“I haven’t known you to move any other attractive, obedient men into our family’s home.”
“Maybe I haven’t found any that suited me as well as him.”
“Of course you haven’t, Lucien. They’ve all bored you after a night or two, but Peter—”
“Peter is very talented.”
She sniffed. “The boy’s an innocent. You’ve had more talented men than him, and I’m sure I could find you half a dozen right now.”
She was wrong. He might be more innocent than any of the other men I’d been with, but his submission was completely natural. His skills were innate. “This conversation is over.”
“No. You need to talk about Peter with someone, and I know you’re not going to talk to Angelo or Devil.” I started to protest, but she held up a hand. “I don’t blame you, but I want you to know I’m here.”
I sighed. I knew she meant well. “Thank you. Angelo thinks Peter might be passing information about our family to his cousin or even the Riccis. He doesn’t trust him, and I doubt Devil does either.”
“Angelo might be jealous.”
I frowned. “What do you mean?”
“You’ve never been with a man you’ve actually cared about. Maybe Angelo doesn’t want anyone else competing for his brother’s affection.”
“No way. Angelo can’t think anything would be different because I care about—” I froze, and she gave me a very satisfied smile.
“It’s okay to admit you care about Peter, but think about it. Angelo might think your loyalty will shift, that you’ll put Peter first, especially if he thinks you’re in lo—”
“I’m not. I promised to protect Peter. I care about his safety. That’s all.”
“Keep telling yourself that, for now, but eventually, you’ll have to figure out if you care enough to keep him, and if not, you’ll have to let him go.”
“I’m sure we’ll tire of each other before long. I’ll find him a job elsewhere and send him on his way.”
“How much of a choice would you give him in that?”
“I gave him a choice to stay with me or leave, knowing I’d see to his safety for as long as it was necessary. He chose to stay. When he did, he put himself under my control.”
Sabrina shook her head. “God help him.”
“God and the Holy Mother are probably the only ones who can.”
She laid a hand over mine. “Do right by him.”
I took a long breath. “I’ll try.”
I kept replaying my conversation with Sabrina as I made my way back to my office. I didn’t want to feel anything deeper than lust for Peter. I’d never wanted to fall in love, not when I knew the pain it could cause. I’d seen what my mother’s passing had done to my father, and I would do anything to avoid that hell. But I also knew I had no intention of letting Peter go, even when I feared my feelings for him were growing far too serious.
15
Peter
Lucien had to be out of town again that night, so after work, I went to visit Uncle Mac. When I arrived, I was shocked to see Jimmy sitting at the bar. He was talking to a woman I didn’t recognize. As I made my way through the crowd, she rose from her stool, and several men’s eyes followed her as she headed for the side exit. Jimmy made no move to leave, so I made my way over to him. “Where the hell have you been?”
“Yo, Peter. I’ve been around.”
“Around but not responding to my texts or calls after getting me mixed up in your shit?”
He downed about half his beer. “From what I hear, things didn’t turn out so bad for you. All those protests about how you didn’t want a sugar daddy, and now you’re shacked up with Lucien Marchesi.”
I shushed him, looking around to see if anyone seemed to be paying attention to our conversation. Thankfully, no one was. “How do you know what I’ve been up to?”
“Word gets around. If you know who to listen to.”
“Who are you listening to, Jimmy? Who are you working for, and why did you send me to take your place that day?”
He fiddled with his beer glass, not meeting my eyes. “I told you. I got a better offer.”
“Marchesi didn’t offer you a job. You owed a debt.”
“I decided I’d rather pursue an opportunity that would earn enough to pay him back.”
He was going to get himself killed, and I didn’t want Lucien to be the one to do it. “Jimmy, that’s—”
“Look, if you know what’s good for you, you’ll stay out of it.”
“You’re making trouble for yourself.”
He shook his head. “I was in trouble, but now I’m doing real good.”
I knew better than to believe that. “I’m worried about you.”
“I should be the one who’s worried. You’re way too naïve to be under that monster’s control. You’re the one who needs to be careful so things don’t end badly.”
Was he right? There was no doubt I was in over my head with Lucien, but I believed Lucien when he said he would protect me. But how long would that last, and what would happen to me afterwards? Those were the questions I tried not to think about.
“Don’t make the mistake of thinking someone like Marchesi cares about you,” Jimmy said. “Men like that only care about what you can give them.”
“Then why did you send me to him?”
Jimmy shrugged. “You needed a job. I found you one, and it sounds like you’re making the best of it for now. You should be thanking me, not bitching at me.”
Before I could come up with a response, Jimmy polished off his beer and slid from his stool. “I’ve got to go.”
“Be careful. I don’t know what’s going on in your world right now, but—”
“You’ve made it your world too, and you’re not ready to play in it.”
“You’re right, but you seem to think you’re invincible.”
He huffed. “Not invincible. Just smart.”
Smart was not a thing Jimmy had ever been. He was impulsive, conniving, a charmer, and a halfway decent petty thief, but he would never be the brains of any operation. And if he thought he could outsmart a man like Lucien, he was way off base. “Think before you jump into something you can’t get out of.”
