•KINLEY•Billie had moved into the cottage a few days prior, and the two of us were in the mansion, in the room where we were doing the nursery.Gianni had agreed to have one nursery in the main house, and one for Billie in the cottage.The room had been painted a light green with brightly coloured alphabets and animals painted along the walls.Between the two of us we had just rolled out the fluffy mat on top of the carpet."It all seems so much more real now that we're doing the nursery." Billie said."Yeah. Time goes by really quickly, before you know it the baby will be here."She nodded, "I'm so excited.""Hello, ladies. Having fun?" Talon asked as he walked in.I didn't notice the way Billie's body language changed from calm to tensed at his arrival."We're doing okay." I answered, Billie was busying herself with folding and packing baby clothes into the chest of drawers.Talon looked around the room, "It's pretty. Has Gianni even bothered to have a look at it?"Billie shrugged
•KINLEY•I was feeling oddly needy tonight. Gianni was beside me in the VIP lounge of yet another club, speaking to large men in suits about all sorts of things that I would rather not have heard about.I was extremely bored and craving attention. Gianni kept a firm hand on my thigh, but the girls who had come in with the other men seemed to be having a great time. They were drinking and laughing together while they danced.And here I was, glued to Gianni's side. I finished my drink and leaned into Gianni, "I'm going to get another drink." He frowned at me, but I got up and walked out, knowing it would annoy him. I went over to the bar and ordered myself another drinking, turning to watch the rest of the club dancing to the music.A firm hand clamped down on my wrist and I turned into the face of Agent King."Get your hand off of me. Or so help me, I will make sure every mafia member in this club knows who you are."He smirked but let go of my wrist, "We need to talk, Kinley. I want
•TALON•I waited, watching until Kinley left the hospital before I went into Billie's room."What are you doing here?""Checking on you and that Esposito spawn. I see you are making progress with Kinley."She looked away, "Talon, I almost lost my child. I don't know if I want to do this anymore. Kinley is a good person, she's been nothing but nice to me. I don't want to screw her over.""But you will be doing her a favour," I could feel the anger building up in me, "You know Gianni will ruin her.""Talon! We are the ones ruining her. Leave her alone and just admit defeat. I don't want to lose her friendship over this.""What about Gianni? You love him. He should be with you, not her.""He should be with whoever he wants to be with. Yes, I want to be with him and seeing them together kills me more and more each time, but Kinley doesn't deserve to get hurt because of my selfishness. You claim to care about her, but you're okay with hurting her. How is that even possible? You don't hurt
•KINLEY•Gianni was busy in his study with a meeting, the last before our week long trip to Italy, while I packed a few things for the trip. Billie sat beside the suitcase on the bed, chewing at her thumbnail. "Please stop worrying about me, I'm going to be fine. You go and enjoy yourself."I had voiced my concerns over leaving her alone a few times. Although Gianni had assured me that Luca would be back in time to watch over her, and this did ease my mind a bit, I was still concerned for obvious reasons."I know," I paused, "Billie, can I ask you a question?""Yes." Although she said yes, I could tell she was a bit hesitant."Has Talon done anything to you? I noticed you are a bit hostile when he is around."She sighed, "No. He's just a bit obsessed with you. And I find it weird. I thought he genuinely cared about you, but now I think it's a dangerous obsession he has."Her words worried me more than I cared to admit, "Do you think I n
•KINLEY•I was just waking up when I heard Gianni walking into the cabin area of the yacht."Morning, baby.""Morning." I responded groggily."We're almost in Italy."I smiled while hugging onto the pillow, "It's pretty, but this time I want to see different places. Not just the few you showed me last time.""Last time you had a broken foot. And you hated me."I laughed, "I didn't hate you. Gia. I would never be able to hate you.""You're a terrible liar."I sat up and he eyed me as I got to my feet. Not that I could blame him, after all, I was in nothing but his shirt.He pulled me against him and I shrank away."Ew, let me brush my teeth. Morning breath is so not sexy."He laughed but kept me against him, "Kinley, we are getting married. I'm going to wake up next to you for the rest of our lives." "That does not mean you should have to deal with my morning breath."He laughed and despite my protests, kissed me, "You do not have morning breath, and even if you did, I still wouldn't
•KINLEY•Walking back into the mansion after a week in Italy felt strange. Especially since I was now married to him.I had done a great job of avoiding all messages and phone calls while we were away, but today I would have no option but to face everyone.I knew Talon was going to be the worst, or so I had thought.When we walked in I was met with an older Italian woman sitting in the living room. Her make up was perfectly done and her gold jewelery stood out against her high necked emerald dress. Gianni's body language immediately became guarded."Tia Lola, what brings you here?"She pursed her lips and looked at me, "Is what I read in the papers true?""Yes. This is my wife, Kinley. Kinley, my loving aunt Lola." I didn't miss the sarcasm dripping off his voice. I wondered why he had previously told me that Giovanni was his only family.She pinched at the bridge of her nose, "How long have the two of you known each other?""That doesn't really matter. What is the nature of this vi
I walked into the bar, my eyes scanning the area around me.I had called King and asked to meet him, this place was his idea.I couldn't see why though, it gave off an unsafe vibe.I spotted King sitting at a booth in the back and made my way over to him"Took you long enough." He remarked as I took a seat."Well, it isn't my fault you chose a place so far out.""I couldn't risk you being followed. Drink?"I shook my head. "So, what is this about?""I've changed my mind. I want to take you up on your offer.""Why now? You were completely against it, so why the sudden change?"I exhaled loudly, "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. Let's just say, I have a score to settle." I wasn't lying, I did have a score to settle, but it was with Talon and not Gianni.But what King didn't know, well, that was his problem and not mine.He nodded with a thoughtful expression on his face, "I suppose that makes sense. I knew this playing house wouldn't last very long. But I'm going to need you to b
•GIANNI•I sat at my desk, my mind running over what Talon had said to me earlier.On the one side, I knew Kinley would never betray me in such a way. But on the other, my insecurities were getting the best of me.From the moment I had wanted her to be mine I had wondered if it would really work out between us.Could someone as pure and loving as Kinley really be happy with a monster like me?It was like pairing an angel together with a demon. I leaned back in my chair, trying to decipher what I should do.End Talon seemed like the most plausible thing to do.But he had always had my back, and I was big on loyalty. He had been a friend to me when no one else had wanted to.It hurt me to think of killing him.But if he was coming between Kinley and me, I would have no choice but to get him out of the picture.I shook my head, no, what if she really did want to be with him rather than me? It wouldn't be fair of me to selfishly take him away from her and force her to be with me.I chu