Page 68 of Unchained

“Are you suggesting we burn this place down, Gianna?”

She nods, and I press my nose against hers. “Then we best go find some gasoline,” I mutter against her lips.

“You pour, I’ll light it,” she whispers.

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

Gianna

Song- Bad Habit, The Kooks

When I told Colten that I had a plan. I meant a very rough plan. Turns out, Greek restaurants stay open a lot later than I thought. So now we’re sitting on crates of booze in a dingy cellar waiting for close time.

“Well, we got enough booze down here to set the street alight,” Colt jokes.

Sweat is dripping down my forehead. “Yeah, they could have air-conditioned this dungeon for us.”

He leans over and squeezes my thigh. “Want me to find you some water? There’s gotta be some down here.”

I shake my head, trying to ignore the way his touch is setting my skin on fire. “I’m good.”

This is probably still better than my father’s underground prisons. The tunnels under LA have interrogation rooms and prison cells. I’ve spent some time down there, earning my right to be a Milano.

“We could find the vodka, though?” I suggest, wiggling my eyebrows.

“I’m off booze today after being drugged.”

I giggle in response. “Vodka for me then.”

Distant voices carrying down the hallway make me snap my mouth shut. Colt snatches my hand and drags me up on my feet, leading me behind the wooden crates in the corner. We duck behind them, crouching down until my thighs burn.

Squatting in heels is not for the weak.

I peer between the crates as two men appear, talking in Greek. One grabs a box of apple juice, the other grabs two bottles of vodka. The cheap stuff. And then they disappear.

“Would you rather fuck a man, or only ever get blow jobs from women who bite when they suck dick?” I ask.

“Fuck a guy,” he says without hesitating.

That does nothing to help the fantasies that float around in my brain when I’m bored.

“Would you rather give up cigarettes or never have sex with me again?” he asks.

I turn to face him, keeping my expression neutral. “Do you honestly believe you could ever come between me and my cigarettes?”

He hisses in a breath, holding his hand over his heart. “You really know how to hurt a man, Gianna.”

“Speaking of,” I pause, digging around in my purse, pulling out a fresh packet. “Would you care to share one with me? That I can offer.”

He plucks the pack from my hand, rips it open, and slides one out, digging around in his pocket for a lighter.

“So, this is what you prefer over sex with me, hmm?” he teases, holding the cigarette up to his face, like it’s his mortal enemy.

I bite back a grin. “Cigarettes don’t insult me.”

He pops it into his mouth and lights it. I lied. I’d give them up if it meant Colten would keep me distracted enough to not worry about nicotine.

He sucks in a drag and blows it right into my face.