Page 65 of Filthy Little Lies

“Did the guys stay or did they go home? It took forever.” I yawn and close my eyes again.

“They’re still there. They’ll stay with him until he’s able to be moved to his own place.”

I nod like I understand. But I don’t.

Gabriel runs a successful company and sits at the head of a powerful mafia family, yet when one of his men, a man he doesn’t really even know, is shot, he drops everything to get to his side. And the other men are going to stay in that small apartment with him, instead of going to their assuredly more comfortable homes.

“Sometimes, Savvy, people do stay.”

CHAPTER 19

Gabriel

Thunder claps outside, shaking the windows in the hallway leading to Savvy’s private room. When I had her things unpacked into the room, it had been with the intent to give her a place that could keep her occupied and tucked away from me.

I’d wanted space. But I wanted her here. It seemed the right place. But now that I have to trek across the whole damn house to put my eyes on her, it’s turned out to be a mistake. She shouldn’t even have her own space; her space should be my space.

I’m going to have her books moved into my office. She can curl up on my leather couch with her cup of tea while she reads her smutty books. Aliens with eight-inch dicks that squirt rainbow shimmering cum create more questions than answers. I’m saving it for a day when she’s being particularly bratty. It will be the perfect way to fire up a blush on her cheeks.

Then I’ll fuck her until she swears she’ll be my good girl again.

There will be no rainbow shimmering cum smeared across her soft skin, but I will make my mark.

Fuck. I adjust myself as I get to her room.

“If he goes on his own, he’ll get caught.” Her voice carries through the narrow opening of the partially closed door. “I’m not saying you have to do it, Cassie…I get it…I’m just…fine…no…I said fine.”

Days have passed since she met up with Cassie and Tony, but we still haven’t discussed it.

“I won’t. I promise… am I going to see you before you leave?” Another long pause. “Yeah, I can make that. Three o’clock; I’ll be there.”

She lets out a heavy sigh, then mutters, “Shit.”

I wait another beat to be sure she’s off her call, then push the door open the rest of the way.

She’s sitting with her feet tucked under her, a book propped open on her knee, and her phone face down on the cushion next to her. When she notices my arrival, she slides the phone closer to her.

“Hey,” she says, trying to sound casual. But her face says everything. Her cheeks are flushed. She’s obviously been running her hand through her hair, and there are fingernail indents in her palm.

“Hey.” I mimic her tone, picking up her hand and running my thumb over the indentations. “Something’s wrong.”

She tries to pull away, but I hold steady.

“It’s nothing.”

“Does it have to do with the boy you don’t want to talk about?” I let go of her hand.

“It’s not like that.”

“Like what? I haven’t said anything yet. I’m waiting for you to explain.”

She huffs. “I don’t have to explain anything.”

“We’re back to that?” I lean against the mantel, folding my arms over my chest as she slaps her book shut and re-shelves it.

She bows her head, then presses it against the bookshelf.

“Cassie is leaving tomorrow. I’m just…I’ll miss her.”