Playing with Fire

by Graziano, Renee

  The author and publisher have provided this e-book to you without Digital Rights Management software (DRM) applied so that you can enjoy reading it on your personal devices. This e-book is for your personal use only. You may not print or post this e-book, or make this e-book publicly available in any way. You may not copy, reproduce, or upload this e-book, other than to read it on one of your personal devices.

  Copyright infringement is against the law. If you believe the copy of this e-book you are reading infringes on the author’s copyright, please notify the publisher at: us.macmillanusa.com/piracy.

  DEDICATION AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  First and always first I’d like to thank GOD … not just for getting me where I am today but for making me walk through the fire in order to know how to PLAY WITH FIRE.

  To my sister Jennifer: Thank you, thank you, thank you … for never giving up on me and for never failing to see my potential through all the drama. You have pushed me to limits I didn’t even know I was capable of reaching. You have taught me to explore roads I have never traveled, come to terms with things I never wanted to … and be above the rest without acting like I am above the rest.

  Daddy: You are without a doubt the greatest man I know. You have taught me courage, perseverance, and forgiveness. You have showed me that your presence in a room isn’t weighed by how much you are feared or how loud you are but by the amount of kisses on your cheek and handshakes or just your plain old ability to make others laugh.

  Mom: You are a driving force in my life. Also a bit of a pain in the ass, but without you I wouldn’t know what style, beauty, and grace are. Without you I wouldn’t know how to love unconditionally nor would I know how to say screw what people say.… It’s all about family!

  Lana: What can I say? We’ve been through everything that two sisters could go through in ten lifetimes … marriage, divorce, pain, pressure, and single parenting. I love you.

  Justin, Sonni, John, and Anthony: TiTi Nae loves you!!!!!

  Monica Cooper: You held me together when I couldn’t keep it together.… You were always there to lend a helping hand and a comforting phone call when I needed it. You have the patience of a saint. Xoxo

  Marvin Peart: You do not know how grateful I am for not getting up when I was sitting at your table in Spa!! Ha-ha! That was the beginning to a friendship I hold so near and dear to my heart. By the way, you sure do know how to spot a star when you see one, and I am not talking about me, I’m talking about my sister Jenn.

  Alexis, Marilyn, and the sassy Ms. Margo: Where would I be without you three?!!!! Alexis, you’re more than my cousin to me, you’re my sister. I love you so very much!!! Marilyn, you are a second mother and someone I admire tremendously. Margo, the coolest most calm and collected Gemini I know!!!!! Hats off to a woman who remained in charge!!!

  Tiffany Hasbourne: You played a major role in my life and if I’ve never said it before or a hundred times, here’s the first and the one hundred and first time: THANK YOU!!! AppreciatCha!!! Xoxo

  Danielle, LyMarie, and Bali: You girls are a rare find, a precious gem and I’m honored and so grateful to have you as my friends.

  Nikki Boots: This book was great therapy!! Write one!! Or date more, lol.…

  My Prude Prude:… It’s not a bad thing. It’s a boring thing. Hahahahah.

  Carla Murino: You have been there with me through hell and back from third grade to today. We’ve argued and possibly had a fight or two. We laughed, cried, and have been each other’s alibi!! #bff #pastels #tebf #stitches #prisonvisits #stmichaelschurch #pontessteakout #fromthebasement #tothetop #mobcandy.

  Aunt Celia, Bianca, Andrea, Aunt Belinda!!! I wish you were here so I could share this triumphant moment with you!!!!

  My cousin Erica and Frankie.

  Aunt Patricia Dana.

  To my grandmother Nora!! All I can hear is your voice as you fought with your sister, Ti Suzie, screaming BouTana back and forth in your Italian accents!!!!! Oh man, do I wish I could have one more day with you on earth. I think about you daily and I know you are watching over me!!!

  Grandpa Anthony: I used to run to greet you at the door and fall down the steps every time because I was so excited to see you. You never, ever missed my birthday right up until the year you died. Twenty bucks for twenty-four years.

  Grandpa Sal: You were definitely no pushover, but I remember you taking me to pick daisies and blackberries.

  Grandma Faye: Heaven is a place of harmony. Don’t be stirring up some shit.… Just joking. Please watch over your son, my father, and keep him safe and alive till he’s 101.

  Uncle Sal: You taught me how to fish and as you can tell I still haven’t caught one—hahah.

  Grandmother Kitty.

  Aunt Sally, Aunt A, Aunt Mary!!

  My cousins Susan (rest with angels) and Kathy: Living with you guys will always be a fond memory.

  My Great Aunt Prudy: The real deal Playboy bunny!!

  Dena and Angie.

  Grace Ann Vacarro: My friend on earth and my angel in heaven. I miss you terribly!!!

  Jo Mignano: I thank grace every day for you, you are an incredible friend and one hell of a P.R.

  Nikki Boots: #acbound.

  Andrea: From bowling to Waldbaum’s parking lots to the end of time I love and miss having you in my life. Don’t let your daughter read this!! And give your mother and sister a kiss. xoxo

  Mrs. Murino.