Jimmy just laughed. “Too late.” He turned and walked away.
My uncle noticed me then. A few moments later, he brought me my favorite beer. “Whatever he was telling you, ignore it. He’s in a pisser of a mood tonight.”
“Do you know why?”
Uncle Mac frowned. “I’ve overheard a few things. I’ll be taking a break in about fifteen minutes. If you can hang around, meet me in my office.”
“I’ll do that.” I was hoping my uncle might’ve heard something useful. If my suspicions were right, and Jimmy was working for the man who was moving against Lucien’s family, what would I do? Would I tell Lucien what I learned and put my loyalty to him over my loyalty to my family?
Did I really owe loyalty to Jimmy, though? Sure, he’d protected me when we were kids, and he’d been kind to me in the past, but he’d tricked me into paying his debt for him. Technically, anyway. As it turned out, I was happy to do it. He knew who Lucien was and what he was capable of, yet he’d handed me over to him, not knowing how he’d treat me.
“So what did you hear?” I asked Mac when he joined me in his office.
He studied me for a moment. “Before we get into that, tell me how you’re doing. Don’t think I’ve missed that you have somebody watching over you. I know you’re involved in some of the same shit as Jimmy.”
“It would be better if you didn’t know too many details.”
“I’m sure it would, and it might be best if you didn’t get involved in what I heard Jimmy talking about.”
“I’m worried about him. I think he’s gotten involved with the wrong people.”
“And you haven’t?”
“I… Maybe, but I’ve been safe so far. Please, tell me about Jimmy. I really am worried about him.”
He si
ghed. “You and me both, kid.”
I laid a hand over his. “I know you’re worried about me too, but I’m really happy where I am.”
“I can tell that. You look better than you have in a long time. I’m just worried about what will happen down the road.”
“Me too, but I’m okay for now.”
“I like that you made the choice yourself. Part of me likes that you’re taking a risk, but you need to be careful.”
“I am.”
He didn’t look reassured, but he dropped the subject. “I don’t know a lot of details about Jimmy, but what I do know is he’s believing a lot of promises that aren’t likely to come true. If I had to make a guess, he’s being set up to be somebody’s scapegoat.”
“Do you know any names?”
He raised his brows. “Are you going to report what I tell you?”
“If I think it’s going to help the right people, then maybe.”
“Are there any good people in this?”
It was my turn to sigh. “I wish I knew.”
“I heard Jimmy mention a name when he was on the phone. It was loud in here, like always, but I think he said Marc or—”
“Marco?”
“That’s probably it. Why? You know a Marco he’s worked with?”
“Maybe.” Marco was the man Lucien thought had betrayed him.
“I heard him say Marco was moving against Jimmy’s old employers, and he was helping him.”
My heart raced. Jimmy owed a debt to Lucien, but had he been working for him? If so, then Lucien’s and the man he’d been talking to—Vinnie’s—suspicions were right. Marco wasn’t on their side.
“Do you know who Jimmy was working for?”
Mac shook his head. “I don’t. Problem is, you know Jimmy. He’ll jump ship faster than you can blink if he thinks he can get more money from one place than another. He’s got no sense of loyalty, and that’s probably going to get him killed.”
I agreed with my uncle. What I needed to do was figure out who Jimmy was working for before he sent me to Lucien. If it was the Marchesis, then telling what I knew might help convince Angelo I wasn’t the one leaking information. I’d overheard him when he was meeting with Lucien. They’d been yelling too loud for me not to hear since I was talking with Carla at the time.
I knew Angelo’s opinion didn’t really matter as long as Lucien believed me, but I didn’t want to come between Lucien and his brother. I felt a strong sense of loyalty to my uncle, but as far as the rest of my family went, I would choose Lucien over them any day.
Still, I didn’t share what I’d learned with Lucien right away, though it weighed on me over the next few days. Without more concrete details—or the certainty that I had the name right—the information didn’t really mean anything. Jimmy had worked for plenty of people, so even if he had worked for the Marchesis, I couldn’t be sure he was referring to them.
Lucien seemed increasingly tense as the week went on. He was more distant than he’d ever been with me, and there was something desperate in him when he came to bed each night. I asked him what was wrong, but he said he didn’t want to burden me with his business concerns.
Very early one morning, I got a call from my uncle.
“Is everything okay?” It wasn’t like him to call just to chat, especially not at that hour. He usually just texted if he had something to tell me.
“Jimmy came by yesterday afternoon and begged me for money. He seemed really shaken up. At first, I thought he was on something, then I decided it was fear making him seem crazy.”
“What did you tell him?”
“I refused to give him anything. I told him years ago he wasn’t getting anything else from me. He’s screwed me over enough by spending the money on drugs or stupid schemes that are supposed to make millions but never earn him a cent.”
“What did he say?”
“He cussed me out and stomped off. After I closed up, I stayed in my office to go over payroll. I heard something up front. It was Jimmy. The asshole was in there trying to rob the till. I told him if I saw him around again, he’d regret it. He dropped what he’d taken and ran.”
