[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
switch seats with my original Asian driver. I really didn t care. Did
you hear me? Get off me!
Hell, no, he bit out, slapping a cuff around his wrist and one
around mine.
I glared at the sudden connection, yanking my arm forward and
back. This will not work! I seethed. Actually, it was probably the
only thing that would ensure I did what Marco and Branson told me.
Marco quietly observed us from the porch. Are you going to let
him do this to me?
Yes, Suzy, as a matter of fact, I am. And if you don t behave
from here forward, he s going to do a lot more.
Branson smirked. And I promise, unlike Marco or even Alanzo,
when I bend you over my knee, I ll have one thing on my mind
burning your sweet little ass with one smack after another. With any
luck, I ll spank some sense into you.
58 Destiny Blaine
Chapter Nine
Marco paced the small kitchen several hours later. They ll kill
him. If we haven t heard anything by now, they re planning to kill
him.
We ll hear something soon, Branson reassured him, reaching
across my body for the salt.
Branson had called in takeout from one of Geoff s restaurants.
With balls of brass, he d walked through the front door with me
cuffed to his wrist a few minutes later. We d waited in the bar for our
carryout order, making sure everyone there saw us. As if we didn t
leave quite an impression, he tipped the bartender a few crisp one
hundred dollar bills.
From the door, and loud enough for everyone to hear, Branson
had left a final impression. Tell Geoff Alberto that Marco Giovanni
sends his regards. It was like a cut scene from The Godfather or
something.
Then, we d walked out. Why I lived to later think about it, I ll
never know. The entire place was full of Italian men with grim faces.
What makes you so sure Geoff will come here? I asked.
I gave Marco s name and this address and phone number when
we placed our to-go order. He ll be here. Trust me.
Without warning, Branson stood. Since I was attached to him, I
was yanked to my feet, too. Marco, please make him release me.
Believe me, darlin , Branson began. As much as I d like to
keep draggin you closer and closer, you re starting to add a little
more baggage than I want to lug around all day.
The Third Promise 59
What s that supposed to mean? Sometimes, Branson didn t
speak plain English. Are you implying I m fat?
He snickered. And I noticed he didn t respond one way or the
other.
Marco gripped the sink and stared out the kitchen window. I
wondered if he could be thinking about the same things I was our
former life there, the life we once shared together before things
became so crazy. Marco, my wrist hurts.
That s not all that s going to throb by the time we re through
with you, he said in a guttural voice, the agonizing tone I recognized
as the rediscovery of days lost.
At least I didn t have to wonder what was on his mind anymore.
He was reliving our history, and by the looks of things, he was ready
to make some new memories, too. He was as hard as a rock and
growing more and more sexually frustrated by the minute if the lust
stamped in his eyes provided suitable confirmation.
Let her go, Marco said, hooded eyes holding plenty of pain.
Are you gonna run again? Branson asked.
No, I half-heartedly promised.
Can you give me your word?
Sure, I said.
He narrowed his gaze. No stunts.
Agreed, I said, waiting patiently for freedom.
When he unlocked the cuff, I slapped him. Don t you ever, ever
try to control me again. Do you understand?
He only smirked, and he did that after he smacked those kissable
lips. Good damn, he was one fine-looking man, but like the Giovanni
brothers before him, he quickly developed the practiced ability to
infuriate me.
I should ve told you she has a temper, Marco grumbled.
And a better arm than you once had, Branson said, rubbing his
jaw.
60 Destiny Blaine
Don t talk around me. I eyed Marco s crotch. Instead of
standing there with your hard-on thinking about the past, you might
start contemplating our future. The man coming for us has a stiff one
with our names on it, and it s not the kind of smoking gun I like to
wake up to in the middle of the night, if you know what I mean.
Branson grinned. Now I see why they married you.
Why s that? I asked, taking the bait.
A woman who can compare weaponry with sex organs has
something to offer a man. He licked his lips and added, And I m
sure Marco and Alanzo have always found a nice, warm place to
holster their pistols.
* * * *
As predicted, soon after we went to sleep, we awoke to several
men carrying lots of guns. The first demand I heard was something
along the lines of someone screaming, On your feet!
I scrambled to the floor about the time someone grabbed me and
yelled, Get up! What the fuck have we here?
Fortunately, through my sleepy haze, I quickly discovered the
guns drawn were at least carried by the men on the right side of the
law. Badges were flashed for verification.
After a man by the name of Agent Delrino introduced his team,
Marco told his story, recounting our years on the run. I d never had a
prouder moment. From his fake death to the moment we reunited to
the birth of our children, Marco explained why he died in the public
eye and how Geoff had pushed him into the shadows because of his
need to control him and his family.
When Marco finished speaking, Agent Delrino looked like he
could cry a few tears to match the ones I d shed while Marco spoke of
faking his own death, giving up his professional football career, and
so much more family, friends, and his very personal crusade to help
those less fortunate.
The Third Promise 61
Agent Delrino addressed me when he was finished, So, when Mr.
Giovanni married you, he forgot to mention he was engaged to the
mob? Is that right?
That s an odd way of stating things, I said, suspicious.
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]