Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 58794 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 294(@200wpm)___ 235(@250wpm)___ 196(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 58794 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 294(@200wpm)___ 235(@250wpm)___ 196(@300wpm)
“We need to talk,” I told him.
He lifted an eyebrow. “Can this wait?”
I shook my head. “No, it can’t.”
Luca slid his arm behind Alex’s back and pulled her into his arms, planting a kiss on her lips. “I won’t be long, baby. You better be naked when I come back.”
Alex giggled and kissed him again.
I hated how much I wanted that with someone. The only girl I’d ever had feelings for, apart from Alex, was a fucking nightmare. Rhi seemed to bring drama with her wherever she went. Even after five years, she still attracted assholes. It was clear someone wanted to hurt her, and I wanted to find out who.
Luca walked beside me down the main hallway, staring at our mother’s paintings that graced the walls.
“Rhiannon O’Shea is back.”
He glared at me out of the corner of his eye. “You better have her under control, Marcello.”
“I do,” I lied.
I could never fully tame Rhi, no matter how much I tried. “That’s not what I need to tell you. She saw me with Aiden.”
He grabbed my shoulder and slammed me into the wall. “Are you fucking kidding me? How could the two of you be so stupid?”
I knocked his hand off my shoulder. “We were careful.”
“Not careful enough, Marcello.”
“I heard a woman scream and ran to help her. I didn’t know it was Rhi.”
He stepped back, a hand shoved through his short black hair. “That girl is nothing but trouble. I warned you years ago to stay away from her. Dad was clear about the consequences of seeing her. If she tells anyone that she saw you with Aiden, we’re all fucked. Alex will run if she finds out we kept her twin from her. And she’ll hate you even more if she knows you’re hanging out with him while she’s grieving his loss.”
“It wasn’t my idea to keep her brother from her.”
Mouth twisted in anger, he pointed a finger at me. “Fix this, Marcello. I don’t care how you do it, but you better put the fear of God in your whore.”
“Rhi isn’t my whore.”
He snickered. “She’ll fuck any man who speaks to her. Don’t let her fool you, brother.”
“You don’t know her. So don’t act as you do. This is my business. I was only telling you to give you a heads up.”
“Deal with the girl,” he said before he turned his back on me. “I have to fuck my woman. Don’t bother me again until you’ve taken care of the problem.”
Chapter Sixteen
Rhiannon
I could always clear my head by sketching new tattoo designs. My fingers moved across the page, tracing the outline of a butterfly. It wasn’t my favorite design, but one that was often requested. I sat on the bench in front of the bay window, making soft but intentional strokes. The Ink Yard was dead in the middle of the workday, when we had the least amount of appointments. This weekend would be busy, so I got to work, focused on the task.
Mickey cleared his throat and scanned the waiting room, looking for his next client. “Didn’t take you long to go back to your old routine,” he commented as he stepped toward me.
“I like to people-watch while I sketch.” I pointed the charcoal pencil in my hand out the window. People passed the storefront on their way down Main Street.
Dressed in black jeans and band tee, Mickey ran a hand through his hair, his eyes on me. “I could use your help with a client who’s coming in at the end of the week. He wants a scene from Star Trek on his calf.”
I shoved the pencil into the book’s fold and closed it. “I’ve never watched the show. Not sure if I would be much help.”
Mickey moved behind the front desk and sat in the chair usually occupied by his girlfriend/secretary. Today was Veronica’s day off, and since my schedule was wide open, I answered phones and handled walk-in customers.
“Come over and look.” He clicked a few buttons on the mouse, his eyes on the computer monitor. “You’re better with landscapes than me.”
I dropped my sketchpad on the bench, walked over to the desk, and stood beside Mickey.
He peeked up at me. “What do you think?”
I studied the image on the computer screen and nodded. It was a scene set in space with a strange-looking ship and three men standing on top of what looked like a pile of rubble. “I can do it. Not a problem.”
“Thanks, Rhi. Glad to have you back.”
I flashed a smile. “Happy to be back.”
“Are you going to tell me what kept you away from Beacon Bay for so long?”
I considered his question for a moment.
Before I could respond, the bell over the front door rang. I let out a relieved breath, desperate for a new client, until I saw Marcello standing in the entrance. He stared at me like he wanted to devour me. And I wished he would because he looked so damn sexy in a black suit and red silk tie. His wavy black hair flopped onto his forehead, and he pushed it away with a dangerous look in his blue eyes.