Diavolo

xxvi

SILVIO

        The guys teased me about Presley a little more before dropping the conversation. I knew it was a rite of passage because we'd given Octavius shit when he became a sappy son of a bitch with Finley and now apparently, I was the same.

        We chatted about the latest cargo drop, the disturbing increasing amount of police enforcement snooping around and Roberto's disobedience—the man didn't value his life truly.

Not only had he gone against my word of keeping Presley's name out of his fucking mouth but he'd started spreading rumors about my lack of focus.

        Fuck, it was like he was aiming for a death wish.

        I kept him in mind, clearing a day for when I would hunt him down and fucking silence him for good.

        I paused in the middle of my conversation with Octavius, my gaze captured by the perfect view of Presley's ass in the tight gym leggings as she walked through the living room and headed towards the hallway.

        My heart thumped against my rib cage but I fought to keep my expression neutral; I'd already got shit from the boys, I didn't need any more reason like ogling her ass.

        "Real smooth, Sil." Cosimo said with a tinkling little laugh, rubbing a hand over his jaw to keep a smile in.

        My gaze was still focused on her, and the slight bouncing of her thick black curls haloed around her face as she walked. "Hm?"

        "You got a little bit of drool here." Cosimo told me and immediately, I snapped my gaze away from Presley's ass, and lazily slid a green eye over at him.

I knew I wasn't drooling but something in his voice made me instinctively reach towards my face and I was fucking right.

        I shot him a hard glare and he laughed even harder. "Go to your girl, you needy fucker."

        I was already heading towards her before he said anything , pushing off the kitchen counter and trotting after her.

Before she could make it into the bathroom, I pinned a hand around her waist and pressed her body against the wall.

        She let out a quiet shriek, sheer panic clouding those soft brown eyes but when she realized it was me, she relaxed. Trusted me, glanced up from those pretty dark lashes and breathed softly.

        Immediate worry rushed through me and realization dawned on me. I shouldn't have scared her like that especially with that crazy son of a bitch out there stalking her but it almost made me realize the woman couldn't protect herself.

        Wait. That wasn't true. The image of Presley using her black stilettos as a weapon flashed into my mind and I fought the urge to smile.

"Why are you smiling?" She asked.

        "You've been avoiding me, Angel." I drawled, pinning her with a blistering stare. "Guess I know who your favorite is now, hm?"

        She swallowed hardly. "You sound a little jealous, Mr. Rossi."

        "Might be." I brushed a thumb pad over her bottom lip, loving the feel of her skin and her body's reaction to my touch.

        She melted into my body, her palm pressed against my chest and she slipped a hand beneath my shirt. Manicured fingernails raked down my abdominal muscles, scraping skin with each slow drag.