For Cam (Chicago Syndicate Book 4) (19 page)

We make our way downstairs, and then I’m back in the underground where, just an hour earlier, I swore never to enter again. Yet with Adriano, it’s different.

We stand opposite one another under a hot stream of water in a bathroom adjacent to one of the private rooms near the sex club. Blood washes from Adriano’s face as he massages my body with ocean scented shower gel. There’s a slight tremor in his touch, betraying his lingering rage about what happened, but he’s slowly relaxing. His hands are generous and soothing, cuddling my breasts, my sides, my hips.

After I’m clean, I wash him, tracing his sculpted body with my fingers. It’s what we need to rinse off the mayhem of the night and find security with each other before we start another operation; getting Rosalia back. During all the turmoil that stains our lives, he and I process our adrenaline rushes in the same way: with one another, simply feeling and caressing while steam rises between us.

Once we’ve had enough, he towel dries me and we move back into the carpeted room. Adriano steps into a clean set of black boxers, unmistakably less on edge than he was an hour ago, but something still seems to be plaguing his mind.

Jeans, a purple sweater, a trench coat, and leather ankle boots are splayed on the bed for me to wear. I trace the fabric and see that it’s the correct size. Not knowing how much time we have left to discuss the situation, I start, “So, what’s our plan when we get to Wicker Park?”

Adriano scours his wet hair back with his fingers, and the strands fall perfectly into place. “Cam, I don’t want you to come along.”

Completely shocked, I blurt, “What? Why not?”

“Because I had to watch you get molested a couple of hours ago. This is what I’m most afraid of; that you’ll get hurt.”

I drop the jeans onto the bed and walk up to him, naked. “But I handled myself well, and this concerns my sister.”

“Cam, you stay here,” he states resolutely.

I take a deep breath while going over my options. I don’t need to provoke Adriano, so I reason with him, make him look beyond the fear that’s ruling his current state of mind. “No. Don’t take two steps forward and then three steps back again when a threat looms. That’s not how this works.”

His penetrating manner is troubled while I give him time to process.

“We’ve already been through this, and we were finally making progress. Don’t go back to ordering me around. We have to stand together. Let’s not have the same discussion Luca and Fallon are probably having right now. You and Luca have to trust us to defend ourselves.”

“It’s not just some kind of caveman thing. Not for me, and not for Luca. This is the second time Fallon’s been involved in Syndicate business, and she’s not like you, Cam. She comes from a
softer
background,” he explains, defending Luca’s bossy behavior of earlier.

“But she’s been with Luca for a year and a half now. She’s not that naïve girl who escaped the headquarters with me anymore.”

His eyes widen with that admission before his mouth turns up into a grin. “You do use logic a lot these days, and I hate it when you’re right. It’s just that this entire situation isn’t sitting well with me.”

Relief flits through me. But on the other hand, I’m surprised that he’s caving so easily. However, I can tell that he’s trying his best, and that’s all I want. “And I love it when you admit that I’m right.”

Letting go of that last shred of anger for now, he lifts me up into his arms and sinks onto the burgundy chair that’s facing a floor-length mirror hanging on the wall. As I sit astride Adriano, his hands roam up and down my arching back and his tongue demands entrance into my mouth. His fingers dig into my hips, dragging me back and forth across his now-solid cock, which feels so good. Then he nuzzles my cleavage and sucks my nipples before he shifts me around as if I weigh nothing so that I’m facing the mirror, and he guides my legs over his.

“Remember when we were here the last time, Cam?” His voice is a low rasp that sends tiny shivers of pleasure coursing through me.

This is the room where we first saw each other after nine months apart. When Adriano came to save me. We didn’t even speak those first few minutes we saw one another. No, undeniable yearning burned between us, and we almost had sex right on this chair.

Adriano shoves down his boxers and exposes his arousal, rubbing it between my legs while nipping my neck and massaging my breasts.

“I do...” I pant, jolts of desire streaking up my thighs as his hands massage my breasts, side, and stomach.

Then he bites the soft spot where my neck meets my shoulder as he clutches the curve of my hips and ass, sliding around to my stomach and down to cup me between my legs. He groans against my skin as I tilt my head to give him better access and throw my arm back to grip the hair at his nape.