  Suzanne Corso and her mom, Judy: I remember sitting on your bed and you reading me pages from your book before we were nineteen. We did it!!!!!!!!!

  As for the men in my life … though I’ve dated more than the average and less than some, I can honestly say there were only a few good men … and maybe three greats!!!

  You know who you are. Won’t catch me telling … cause that would be snitching and THAT’S NOT THE WAY I GET DOWN.

  And last but so far from least; the BEST AND MOST IMPORTANT IN MY LIFE:

  My son! AJ!!! Mommy loves you more than life. You are my child, my best friend, and my savior on Earth … let alone one of the wisest young men on the planet with the most beautiful heart and soul. Because of you the world is a better place. Your mom did it, buddy!!!! I hope you are proud of me!!!!

  A special thanks to the publishers, editors, and the strong, sexy bold women behind this book. A special nod to my agent, Brandi Bowles of Foundry Media; Barbara Poelle of the Irene Goodman Agency; and my fabulous editor, Kristin Sevick. Also to the unsung heroes: the art department, the copy editors, and proofreaders at Tor/Forge.

  Transitions Recovery Program!! One Day at a Time.

  To the rest of my family and friends: I love you for believing in me!! I love you for loving me. I love you for supporting me and I love you even more for letting me be without judging me.

  CONTENTS

  Title Page

  Copyright Notice

  Dedication and Acknowledgments

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Epilogue

  About the Author

  Copyright

  PROLOGUE

  The pool shimmered Caribbean blue under the moonlight, and the slight spl
ash was the only sound she could hear over the accelerated respiration of her own breathing.

  Reign slid her hands over the shoulders of the man who held her. Their bodies were slick in the water, her legs around his waist, his hands cupping her hips, holding her in just the right position as his lower body moved urgently.…

  “Baby,” he said on a suffocated breath, his breath hot in her ear. “Holy fuck … tell me you’re close. This is too good. I can’t hold on.”

  She was close. Aroused, immersed in sensation, the light slap of the water as they moved together part of the moment. Her arms wound around his neck. Her breasts were tight against his muscular chest, and then the world shattered and went away as her orgasm rose, crested, and spilled over. The tidal wave was all heated sensation and perfect pleasure as she washed away in the flood.

  She floated, literally, into reality, the face of the man still holding her indistinct in the shadowed light, and she smiled and lifted a wet hand to touch his mouth.

  “Hmm. That was…”

  She stopped. What was it?

  “Fantastic,” he supplied. “I think I stopped breathing there for a full minute. Jesus.”

  In truth, she might have said it was very good. Damn good, actually. She was languid in the water in his arms, content, her heart slowing to a more reasonable pace.

  It was unfortunate they were enemies, locked in a struggle he didn’t even recognize.

  That was fine; she preferred to be in control.

  But still, too bad. They might have been great together.

  Chapter

  ONE

  It wasn’t like the dress was really over the top.

  Might just be the body in it.

  Nick Fattelli took a sip from his snifter and negligently set it aside, watching, but he wasn’t the only one. He was pretty sure every man in the room had turned to look.

  The woman who had just come into the room was not even classically beautiful. Long dark hair, yes, he approved of that, and the sultry unusual eyes to set it off. Her skin was flawless, but her features were not perfect. That was fine—he wasn’t looking for perfect. A tilt to the eyes, just a hint, and a shade of a Roman nose, but still she was very striking. The dress didn’t hurt either, cut low enough to showcase her firm breasts and tight enough to accentuate what he thought was a world-class ass.

  He approved 100 percent.

  “Reign.”

  He turned and glanced at the man who had apparently caught him staring. “What?”

  “That’s her first name. Reign.” Joey Carre took a small round cracker topped with pink shrimp and herb-flecked cheese from a tray and somehow managed to pop it into his mouth and still make the movement look sophisticated. He chewed and swallowed before he commented, “Saw you looking. Long stare, about two seconds over the ordinary. Don’t worry, you aren’t the first.”

  Of that, he had no doubt now that he’d seen her. “Okay, guilty as charged.… The story?”

  Carre knew everyone. Maybe it was his connection with the fashion icons in a city where how a person was dressed told you more about them than a background check. Carre was slightly overweight, but the cut of his jacket fooled the eye, and his fair hair was thinning just enough to accent a high forehead and austere features. His eyes were a very pale blue and, rumor had it, missed nothing.

  “She’s connected.”

  Nick believed that. Their circles were fairly tight, this party an example. He glanced around the penthouse, saw the sleek furnishings and the tall shining windows that gave way to a terrace overlooking New York City. The skyline was brilliant through the wall of windows, and the floor was polished marble. Ten million bucks, easy, for this place.… The invitations were not passed out on street corners. “To?”

  “Practically everyone, but not what you are thinking right now.” Joey shook his head and took a sip of champagne. “She’s a pretty face, but it doesn’t stop there.”

  So … intelligent, gorgeous in her own way, and willing to walk into a party like this one wearing a flamboyant green dress with all that ebony hair spilling down her back.… Good presentation. Every other woman had on the classic little black number. She stood out.

  He admired her style. “Fashion?” He acted like it was a guess. He knew where her studio was and had even done a background check on her assistant.

