Page 55 of The Mastermind
Looking into those blue eyes would remind me of how she’d looked when she came all over my cock. And springing a boner in this tight race suit with the world’s press and several hundred thousand spectators with camera phones thirsting for a scandal would be far from ideal.
But fuck me if she didn’t look incredible.
I slid my own shades on so I could watch her without being seen. Then I gritted my teeth when the VIPs she was obviously entertaining surged closer, temporarily blocking my view. When one guy – some CEO of a Malaysian microchip company – placed a hand on the small of her back, a growl rattled up from my diaphragm.
Brazzo froze, his humidity-reddened face growing hotter. ‘Uh…’
I waved impatiently at him. ‘Keep going, I’m listening.’
He shuffled through his clipboard notes, rattling off wind speed, drag reduction zones, sector times and predicted tyre life as I stared daggers at the meaty hand on my woman’s back.
My woman.
Until I decreed otherwise, Maddelena Mancinelli was mine. Not even the perfectly sound argument she’d made of what would happen if our families found out – and my unhinged reaction to it – would sway me now I’d had her.
No fucker would lay a hand on her while I drew breath. I took a step towards them, just as she shifted, dislodging the hand.
Excellent news for both of them.
As if she’d heard me, her head snapped towards me. Her lips parted. I couldn’t see her eyes but I knew she was looking at me.
Even from the distance I could almost hear her sucking in oxygen. Knew her nipples were hard beneath the thin gold cropped top she’d worn with a fluttery skirt with a high slit that showed off her spectacular legs. Legs I craved around my waist more than I wanted my next breath.Soon. And the next time would be even better since she’d taken the blood test last night and, as expected, the results had come back clean.
A body stepped in front of me, blocking my view of her. Another snarl built in my throat.
‘Here, brother. You look like you need to cool down some more.’ Rafa held out a fresh ice vest. ‘Before all your blood migrates south,’ he added.
My growl died. Brazzo mumbled under his breath and retreated several steps. I snatched the vest from Rafa and tugged it over the perfectly adequate one I had on. I wasn’t going to admit he was right, that my little head was in danger of ruling my big one.
When it became clear he wasn’t going to shift, I sighed, folded my hands beneath my arms and gave him half my attention, keeping the other half beyond his shoulder in case Maddelena crossed my eye line. ‘Anything to report?’
‘As it happens, yes,’ he said.
My focus snapped to him. ‘What?’
He nodded at the concrete-and-chainlink wall that formed the track boundary, and I followed him. ‘You said you asked Nightowl for confirmation that Stan was the link, right?’
‘Yeah. But as much as I’d love to, kicking the shit out of another driver during race season will be frowned upon. But if he’s irrefutably involved…’ I shrugged.
He pulled out the phone I’d given to him for safekeeping and showed me the latest message in response to my asking Nightowlfor further information after my conversation with Maddelena last night.
Any further links between Willow and Mancinellis?
Nightowl’s message was as cryptic as ever.
THE HAMMER IN THE SEA
‘Santo cielo,I’m not in the mood for more puzzles.’
He glanced around again and leaned closer to whisper in my ear. ‘I think this one might be an easier solve. We know The Hammer is the Solynik Clan because they used to be the Molotok Clan, which means hammer. And I’m thinking the sea refers to St Petersburg and the Baltic Sea. Ivanovski is based there, remember?’
I blinked, impressed. ‘Fuck, yes.’ I saw Brazzo and two other engineers hovering nervously. ‘Keep digging. We’ll pick this up after the race.’
He clasped the hand I held out. ‘Stay safe. Kick ass.’
I nodded and thumped him on the back. The moment he stepped away, Brazzo rushed forward and picked up where he’d left off.
I gave in to the urge and scanned the crowd again.
