Page 57 of Dangerous Games

“Yeah,” I whisper.

“Good,” Gio responds just as softly. “Be back.”

“Kay.” My eyes slowly close as he leaves the bed.

For the first time in what feels like forever, my mind has finally stopped running a million miles a minute. I’m sated, and the exhaustion has hit full force. Who knew the person who was giving me a headache could also be the one to take it away?

I hope he’s staying. All I want to do now is curl up with him and pass out.

“You sleeping?” Gio asks as I moan softly in response, not opening my eyes. I feel the bed dip as he settles in beside me. “I need you to eat something before you go to sleep for the night. I know you don’t eat while you’re at work.”

I open one eye and study him. “How do you know that?”

“Good guess.” The corner of his lip tips up as he shoves a paper plate my way. “Here. I brought the pizza I owe you.”

Sliding up into a sitting position so my back is against my headboard, I take the plate from him. “Thank you.”

It looks delicious. The cheese is a perfect golden brown and all the toppings are dispersed evenly. Nothing annoys me more than when you get a pizza and all of your toppings are in one bite because then you’re left with a slice of cheese pizza.

“How did you know I like pepperoni, mushroom, and onion?” I ask. It just dawned on me that he never asked what I wanted on my pizza.

He’s a man who takes control in every aspect of life, and I hate to say I like it. He gives me the peace of not having to worry or think about even the smallest things, like what I want on my pizza. He takes the reins while also making me feel like I’m still in control of my life.

“Because it’s my favorite.” Gio winks before taking a bite of his slice.

Another thing in common.

I study him for a moment, taking him in. His beard is slightly overgrown from how he usually keeps it, but he looks relaxed. Not so poised and controlled. When I first met Gio, he looked like he was one more stupid comment away from killing someone. But now? Now he looks free. He looks alive. I hope it’s a look only I bring out of him and that I get to see.

Maybe he is right that we’re made for each other because in our own way, I think we might just set each other free.

I join him, taking a bite out of the slice he brought me. “Holy shit,” I exclaim in between bites. “This is so good.”

“The pizzeria isn’t just a front. I know how to make a pie.”

My eyes widen as I chew. “A front?”

A front for what?

Holy shit. What am I living above? If the police come and raid the place, am I going to be taken into custody as an accessory because I live upstairs? It wouldn’t be a stretch to assume I hear what goes on.

Oh my god.

I’m not cut out for prison. I would be someone’s bitch so fast. Look how easily I give into my dad who has treated me like shit my entire life.

“Cara,” Gio cuts in, bringing me out of my head. “Stop thinking about it. I was joking.”

Yeah, right.

“Why do I get the feeling that you’re lying now?”

“I’m not lying. It’s not just a front, but that’s all you need to know. The less you know, the better, yeah?”

I guess that makes sense. If he doesn’t tell me anything, I wouldn’t have to lie if I ever got questioned because technically I don’t know anything.

“Okay,” I eventually agree.

“Okay,” Gio repeats, his attention on me as he shoves the last bite of his pizza into his mouth. His carefree expression slowly morphs into one that looks like annoyance. “Do you need to tell your friend you won’t be back online?”