Elect(11)

“You just called me a treasure.” She sighed happily.

“That I did.”

“Chase would say you’ve gone soft.”

“Chase can kiss my ass,” I grumbled. “And I’m not soft. I’m just…”

“Just?”

I kissed her forehead and laughed. “I’m in love.”

“Who is she!” Trace jumped to her feet and yelled. “I demand to know the person who holds your affection.”

“ ‘It is the East! And Juliet is the sun!’ ” I jumped off the table. “ ‘Arise fair sun, and kill the envious moon, who is already sick and pale with grief, that thou her maid are far more fair than she, but not her maid since she is envious: Her vestal livery is but sick and green: And none but fools do wear it. Cast it off!’ ” I stalked toward her and grasped her hands. “ ‘It is my lady, oh, it is my love.’ ” I touched her face and whispered, “ ‘Oh that she knew she were.’ ”

Trace’s eyes fluttered closed as she leaned into my hand. “That was…”—a small smile played at the corner of her mouth—“the sexiest thing I’ve ever experienced.”

I chuckled. “Clearly I’ve been slacking then. You know, all the shooting in my direction and keeping a sworn enemy in hiding.”

“Excuses, excuses.” She opened her eyes and wrapped her arms around my neck. “I promise I won’t tell anyone you have scenes from Romeo and Juliet memorized if you say more of it to me.”

“And if I say no?”

“Then I tell.”

“Pretty sure that’s bribery, perhaps bordering on extortion.”

“I’m an Alfero; what do you expect?”

“Everything.” I took her lower lip tenderly between my teeth. “From you—I want everything.”

* * *

I hated how easy it was with Trace. When we were alone it was almost like we were actually alone and we could do whatever we wanted. In a perfect world things would be different; it just sucked that our world was as far from perfect as a person could get.

I jumped out of the SUV and opened Trace’s door. It was getting late and I still needed the final confirmation that we were going to meet that evening with the Nicolosi family.

Trace and I walked into my house and found Mo drinking a glass of wine and reading a book.

“I’m gonna go shower.” Trace got up on her tiptoes and kissed me on the cheek, then took off down the hall just as my cell went off.

Tonight. 7:00

After my afternoon with Trace, I knew she was more of a sitting duck than I’d care to admit. But I needed the guys with me for this meeting. I ran my hands through my hair and sighed.

Mo looked up from her book, her face pinched with worry. “What is it?”

“I have to steal Chase for the evening, okay?” I shoved my hands in my pockets and tried to look as if I was discussing the weather or a football game, when really I was stressed beyond belief.

Mo frowned. “And Tex? Is he going with you guys?”

“Probably.” I shrugged. “No big deal, just business. Make sure you lock the doors, put on the alarms. I’ll make sure Uncle Tony knows you guys are alone and have him send over some men.”

“Great.” Mo huffed and pulled her shoulders back tighter against her body. “More assassins. Sign me up.”

“Sorry. You know the rules.”

“I hate the damn rules.”

“The rules—”

“Keep us safe,” Mo finished. “I know. I just wish we could walk around like normal people without the fear of getting shot at. If Trace had any idea how bad it really was—”

“She won’t find out.” I felt my control snapping as I glared at my twin. “Right? Because I’m sure as hell not telling her.”

“Nixon…” Mo swore. “Sometimes I really hate you.”

Sometimes I hated me, too. Mo crossed her arms and scowled at the ground.

I cursed and rubbed my face with my hands. I didn’t want to have to deal with family drama. Mo could act like a spoiled mafia princess on her own watch. “Get in line. Now, do what I say.”

“Yes sir.” She saluted me with her middle finger.

Cracking a smile, I patted her on the shoulder. “Love you, too.”





Chapter Six


Chase


The only positive thing about the entire day going to hell—business was booming. Or so my dad said when I went home to get fresh clothes before I met up with Nixon.

“How is the girl?” Anthony asked. I never referred to him as “Father”—he’d never given me the impression that it was something I was allowed to do. And I wasn’t about to disrespect him.