What kind of trouble was he in now? Had he betrayed Marco? “How did you get him to leave the money?”
“He knows damn well I could beat the shit out of him, and I had my Glock. You know I keep it on me when I’m working.”
I did, and it had always scared me. “You threatened to shoot him?”
“Fuck right I did. The boy was robbing me. When he ran, he dropped a piece of paper. It’s hard to make out the chicken scratch Jimmy passes off as handwriting, but I think it says DiGiulio’s and then eight o’clock.”
“Lucien’s restaurant.”
Mac hummed. “Isn’t it opening soon?”
It was, and Lucien wanted the opening to go perfectly. Was Jimmy seriously trying to fuck Lucien over again? Did he think he could get away with that? “Thank you, Uncle Mac. Are you all right?”
“I’m fine. I can take care of myself, and you’re welcome. Whatever you do with the information, be careful.”
“I will.”
16
Lucien
When I stepped out of the shower, I heard Peter’s voice. I leaned out the bathroom door and saw he was still sitting in bed, talking on the phone. When I heard him mention Jimmy, I tensed. I dried off quickly, put on a robe, and stepped back into the bedroom as he was ending his call. “Who was that?”
“My Uncle Mac. I need to talk to you.”
He looked terrified, so I sat down next to him. “What’s wrong, Peter?”
“I have some information about my cousin Jimmy. I think it might relate to what’s going on with your family right now.”
I shifted to lean against the headboard and pulled him into my arms, relieved he wasn’t planning to keep anything from me. “Have you seen him since the day he first sent you to me?”
Peter nodded against my shoulder. “Once. A few nights ago when you were out of town. I guess I should have told you. Jimmy’s my cousin, but he hasn’t shown any loyalty to me or my uncle.”
I hadn’t told him he had to report seeing Jimmy to me, though I wished he had. “I don’t think Jimmy knows the meaning of the word loyalty.”
“I don’t think so either.”
“But you do.”
He looked up at me then. “Understand loyalty? Yes, I do.”
“Good. Now tell me what your uncle said.”
“Jimmy tried to rob my uncle’s bar last night, and…”
“I need to hear it all. I understand you not wanting to tell me you’d seen him the other night, but I won’t allow you to hold back information that might affect my family.”
Peter nodded. It took a moment, but eventually, he looked up and held my gaze. “I won’t. I owe you a lot more than I owe Jimmy.”
I hadn’t realized how tense I was until Peter said those words. I relaxed and pulled him tighter against me. He was exactly who I thought he was—an innocent man who’d gotten mixed up with me because of his asshole cousin. At least Jimmy had done one thing right by sending Peter to me. “You’re a good boy, Peter. Now tell me what you learned.”
“My uncle found a note that Jimmy dropped. It said DiGiulio’s and then eight o’clock.”
Fucking bastard thought he was going to fuck with my restaurant. We’d put a stop to that. “Hold on. I think we might need to have this conversation with Angelo and Devil.” Peter looked apprehensive. “What’s wrong?”
“I overheard you talking with them the other day. I was standing by Carla’s desk. I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but you were loud because you were angry, and—”
“It’s okay. You do understand that I trust you, right?”
He nodded. “Yes, sir.”
“Good. And you do remember that I promised to protect you?”
“But they’re your family.”
“And because of that they would never hurt you unless you went after me.”
“
But if they don’t belie—”
I snarled. “They will believe what I tell them. You’re mine, and I won’t let anyone harm you.”
“I—”
“Are you contradicting me?”
“No, sir.”
“Good.” I picked up my phone, called Lola, and asked her to bring coffee and pastries to the sunroom. Then I called my brother and told him to get himself and Devil downstairs in fifteen minutes.
They scowled when Peter and I entered the sunroom. We’d taken a lot more than fifteen minutes because I’d decided to reward Peter’s honesty with a quick, hard fuck before sending him to the shower.
“What’s going on that you needed to drag us out of bed?” Angelo asked.
I led Peter to the couch. Once we were seated, I said, “Peter has some information for us.”
“How do we know—”
I glared at my brother. “We’re all going to listen, and then if you have questions, you can ask them.”
Angelo knew better than to argue with me, so I turned to Peter.
“I’m not sure where to start.” Peter was sitting on the edge of his seat, back rigid.
“Relax, kid,” Devil said. “I won’t bite unless you ask me to.”
A growl emanated from me, but Devil just laughed.
“Peter is off-limits.”
“I’m just tryin’ to put him at ease.”
“Enough.” Everyone seemed startled by the harshness of my tone, but I’d run out of patience. “Peter, I’m waiting. Start from the day you saw Jimmy.”
“Where did you—”
Devil smacked my brother. “Shut up, Angel. Lucien’s not in the mood.”
Angelo huffed, but he stayed quiet.
“I went to visit my uncle at his bar three days ago and Jimmy was there. He didn’t tell me anything specific about who he was working for. He just kept implying that something big was coming, and he was going to be rolling in it once he pulled it off. Later, after he left, my uncle told me he’d overheard a phone call where Jimmy had said a name he was pretty sure was Marco.”
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