“I don’t give a fuck what you are with anyone else. But I’ll give you time, if that’s what you need.”
“Time won’t change anything.”
“Time changeseverything.” He winks at me as I cover the tattoo up. “How much for this?”
I never ask for payment from friends, and although we definitely aren’tfriends, I don’t feel right asking him to pay me.
“It’s on the house.”
“I’ll pay the receptionist, then.” He moves to leave but then stomps back to me, and before I can react, he has my face in his hands and he’s kissing the life out of me. His mouth is soft, but the kiss is confident and hungry, and his tongue sweeps over mine.
He growls deep in his throat before he pulls his lips away, and then he brushes his thumb over my mouth almost reverently.
“I’ll see you soon,” is all he says before he grabs his shirt and walks out of the room.
Before the door closes, my coworker Catnip—yes, that’s his government name, thanks to hippie parents—walks in, looking back at Mateo as he does. Then Catnip looks at me and frowns.
“What did he want?”
“A tattoo.”
Catnip sets his stuff down at his station and crosses his arms over his chest. “Do you know who that is?”
Not as much as I’d like to.
“He’s a client.”
“He’s a Mafia king,” he counters, and I feel my blood go cold and leave my face. “One of the Kings of Vegas. There are four of them. He’s into some crazy shit, Lettie. You’ll want to watch yourself if you’re on his radar. How did he hear about you, anyway?”
“No idea, he called and scheduled the appointment this morning.”
“Take my advice and don’t schedule any more with him.”
He turns to walk away, and I have to swallow down the nerves suddenly making my stomach dance.
Shit.
Seven
MATEO
Ihaven’t touched her in over twenty-four hours, and I’m getting twitchy. I’ve seen her. I followed her after work until I had to go to my meeting with Diego, and when I couldn’t tail her, I had one of my men do the honors, with the threat of death if he showed himself to her or dared to touch her.
She went back to the fight club last night and stayed for several hours.
What the hell is her fascination with my club?
I’d be tailing her again now, but it’s family-dinner night at Rome and Lulu’s penthouse, and I do my best to never miss some of Lulu’s food. She doesn’t just invite us brothers, but she also includes our number twos and any significant others we might want to bring.
So, it’s a full house tonight with Julian and his wife, Natasha, along with myself and Carson. Rome’s second in command is Luke, and his woman, Scarlett, is best friends with Lulu and Natasha.
Diego is here, along with the other seconds, Jack, who works for Julian, and Spider, Carson’s right-hand man.
We’re loud and crazy, and Lulu soaks up every second of it.
“I made lasagna tonight,” she informs us, “along with all of the usual salads and breads and dessert too.”
“I always have to spend an extra two hours in the gym after we have dinner,” Spider says with a smile for Lulu. Spiderneversmiles, unless it’s for one of the girls.