Demand (Careless Whispers #2)(74)

I cut him a curious look. “How do you know it was Gallo?”

“Because he’s the only person I know of who has a motivation to scare you, and is stupid enough to hire the kind of idiots who thought this would go well.” He scrubs his neck. “I’m going to have to do something with him.”

“Like what?”

“Create a scandal that forces him to leave his job and the city.”

“That’s horrible.”

“I’m just trying to shut him down before he ends up dead.”

“That does seem like where this is headed. On another note, your men got to us fast. So maybe having Giada stay close is a good idea.”

Kayden stops walking, his hands settling on my shoulders. “Our date night started with a mafia king, and just ended with us being jumped—not to mention that I’ve just told you I’m going to pretty much ruin a good man.”

“And I’m pretty sure the creep who jumped me watched me have an orgasm in the club.”

“And all you have to say is that staying here is good for Giada?”

“What do you expect me to say?”

“Most women would be freaked out, Ella.”

“I’m actually not at all. I had a great day with you. We just found out I know how to fight, which I think is a great asset. I got a very special tattoo, and so did you. I’m warm with booze and I had an orgasm with the promise of another. Plus we won whatever that was back there, so I’m not going to be crying anytime soon.”

He stares at me for several beats, then kisses me. “You’re the badass, and I find new reasons to fall in love with you every day.” He wraps his arm around my shoulder and turns us forward. “Let’s go home.”

I smile at his words, feeling pretty untouchable. And considering where I was last night, that says a lot. It’s like there is a storm raging around us, but together, Kayden and I have found our little sliver of peace.





twenty-one




I blink awake the next morning with a smile on my face and a memory of dancing with my mother. It’s like a ball of light in my mind and heart, and it feels like I’ve faced my demons and now I can see everything else. Eager to share this with Kayden, I roll over and my hand hits a note.

I worked out and showered, and you were still passed out. I’ll either be in the kitchen or my office. And since we need to deal with Giada today, there will be more tequila.

Laughing, I head to the shower, then dress in light-colored jeans and a supersoft light blue sweater. Tending to my tattoo is another smile-worthy moment, and I’m eager for tomorrow, when I can remove the bandage. I walk into the bedroom and grab my phone and journal. Maybe reading my old notes will dislodge the remaining cobwebs in my head and finally reveal the location of the necklace.

Heading to the door, I open it and find Kayden standing there, his big, muscular body filling the door frame, his hair a bit mussed. He’s also wearing his black-and-gray biker jacket.

“You’re leaving.”

“Not by choice,” he says, dragging me to him for a long, drugging kiss. “Definitely not by choice.”

“I thought we were doing the Giada thing today?”

“I’m going to meet you two. I made reservations at a new firing range by the Spanish Steps. A car will meet you at three, and since it’s later than planned, we’ll have an early dinner afterward.”

“That’s fine with me, and I’m sure it will be with Giada, but is everything okay?”

“Niccolo called and told me the situation with Donati was ‘contained,’ whatever that means. And surprise, surprise, Donati called and wants to meet with me. This time, I agreed.”

My brows dip. “That’s weird.”

“It’s questionable timing, but I’m guessing he now wants help dealing with Niccolo.”

“He seemed more concerned about you than about Niccolo when I talked to him.”

“Niccolo has a way of shifting the dynamics in his direction.”

“And he won’t tell you what’s up, I guess.”

“Not a chance in hell. But on a positive note, Carlo got proof that Gallo hired the men who attacked us last night.”

“Are you going to get him fired?”

“I’m going to give him thirty days to leave town first.”

“That is more than most people would do.”

“It’s more than I would have done a month ago.” He pulls me to him and kisses me. “Just remember. You’ve made me a better man.” With that very odd statement, he releases me and starts walking. I follow his path. I decide we’ve come way too far for me to read into that, and rather than chasing it in circles, I’ll just ask him about it later.

I head on to the kitchen, and find a pot of coffee already made. Filling a cup, I doctor it my way and sit at the table. After texting Giada and setting up our afternoon, I’m left with hours to read and write in my journal. I start flipping through it, reading my underlined notes and looking at one butterfly drawing after another, until I freeze. A page is torn, a portion of it missing.

I stand up. How could a page get torn? I flip several more pages and find another that’s torn. I don’t remember what was written there. Who the hell took those pages because I didn’t black out and take them myself. No way. I did not. Someone took them. I sit down again and start making a list of all the people who might have been near my journal.