made me marry. Because that is how it worked. “Oh, he just hates you along with everyone else. I guess he is just harder at hiding it than the rest of us.”

He leaned in his mouth right at the entrance of my ear. “Protest all you want, but I know you want me.”

“You wish.”

He kissed the soft spot right behind my ear. I clenched my jaw, trying to push back the goosebumps making their way down my neck and spine. He gave me a smirk, he knew my body was reacting to his touch. Stupid body betraying me.

I sighed, putting on my plate carrier as he walked over to join Nick and Franco. Dad had become paranoid in the last six months and ordered all of the main guy's plate carriers to train in. Nick insisted I get one too, even though dad said it wouldn't be needed, that I would never go in with them for a fight. It was harder running the drills Carlo put us through with armor on, but then I liked being pushed, so I didn't mind it. I watched him talking with Nick, laughing about something as he slipped into the plate carrier Carlo handed him. I shook my head and sighed, when did they become so buddy, buddy?

Michael walked over as I stood at the line, ready. “What, so you’re just going to roll over and accept him? Let him slide his di,”

“Shut the hell up! He is my husband, and the future leader of this outfit, show some respect.”

Michael leaned in, staring me right in the eye. “He is not my leader, and never will be. I won't follow him and most of these men won't either. Does he know my cock has been in your,”

“Line Up!” Carlo called. “We are going to run Standard Drill first. You will load and ready your ten-round mag and have your three-round mag and full round mag in your mag carrier. Understood?”

“Yes.” Everyone replied.

“Alright when the buzzer goes off, you will fire five into box one, five into box two, release and reload your three-round mag, and fire three into the middle circle. Then release and reload your full round mag. Understood?’

“Yes.” “Shooters Ready!” Carlo called.

We all walked up to our spot on the line, waiting for the buzz. It went off and we took our shots. We hung up new targets over top and repeated five more times, refilling mags in between. We ran a few more drills, then moved to the range set up for moving and shooting. Carlo got us set up to run as a team, taking turns at different stations with different drills. We stood there listening as he went over what he wanted us to do.

“Hey Cupcake,” Luka leaned behind me.

I turned and looked at him, eyebrows raised. I hated him. “Stop calling me cupcake.”

“How about a wager?”

“What did you have in mind?”

“If my group is faster, then you kiss me, right here in front of everyone.”

“And if I win?”

“What do you want?”

“You strip and run back to the house naked,” I crossed my arms, challenging him.

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