Page 29 of Vicious Secrets
“Between you here in Vegas and Alic Masini in Denver, the Bratva leeches on Fedeltà territory are on the brink of starvation. They’ll die off or sneak through the cracks formed by the other Cosa Nostra factions. Those idiots are still committed to fighting amongst themselves.”
My lungs freeze mid-inhale. Is that a compliment?
“I’m retiring at the end of the year. I set up an all-hands meeting for November 13th. The Underbosses don’t know it’s an oath ceremony. Let’s keep it that way.”
“Next month?” I force my lungs to function.
He nods once. “Prepare for the worst, Siro. And not just bloodshed.”
Chapter 10
Robyn
Sirostartsspendingmoretime at the penthouse. He joins me for almost every meal I eat at home and sits in silence unless I strike up a conversation. I can’t tell if this is an attempt to prove he’s not a complete monster or if he’s genuinely trying to form a connection with me.
He always returns to work after eating, coming home most weeknights before midnight, following a routine of showering before collapsing into bed next to me and leaving around ten the next morning. Occasionally I awake to a hand resting on my back or upper arm.
The first night it happened, I rolled over to talk to him to find him drooling on his pillow. A part of me wished it were a conscious act to reduce his sensitivity. Although, I’d like to think he would ask first, and I have been giving off “no touching” vibes ever since I found out I’m nothing but a debt.
“Do you ever get days off?” I ask on a Thursday night after Siro comes to bed. I’ve counted thirty straight days of him working.
He pauses with his legs half under the covers like my question broke something in his brain. “Yes. It’s… messy right now.”
“Messy,” I echo and watch him lie back like his joints are rusty metal hinges. “Are you sore?”
He grunts. “Took a few boots to the ribs.”
It dawns on me this is the first time I’ve seen him wear a shirt to bed. I sit up as he reaches over to turn off the light. His hand pauses, hovering over the switch.
“Do you really want to see?” he asks without looking in my direction. Exhaustion droops his eyelids further and further with each blink at the ceiling.
That is why I sat up, but what good does a look do? An exam isn’t going to do much. The chances of talking him into going to the doctor before morning are slim.
“If the pain gets worse, I can take a look,” I say as I sink back.
“You’re not responsible for me, Robyn.”
The lights die with a click.
“I got checked out. It’s why I got home late. Nothing’s broken. Just bruised.”
I smile softly in his direction just in time for him to release a sharp exhale as he adjusts himself.
“That doesn’t mean you can’t take advantage of the nurse at your disposal.”
Siro curses under his breath. “You’re not at my disposal.”
“Oh yeah? Is it the other way around?” I chuckle and roll on my side to face him.
Siro’s close enough that his face is clear through the darkness. My heart leaps into my throat. He somehow moved himself across the bed to my pillow without me noticing.
His next exhale shakes. The puffs of his shaky breaths skirt over my exposed shoulder.
“Hurt yourself trying to scare me, huh?”
“I don’t know what the fuck I’m doing. These pain drugs are questionable,” he mumbles into the pillow. “And fuck, yes, that creep-crawl hurt.” He spits out another string of curses.
I roll onto my back and fall asleep. When I wake, Siro’s in the same spot and has his hand on my thigh over the covers. He wakes after I get out of bed and stares at his hand for a moment before snapping his arm to his side.
