Page 68 of Dangerous Games

What if the hush money isn’t really hush money at all and it’s to sleep with me? Is that how he gets in? Preys on charity cases that he knows are a hook, line, and sinker.

“Fuck off, Delaney.” Gio looks at me over his shoulder. “Don’t believe a word she says, baby. I’ve never paid for a girl, and will never pay for a girl.”

“That’s because you have one who looks like she could be my next muse.” Enzo winks at me.

Before I can blink, Gio has reached over and smacked Enzo on the head. “Knock it the fuck off.”

“You believe me, right?” Gio asks me.

Do I? He hasn’t given me a reason not to trust him yet. He’s proven more than once that he has my back. Nothing says I’m into you like murdering someone for you.

Gio mistakes my silence for doubt as his brow creases and he begins to look frantic. “Delaney! Tell her you’re joking!”

Delaney laughs. “It’s fun to watch you squirm. I am kidding, though. Gio doesn’t pay for girls. I’m happy he found someone. I just didn’t believe it until I saw you with my own two eyes.”

I release a sigh I didn’t know I was holding in as my shoulders slump and my body releases the tension it was holding. I was really hoping it wasn’t true.

I give her a weak smile.

“Jesus, bitch. Way to make an entrance,” Wren cuts in. “Bronwyn, this is my best friend, Delaney. She’s basically my sister and this little princess’s godmother.” Wren tickles Viviana.

“Welcome to the family.” Delaney smiles as she sits next to Wren.

Holy shit, I’m overwhelmed.

I knew this was a bad idea. I wonder if they would notice if I slipped out the front door and went home. There’s so many of them that I doubt it.

“Dinner will be ready in about thirty minutes,” Camilla calls out, interrupting my internal freak-out as Gio hands me a wine glass.

At least I’ll have this to take the edge off.

“I saw the box of wine in your fridge when I stocked it a while ago. This stuff won’t give you the headache that one does,” Gio says low enough so only I can hear. “Come with me. I want to show you something before we eat.”

“Where are we going?” I ask as I follow Gio out of the living room. Matteo’s eyes are on us the entire time.

“Relax, cara. It’s nothing bad.”

I’ll be the judge of that.

Chapter

Twenty

BRONWYN

Itake a huge gulp of my wine as Gio leads me out of the living room and down a hall toward a gorgeous oak staircase. I blindly follow him up the stairs. It feels weird to be roaming his mom’s house without her showing us around, but I guess he probably also thinks of this house as his in a way. Once at the top of the stairs, he continues to lead me down the hall until we reach the last door on the left.

I hold my breath as he turns the handle, unsure of what to expect. With him, I never know if I’m going to find him doing something to a dead body or something sweet for me.

Gio drags me inside the room and shuts the door, locking us in. I look around the room and realize it’s a bedroom. A king-size bed sits in the middle of the far wall, surrounded by the basic bedroom furniture. It doesn’t look lived in though, so this must be a guest room.

“Is everything okay?” I ask as I turn to face Gio.

“Sure. Why wouldn’t it be?” Gio asks as he takes the glass out of my hand and sets it on the dresser as he steps into my space, crowding me until I retreat back on instinct.

“Well, I don’t know. Why did we come up here when your entire family is downstairs?” The back of my knees hit the bed, making me lose my balance and fall back on it.

Gio’s hand lightly strokes under my chin before he pushes, bringing my gaze to his. The heat in his eyes makes my heart pound.