“I wanted to fuck you so badly that day.” His fingers circle my wetness, and then he pushes one inside, making me gasp. “In that moment, I realized how much I’d actually missed you.”

His eyes, completely black from his dilated pupils, have been studying me in the mirror the entire time.

“I felt it too.” I turn my head to him as he thrusts his finger in while sliding his cock along my core.

Adriano’s tongue traces my jaw and his rough hand catches my breast, the pad of this thumb skimming back and forth across my nipple.

We press into one another deeply, trying to become one.

“If I hadn’t been kidnapped, I might’ve never met you,” I murmur.

“I believe I would’ve found you. I would’ve always found you, my love – eventually.”

Longing quickly changes to uncontrollable passion, as usual. His tongue delves in my mouth while the head of his shaft nudges my entrance. Ever so slowly, he moves inside, fulfilling the fantasy we started right here in this room. Whimpering, I bow my back and Adriano kisses my jaw as he glides inside roughly. Need explodes through me, curling up from my toes through my body like fire, and the world slows as I accept all of him.

“I love watching how you take me inside you.”

There isn’t a second we’re not kissing or groping while he overpoweringly pumps into me, our hot breaths mingling while I’m aflame from his scorching lovemaking. Pleasure rockets through my body while he fucks me.

Adriano grips my hips and rises, bending me forward and guiding my hands to the mirror, and pulls me back into him while rolling his hips.

“Oh, shit. Yes.” I throw my head back as his nails scrape down my back, and he slaps my ass.

“You like that?” He smacks me again, then grabs my hips and crudely tugs me back against his pelvis.

Growling, Adriano shoves me forward and pulls me back with every hard thrust. “Are you coming, Cam?”

“Oh, yes. Don’t stop,” I pant, pushing against him.

Then he pulls out, kneeling down, spreads my ass cheeks, and tongues me. When he cements his mouth over my core, I tremble while mewling as I reach for the sky, and I burst, my breath coming fast when Adriano fits himself inside my body again and comes with a low growl as I’m lethargically drifting down from my high. Our bodies move together slowly as I behold his half-lidded eyes in the mirror.

After releasing a sigh, Adriano guides me back to the chair, and we drop onto the padding as he kisses me deeply.

“While I’d love to stay down here with you, we have to get going,” he utters.

The quietness of our moment is destroyed by reality. Still, I’m grateful about how we can always thrive in our sensuous dreams for a little while, even in the midst of murder and chaos.

“Also,” Adriano admits, “I’m a bit worried about Luca.”

“Why?”

“I’m not sure if he can handle this,” he answers honestly. “And we need Fallon.”

Luca

––––––––

“I
’ll quickly shower first.” Fallon walks ahead of me inside our penthouse.

“No, we’re talking first.” I shrug out of the sleeves of my suit jacket and toss it over the books scattered on the kitchen island.

“We don’t have much time.” She takes off the Cleopatra wig and weaves her fingers through her long mahogany hair.

“Why are you inserting yourself into Syndicate business?” I rest both palms on the black granite kitchen counter.

“I’m not,” she defends and grimaces.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. My back is just a bit sore.”

“You’re hurt from fighting! Why are you so eager to be a part of this?” I repeat.

Cynical wrinkles line her forehead. “Because this was inevitable. Eventually I would’ve become involved somehow.”

“How? I always keep you out of everything. For your protection.”

“But you can’t
always
do so, and I’d rather be in the know, like Cam—”

“So this is about Cam? You think Adriano is always so happy with Cam? They constantly argue about her safety.”

“But at least they communicate and she knows what’s going on in his life,” Fallon replies. “I don’t have that kind of reassurance with you. I never know where you are or what you’re doing, and that worries me.”

“That’s for your protection. The less you know, the safer you’ll be.”

“But excluding me isn’t working because first, I’m best friends with Cam, and although she never discusses Syndicate business with me, I still hear things, and second, people know that I’m your wife, so there’s always the possibility that an outsider will involve me in Syndicate business because of my connection to you, like what happened with Medlov.” She lifts her hand to her brow and pushes against it while expelling a frustrated breath. “Where are you going with these questions? We have to be back in thirty minutes.”

