Theirs, page 8
“I’m sorry, baby.” Knox dries my tears.
“I just can’t believe you were able to get Bill to give me all that money back with interest and agree to leave me alone.”
He looks a little uncomfortable. “Megan…the guys and I aren’t that much less dangerous than people like Bill. You need to know that. I think you do, right?”
“Yes, I know.”
“Cristiano comes from a very influential family. My family and Levi’s have always worked for the Riveras. No one wants to fuck with us because they know it means death if they do. That’s how I was able to do what I did.”
“I don’t care who you are or how dangerous. I’m grateful to you. If you guys hadn’t helped me, I don’t know what would have happened to me by now.”
“We protect what’s ours,” Knox mutters, resting his heavy hand on mine.
“I’m yours?” I manage a smile.
“I think you already knew that.”
A surge of happiness fills me and I lean forward to kiss him, losing myself in his kissable lips.
He pulls out of the kiss and gives me a sexy smile. “How about we finish that later?”
“We better.”
“Oh, we will. Now let’s get the fuck out of here.”
He guns the engine and as we speed down the road, I think of how grateful I am to each of my guys.
My guys…
How can they all feel like mine?
They do though and I know exactly how to repay them for what they did for me.
When Knox takes me back to Cristiano’s house and I see him standing in the doorway between the kitchen and the living room, I rush into his arms.
“Thank you so much for everything,” I tell him.
“You don’t have to thank me.” His heartbeat speeds up against my ear.
“Of course I do.” I look up at him, stand on my toes and kiss him. “I feel safe again.”
“That’s all I wanted.” He gives me a reassuring look before resting his hands on my shoulders. “We were able to take care of everything so you can get on with your life without the worry of anyone else linked to Hunter messing with you.”
My hands fly up to my cheeks. “Oh my God, really?”
“Yes.”
The nightmare is finally over.
I don’t have to see Bill or his goons again or worry about anyone else coming after me. The only bitterness left to cope with is Hunter’s duplicity and deception.
“I am indebted to you forever.”
He chuckles. “No, you aren’t.”
“Don’t I get a hug too?” Levi’s voice booms from across the room.
I lift my head and see him with a sexy smirk on his face.
Leaving Cristiano’s arms, I hug Levi and he laughs.
I look at each of them—my three knights in shining armor.
Cristiano comes closer. “I know I speak for all of us when I say you mean a lot to us.”
They all nod respectfully, agreeing.
“You all mean a lot to me too. I meant it when I said I like you all. And I don’t care how weird that sounds.”
They look at each other and smile.
“In case you didn’t notice, we’re a little bit of an anomaly. We like weird.” Cristiano grins.
“Good, because I’m going to accept your offer. I’ll marry you and do whatever you need me to, but I don’t want the money.”
His brows furrow. “Megan, that’s not why we did this for you.”
“I know. But I can’t ever really pay you back for getting me out of this mess. Marriage is a big deal, but I want to help you.”
He takes my hand into his. “If you do this for me, you have to take the money. There’s no negotiation otherwise. I mean it. If you insist, then there is no offer.”
I think about it for a moment and nod. “Okay. Whatever it takes. I’ll do it.”
“Are you sure about this?”
“I am extremely sure.”
“Then thank you.”
“I’m happy to help.”
Levi clears his throat and I look at him.
“I don’t mean to change the subject, but while we’re discussing serious matters, there’s something I need to bring up.”
“What?” I ask, curiosity spiking my nerves again.
“While I was looking into things, I saw you were trying to find your stepfather.”
Any mention of that man jars me. “Yes. I am.”
“I’m aware of what you’re accusing him of and I’m going to help you.”
My mouth drops. “You think you can find him?”
“I will do my best. If I can’t find him, it means he’s dead.”
“Oh my gosh. Finding him would give me so much justice. I know he killed my mother.”
“Then as long as he’s alive, I will deliver you justice.”
13
MEGAN
Cristiano walks into the living room with two mugs of coffee. Although steam wafts out of the mugs, the shirtless, god-like man carrying them is hotter than sin.
I watch him set the coffee down on the table and resist the urge to drool at the sight of the perfect muscles lining his abs under his tattoos.
It’s morning again and one of the best Sundays I’ve had for as long as I can remember. Last night was the first I slept with the guys outside the club, my good spell began then, and it’s about to continue.
Knox and Levi will be back later. Until then, I have Cristiano.
It’s time to talk about our arrangement, but that doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate how gorgeous he is.
He sits opposite me and runs a hand through his already ruffled just-got-out-of-bed sexy hair. The simple action makes him look sexier.
“You’re giving me that look again.” He smirks.
“Because you’re sexy as hell and I can’t help myself.”
“Now you know how I feel.” He taps the inside of my thigh and lowers to plant a kiss there. “I can’t help myself either.”
Instantly I want him inside me again. I want to go back to his bed and have him pounding into me hard while I wrap my legs around his waist.