  “And good taste. They don’t always go hand in hand.” Carre looked affable, but Nick actually rarely thought that was his true persona. Carre added succinctly, “She’s good. Just starting really to break in.”

  “Married?” He asked it politely enough, though he already knew the answer. Several offers in her past, but the one “yes” hadn’t worked out.

  He knew pretty much everything about her; they just hadn’t met yet.

  “Married? Absolutely not.” Carre looked noncommittal. “Not in the market either.”

  Good both ways. So was Nick.

  He shot his cuffs. “Introduce me.”

  “You don’t want to play with this one.”

  Nick’s smile was ironic. “I think I get to make that decision on my own, don’t you agree? Since you know her, let me rephrase. Please introduce me.”

  Carre shrugged and shook his head, those pale blue eyes appraising. “Fine. But I’m telling you, she’s not looking. Robert Philliponi has been trying for months. She barely gives him the time of day.”

  “I admire her taste already.”

  He didn’t care for the man. Philliponi’s name had been linked to several hits, and he was under surveillance. Nick kept his distance as much as possible out of a finely honed sense of self-preservation. No harm in being at the same party like this one, because there were a lot of influential people, from socialites to politicians, but he would never want to hang one-on-one. Bad idea. He didn’t need the association.

  Nick followed Carre through the crowd, stopping now and then to greet someone, the room humming with music and dozens of conversations, before they finally reached the corner where his quarry stood talking to an elderly man and another woman. The woman was far too young to be the older man’s wife but had her hand possessively on his well-tailored sleeve. Nick didn’t recognize either one of them.

  “Rupert Hanover,” Carre murmured. “You might want to meet him. Owns several trucking companies, which isn’t the most glamorous way to make over fifty million dollars a year, but obviously the blonde is willing to overlook it.”

  “Wife?”

  “Not yet but give her time. Did you know she used to be married to a state senator?”

  “I didn’t know she existed,” Nick said truthfully. And he still didn’t, really, his gaze fastened on the dark-haired woman in the green dress. She turned when she caught sight of them approaching, and she smiled, presumably for Carre, since she didn’t know Nick.

  Yet.

  Gorgeous green eyes framed by long lashes flashed a glance at him, and then took a long second look.

  He looked right back.

  “Hurry up and introduce me,” he said under his breath, the evening taking on an intriguing promise.

  * * *

  Even though she’d worn the fuck-me dress, Reign really wasn’t in the mood for a party.

  Yes, the glitter of the skyline was gorgeous, the food was no doubt delicious—though she wasn’t all that hungry after her frustrating day—the expensive clothing of the crowd both flamboyant and outrageous, or else extremely tailored, depending on the individual, and usually she liked the sophisticated hum of a gathering like this.… But not tonight.

  Therefore, she had very little patience for the over-effusive—yet unmistakably hostile, she was getting the vibe loud and clear—woman stuck to Mr. Hanover. Reign wanted to just say out loud, Don’t worry about it, sweetheart, he’s all yours, but that would be a little blunt even for her, and she’d learned a long time ago that speaking her mind wasn’t always the best idea.

  So when she saw Joey Carre approaching, she was infinitely grateful. It wasn’t like they act
ually worked together, but they crossed paths often in their business and he was pretty much someone she might consider a friend. “Pretty much” meant that she trusted not that many people, and she didn’t trust him exactly, either, but whether it was naive or not—she didn’t distrust him.

  Crazy, but then life was pretty crazy most of the time.

  The tall man with him was not familiar, and she would have remembered him if she’d seen him before.

  For sure.

  Nice face. Angular but still handsome enough. Good body, if a girl liked them long and lean and athletic looking. Dark hair, and to her surprise, blue eyes—hardly a pale Scandinavian blue, but a dramatic Mediterranean blue that set off his Italian coloring.

  She did her best to not stare.

  Great suit. It was her job, after all, so she always had an eye for style. Hand-tailored to his broad shoulders and perfectly fitted. She wouldn’t have picked that tie, but she learned something new every single day; it worked, actually. A midnight hue to match the unusual color of his eyes, the pattern almost so low-key she didn’t notice, but when he approached, she saw it was a shadowy block down the length of the expensive silk. The play of dark color against his white shirt was stylish and made a statement quite different from the vibrancy of her dress.

  An opinion of him immediately started to form. She normally liked to be noticed; he didn’t want to be noticed at all.

  That was interesting.

  It could be that he was pretty noticeable in the first place. Not just his height and those nice wide shoulders, but he had some pretty delicious hair going on—dark and wavy, cut expertly someplace expensive—his jaw slightly square but not too much, his arched brows over those cobalt eyes, and his slightly diffident air didn’t reflect what she thought was a dangerous edge underneath.

  She knew dangerous men. Her whole life they’d been there. Godfathers, uncles, cousins … her sixth sense was geared toward feeling the difference between people who made the rules and those that broke them. It didn’t mean they were bad guys.… It wasn’t that cut and dried. It was more how it was all handled. There were rules, and there were rules. Not everyone viewed them the same way, and for that matter, not everyone had the same rules in the first place.