“You’re not going back with me,
dolcezza
. This is not negotiable,” I state to her.

She blinks and blinks. Opens her mouth, closes it. Blinks again. “But we already agreed at the club that I would go.”

“I only said that to get you out of there. You’re not going. I have a truly bad feeling about this.”

“So we just leave Rosalia with Medlov? Are you crazy? If this was about anyone else, I would agree with you, but I’m not going to let you shut me out this time.
I’m
going.”

I swipe a hand down my face in irritation. “
Non mi pressare su questo, Fallon.
” Do not push me on this, Fallon.

“Wade said something is at play here, something big.” She clenches her fists as anger unbridles.

“Exactly, and I’m not placing you in the line of fire. Pack some clothes. I’m getting you away from here for the night.”

Her mouth gapes in sheer disbelief. “What are you doing?”

“Keeping you safe until this is over. I won’t abandon Rosalia, but you will
not
be at the meet. Medlov’s interest in you is too dangerous, and there are too many unknown factors for me to even consider having you participate.”

“But that’s not
your
choice. Adriano’s the boss, and he said that it was okay.” Fallon attempts to stifle me by mentioning Adriano’s rank.

She’s gotten craftier since she’s been hanging out with Cam.

“And...we promised. What’s going on in your mind, Luca?”

“That I don’t want my wife with the Ukrainian boss!” I shout. The thought of it cutting brutally through my chest as I round the kitchen island. 

“I’m not failing Rosalia,” she says, aiming complete bewilderment my way. “How can you expect me to do that? What will Adriano and James do if I don’t show up? They wouldn’t abandon you when you need them most.”

“You’re more important to me than this Syndicate. Jesus Christ! I don’t know how Adriano does this with Cam!”

“By trusting her,” Fallon mumbles.

I snort, arcing a brow. “Cam thinks she can do anything she wants and get away with it, but Adriano just knows how to guide her. In the end – when it counts –
she
does what
he
says. She knows when to stop fighting him. And I need
you
to stop fighting
me
now.”

“If anyone else was in danger, I would agree with you. But this is the only family we have—I have left. I’m not disappearing when Cam and Rosalia need me. They’re always here for me.”

“I’m starting to dislike your friendship with Cam,” I snarl and edge closer.

She bravely tilts her chin up a notch. “That’s not true. You’re just angry. But stop and think about what you’re suggesting. If I leave and anything happens to Rosalia, I’d hate myself and you.”

Clenching my jaw, I trace my fingertips across her bare shoulders. “I’m not changing my mind. If you want to shower, go now,
dolcezza
.”

She stands there, lost in thought for a second. Then her eyes get thinner, but she conforms, traipsing down the hall to our bedroom while I go to the window, watching the spitting rain streaking against the floor-to-ceiling glass.

Rubbing my chin fervently, I try to reach for some sense of calm. But when I think about my solace being used for Syndicate business, all my walls go up. Ultimately, Adriano will understand why. I can’t put Fallon at risk like this. And Fallon doesn’t comprehend the severity of this predicament. I’m positive that the Ukrainians have a master plan, and that this mission is just a disaster waiting to happen. In a flash, a chill runs down my spine, and I wonder if Fallon might disobey me?

With a few determined strides, I’m in the bathroom, but she’s in the shower, vigorously scrubbing her face.

Would she rebel?

I believe that she would because she’s been gradually becoming part of this Syndicate. I’ve recognized her changing behavior the last couple of weeks. Nevertheless, as long as she didn’t become directly involved in a mission like with Cam and Rosalia before, I was fine with it. Until I realized today, in Adriano’s office, that she’s much more aware of the organization’s business than I thought. And she cunningly withheld information until she pinpointed the exact moment that it was necessary to relay Medlov’s message. Fallon’s grown into her role as my wife, and now she’s become increasingly eager for knowledge. She’s seen how we train and educate Cam and how it’s strengthened her, and Fallon wants that too. Her world view has changed; she’s becoming harsher.