Surprisingly, she smiles as she closes her fingers around it. “I promise,” she says, slipping it into her bra. “Though I can’t see needing it. They’d be fools to attack here.”
I kiss her again, long and hard. “I hope you’re right.”
With a deep breath, I hold out my elbow and revel in the feel of her fingers tightening around my arm, as if it’s the last fucking time it’ll ever happen. Deep inside, I know it’s not. I know this isn’t a set-up. I know Bianca Doyle is sincere, but that doesn’t make it any easier to leave Piper with someone I barely know.
Piper snickers, tilting her head to the woman who’s pushing her husband away forcefully. “Bianca’s a little scary.”
I chuckle darkly—goddamn psychos. “I thought she was going to kill him over that fucking milk.”
“Yeah, that was great,” Piper replies, smiling widely.
“Don’t get any fucking ideas,” I warn, leaning my lips close to her ear.
Chills race down her arm. “I wouldn’t dream of it,” she says, peering at me from beneath her long lashes. “I prefer a different brand of torture.”
My goddamn cock twitches, and I concede with a tilt of my head. “Point made.”
By the time we approach Aiden and Bianca, they’re no longer bickering. “About fucking time,” Aiden says, smirking. “So what’s the fucking verdict?”
“I’ll be staying with Bianca,” Piper says, smiling triumphantly.
“And I’ll try not to worry during the meeting,” I add, my eyes falling to Bianca. “I’m sorry if I offended you with my reluctance. It’s just Piper’s the most important thing to me, and if something were to happen to her …” I trail off, erasing those thoughts from my mind.
“Capisco,” she says, telling me she understands. “I’m used to overbearing cocksuckers. I married one.”
Piper laughs softly, and I tilt my head with a smirk. “Touché.”
“No Italian,” Aiden says, pointing at her. “Now, let’s book and show these muppets you got moxie.” Like I said—goddamn jibber-jabbering psycho.
“Try not to go all Killa on motherfuckers,” Bianca tells him, leaning in and giving him a very inappropriate kiss.
“I’m going to be killing something else when I get back,” he whispers, winking at her.
“Promises, promises,” she says, giggling, which sounds foreign coming from her.
“After this is over, remind me never to come back to fucking Boston,” I tell Piper as I lean down to kiss her like it’s the last time I’ll ever see her.
“Let’s go, Simone!” Aiden yells, interrupting my moment.
“Jesus,” I whisper as I pull my lips away, just slightly. “I love you, Piper.”
“Love you.”
I kiss her hard and fast before snatching myself away and turning to join Aiden. Once we exit the condo, we stop by our apartment to collect Carlos, Lorenzo, and the three soldiers. I leave two of them stationed outside Aiden’s door.
“If anybody gets inside this door and you’re not dead, you fucking will be,” I bark, jabbing a finger at the men. “Got me?”
“Yes, Boss,” they reply in unison.
“If someone gets in that door, they’ll be dead within minutes. My fucking wife is deadly, Simone. Now stop fucking worrying,” Aiden says, shaking his head.
I give the closed door one last longing glance before we make our way to the elevator. Aiden gives his guards the same basic orders, except he uses those fucked up words again. Johnathon joins the five of us as we enter the elevator, and we ride twenty floors down with hardly a word said between us.
The shift from men in love to Bosses is evident as the doors open and we step into the hall full of confidence and attitude. I button my suit jacket and dust invisible lint from my shoulder, standing tall and glancing around with narrowed eyes.
Aiden motions to two goons who’re awaiting his arrival. “These are the Outfit men,” he says, pointing to Carlos and the soldier. “They’re with us. If they move, you fucking move.” He turns his glare from his men to mine. “Same for you motherfuckers.”
Carlos glances at me and at my nod, he says, “We got your back.”
As a unit, the eight of us make our way down the hall with Aiden’s two men taking the lead and my two taking the fucking rear. We take a right at the end of the hall and pause as one of Aiden’s soldiers pushes open a set of double doors to reveal an empty room, aside from four other goons standing there, with another set of double doors on the far wall.
The terms of this meeting have been ironed out prior to now, and this is the format we all agreed upon. Only four men from each syndicate are allowed. The Boss and his chosen higher-up will take part in the meeting, and he’s allowed to have two guards stationed in this room. If any-fucking-body from any syndicate shows up uninvited, his life is automatically forfeit, as the other guards will take him out.
Once our men have taken their positions, Aiden and Johnathon lead Lorenzo and me to the next set of double doors. After a slight pause, he pushes them open and we step into the meeting room. Four men turn in their seats as we approach the large round table with a sleek tinted-glass surface and shiny metal legs.
“Nice digs,” I say sarcastically, smirking at Aiden.
“Beggars can't be choosers, you old fuck,” he replies in that smartass tone to which I'm strangely becoming accustomed. “Don't forget. You're the one who wanted this fucking meeting, and this dump serves that purpose.”
“Then sit the fuck down and let me conduct it,” I say, lifting a pointed brow.
Aiden laughs as he and Johnathon take their seats, prompting Lorenzo to do the same. I remain standing and make