I run my hand through his hair and stare down at him, looking past the hard exterior of the soon-to-be mafia boss.
“What will it be like when you become don of your family?”
He straightens and moves over to sit next to me. “I guess it’s time to talk about that.”
“Yeah.”
“I wanted to give you a day to think properly because yesterday was so hectic. I didn’t want your gratitude overpowering your decision.”
“It hasn’t. I still want to go through with it.”
“How are you feeling about it though? You were married only months ago and you lost your husband.”
“I don’t know how I feel. I’m mostly numb, but that’s it. I can get over numbness. I don’t care about anything else. I don’t have anyone I care about around me to factor in.” Of course, I’m thinking about Paige. The truth is I’m all alone. So I can do what I want. “I’ll do it because it helps you.”
“You’re helping me out in ways I can’t describe.”
“Then I’m glad to help.”
He pulls in a deep breath. “The first hurdle we need to jump over is meeting my immediate family. We have dinner with them in ten days.”
“What’s your family like?”
“They’re great if they like you, and they will. We just have to make everything believable. The first lie we’ll tell is that your name is Evelina.”
I raise my brows. “Evelina?”
“Yes. I made you up last year when my grandfather wanted to marry me off.”
“Oh, I see.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll bring you up to speed with everything, so you know what to say. We won’t have many family gatherings, so you’ll only have to remember you’re Evelina a handful of times a year.”
“That sounds doable.” But nerve-wracking. I pray I don’t slip up.
“I hope so. We just need to keep up the charade for three years, and that’s it.”
“I’m guessing you never want to get married and stay married?”
He brushes a wisp of hair from my face. “All I know is I don’t like anyone forcing me to do anything. That’s what my grandfather is doing. As to whether marriage is for me, well… I don’t know. Maybe I’ll know one day.”
“Me too.” Clearly, it was all wrong for me.
“I’m sorry about Hunter.”
“Thank you. He just really blindsided me.” I don’t even want to think about that man ever again, so it’s best we change the subject. “What happens after the dinner?”
“Italy in a little over four weeks. We’ll be going there for my grandfather’s birthday and to meet the rest of the family.”
“Wow. Italy.”
“You sound like you’ve been there.” His eyes sparkle.
“I have. I was there for my best friend’s wedding.” And now I’m thinking about Paige again.
“Best friend?”
“She was. We fell out over Hunter. She saw straight through him and tried to warn me. I don’t know why I didn’t listen. She’s in Italy now with her husband.” Come to think of it, maybe Cristiano might know James. I wouldn’t be surprised because earlier, Levi mentioned Gibbs. I’m sure an explanation of who introduced me to him would have come up.
“Do you want to make up with your friend?”
“I do. I’d love nothing more.”
“Then when we go to Italy, I think you should see her.”
Could I?
I’m so embarrassed, but maybe fixing things with Paige is one more thing I can do sooner rather than later.
“Maybe I will.”
“I think you should.”
I smile. “It would be great to see her.”
“I’m sure it would. Besides, I’d like to know you have a friend when I’m away. Or when you’re away.”
“Me?” I grin.
“You can go back to your training in L.A., Megan.” He nods and my heart swells. Going back to college felt so far away from my reach that I thought it would never happen again. “You can go back whenever you want and set up your practice when the time comes. I travel a lot, but I’ll also be here a lot more now that I’m taking things over. That doesn’t affect you. You’ll have your own life and I’ll support you whatever you do.”
“Thank you. I can’t believe this is even possible for me.”
“Believe it because it is. Of course, I also want you to move in with me straightaway.” His eyes drop to my breasts. “I’ll send someone to get your things tomorrow.”
I laugh. “You’re just going to move me in.”
“Yes. Are you complaining?”
Hell no, Cristiano lives in an eight-bed mansion with an Olympic-sized pool, tennis court, and a garage that holds twenty cars that cost almost the same as an average house. “I have no complaints at all.”
I do have one more question on my mind that I think I already know the answer to, but I want to ask, so I’m sure. “What about the guys? Do we stop, um… fooling around?”
“No, that’s why you’re perfect for this.” He searches my eyes. “Unless you want—”
“No,” I cut in. “I don’t want to stop.”
“Good.”
“The four of us work for me. It’s nice.”
“I’m glad to hear that. You know what else is nice?” He looks over my body with wild seduction.
“What?”
“You riding my face with your tight little pussy. I think we need to go back to bed.”
“I like that idea.”
“Then come here, baby.” He scoops me up and kisses me hungrily while he carries me upstairs.
This is like a dream and he’s everything I’ve ever wanted.
I slip away and get lost in him easily, but part of me holds on to reality, remembering this is just a business arrangement.
I can’t fall for him, or Levi, or Knox.
Cristiano is doing this because he wants control of his situation and as nice as this is with us, I’m merely a means to an end.
