My Girl

Lorenzo's POV

The suggestion curdled in my gut. "Never," I said, the word edged in frost. "A woman of the Syndicate keeps her mouth for her husband. First kiss happens on the wedding day. Nowhere else."

His mouth pulled wider, slow and pleased, and the snare I'd walked into clicked shut. I'd just armed him with my own rules.

She held her chin level anyway. Blonde hair poured down her back. Blue eyes slid over me and dismissed the space I occupied. Perfect. Born to the name, stiff with it, and one hard shove from the fall.

"Proud. Cold." I dragged one finger down the line of her cheek and onto her throat. "Same as Marco." She jerked her face aside, mouth tight with revulsion.

I laughed once. "That Syndicate shine. I'm going to peel it off you."

"It goes with me into the ground," she said, nose lifted.

I closed the last inch until my chest brushed hers. "Killing you isn't the plan." My gaze moved over the ruined dress. "I can think of better uses."

Fear cut across her face and vanished. I caught it. Death didn't move her. My hands did. The crack was small and useful.

"Never had a man's mouth on yours?" I leaned until our lips nearly met.

She locked her stance. A fine tremor ran through her anyway. Her lips pressed flat and stayed that way.

"This is going to be fun."

"My family and my fiancé will burn Las Vegas down if you touch me."

"Let them come. I'll wash in whatever's left of them." I kept my voice low. "Once I'm finished, I doubt they'll bother. Think your fiancé still wants the leftovers?"

She stepped back. Her eyes flicked past my shoulder. I turned with the look and found Vance. His stare met mine, flat and hard. He'd known her since she was small. Tension sat in his shoulders, but he wouldn't move for her. Cassian and Enzo wouldn't either.

I faced her again. "No one's coming. Quit waiting on it."

Her eyes narrowed. "I choose what I wait on. You run Las Vegas and the men in it. You don't run me, Lorenzo."

No one had ever put my name in their mouth like that. Heat moved low in my gut. "Celeste." The word came dark. "You're wrong. I'll prove it."

"I'll prove you are," she shot back. Control and pride still sat in those blue eyes. I'd already seen the split in the mask. I knew the way in.

"Enjoyable as this is, remember why you're standing here. Marco's mess. You're the payment."

Fear flashed again. I let my eyes travel the torn wedding dress, the blood dried into the fabric.

"Your uncle needs a message." I nodded at Vance. "Basement. I'll be down in a few minutes."

Vance's jaw set. He still moved. His hand closed around her wrist. She went rigid but didn't fight him the way she would have fought me. He hauled her toward the door. No begging. Just one last look of pure disgust thrown over her shoulder. She still thought the pride would hold. I'd show her who ran the Syndicate.

"What are you doing with her?" Cassian asked. He tried for even and missed. Some softness still lived in him.

"What I said. She records something for Marco. Maybe a little more than audio."

"You fucking her on camera, or you marrying her first?" Cassian said.

I glanced at him, then at Vance coming back through the doorway, eyes careful on me. I smiled. "Don't ruin it. We watch the whole thing together when it's done."

I left them and took the stairs. The basement hall was narrow and lit wrong. Vance stepped out of the last door and shut it behind him. He met me halfway and caught my arm. I lifted a brow.

"Her virginity is leverage on Marco and on Damon."

I stared him down. "Noted. I'm the boss. I already ran the numbers. Relax."

"Did you?" he muttered.

I yanked him in close. "Watch it. You sold me out for a woman once. Don't repeat it."

He shook his head. "Fuck. I'm loyal. I went to Indianapolis with you. I took Celeste. I left my father alone when I wanted him dead. I locked her in on your order."

"Good." I stepped back. "She's my prisoner. I decide what happens to her. Clear?"

"Clear." His teeth stayed gritted. "Can I go see my girl?"

"Go. Bruno watches the cell tonight."

"He's a freak, Lorenzo."

"He knows I cut his dick off if he ignores an order. Have your fun. I'll handle mine."