We have this fascination with each other and I have this thing going on with the group.
However, there will come a time when the sexual haze fades.
There will be an end and I just hope my heart can handle it.
It’s going to be hard keeping control of my feelings when they’ve already captured my soul.
14
LEVI
“Wow.” Megan’s bright eyes widen with fascination as she steps into my apartment.
She has the same look most people have when they first come to my not-so-humble place of abode.
I don’t have a flashy mansion like Cristiano, but I have an equally ostentatious luxury penthouse apartment in the heart of the city. It has everything from a private pool, terrace, garden, and best of all, the view. I’ve always been a city boy. Even when I’m in Italy, I prefer the fast paced lifestyle to the idyllic ambiance of the countryside. But maybe that’s because of the way my parents raised me.
They were always away and since I hated the silence of being alone, I sought anything with life and energy for comfort. That led me here.
Megan floats into the apartment like the angel she is and looks around at the less-is-more contemporary décor I have going on.
“I love it.” She smiles, twirling around.
It’s been a few days since the incident and she looks much better. I like seeing her like this. I know everything isn’t okay and it will be a long time before it is, but she looks happier. That works perfectly because tonight is my night to have her.
This is the start of our arrangement. Cristiano, Knox and I spoke a few days ago. We came up with a plan for how we were going to share this perfect woman who has managed to work some kind of magic on us, enough to make us contemplate a relationship with her.
It’s as crazy as can be and way outside what we’ve ever done. Being at the Dark Odyssey and other sex clubs when we’re traveling is different. This is taking the fantasy into the real world. I don’t know how it will work, especially with this upcoming marriage, but I know we’ll make it work the same way we do with everything else.
For now, she’ll stay with Cristiano most of the time because we don’t want anyone getting suspicious. Knox and I will then have her for a day each per week. We might be able to fit in two days sometimes. It won’t matter anyway because we’ll see her at Cristiano’s place. These moments alone will just be private and special.
Tonight was supposed to be Knox’s night with her before the two of us head out to L.A., but we swapped because I know Megan is eager to talk about her stepfather. He is a subject we haven’t spoken about since I first mentioned the possibility of finding him. It’s early days yet, so I don’t have any news, but I’m working on getting some. Over the last few days, it crossed my mind that her stepfather could only have disappeared the way he did if he knew the right people. People who could hide him so well it’s like he never existed. It’s people like that who I’ve started looking into.
Her light laughter pulls me from my thoughts.
“Your apartment is like a cross between Bruce Wayne’s mansion and Iron Man’s, whatever you call his place.” Her eyes sparkle.
“I’ve heard that before.” I chuckle. “But Cristiano is more Bruce Wayne than me. All he’s missing is an Alfred. He does have staff, though.”
“I agree.”
“Come, let’s go sit by the pool.” I slip my arm around her waist and pull her closer. She looks tiny next to me, but when she puts her arm around me, we fit. “Maybe we can go for a swim.”
“I like that. Means I get to look at you shirtless.”
I love the way she speaks her mind. “Oh, I’m a firm believer in swimming naked. You know what that means for you too.” I give her ass a firm squeeze and lower to crush my lips to hers.
We kiss for a few moments and I enjoy tasting her. When I pull away, I take her hand and lead her into the hallway.
I grab a bottle of Merlot and two long-stemmed glasses, then take her out to the pool. We sit side by side at the poolside, watching the waning sun and I pour her a glass of wine. When I hand it to her, I note that hope-filled look in her eyes again and I know she’s thinking about her stepfather.
I kiss the top of her nose and set the bottle down.
“I’m working on finding him, Megan,” I say as if I’m continuing a conversation we’ve already been having.
My lips part and she sets her glass down next to the bottle. “How did you know I was thinking about him?”
“I just do.”
She sighs, hugging her knees into her chest, instantly appearing smaller and more girlish. It’s as if she’s giving the strong woman we’ve seen in her over the last few weeks a break. What I’m seeing seems like a glimpse of her most vulnerable side.
I know what it feels like to be vulnerable. It’s the worst kind of curse for a strong person.
“I don’t know how you will find my stepfather.” She stares deeply at me. “But I’m grateful you want to help me. Life has been tough for a long time.”
“I can imagine. What made you suspect him, Megan?”
“I knew in my heart and when he disappeared with everything my mother owned, I knew I was right. The police didn’t really help even though they tried to find him. Before Gibbs, I had a lawyer investigating, but I ran out of money.” She pauses for a beat. “When my mother married my stepfather, I sensed he was after her money. They met on the set of one of her TV shows. He moved in after dating her for a few weeks. Then they got married months later. Mom thought he was everything, but he was a fucking asshole. If she ever knew what he was like she…”
Her voice trails off and I wonder if there was more her stepfather did to her that she doesn’t want to talk about.
“Sometimes people can’t see the truth when they’re in love.”
