CHAPTER 15.5

C H A P T E R - F I F T E EN

Holy fucking crap!

"Why does this keep getting worse?" I said as I closed my eyes.

I opened my eyes as Falcone said, "Because your sister is a piece of trash." I was ready to tell him that this time, but I didn't have the chance because he continued. "We don't know right now, but we have to presume you're a target, which implies your parents may be targets, which requires protection. You're safe here, therefore you're going to stay put. I'll do everything I can to help them. And I'll do all I can to make up with Finn because I need him as an ally in this situation, and I don't need anything more to deal with, even you giving me lip."

"Are you going to do everything you can for my parents?" " I inquired, and he lowered his gaze, his fingers curling into my neck.

"Look at me, Sweet Pea."

"I'm staring at you," I said, and I was!

"No, seriously, look at me."

I was staring at him intently!

He continued to speak. "Gayle's never been here, and she's never going to be here, and her apartment was blown up in a drive-by, and she requested my opinion, and I'd urge her to go to the cops. Do you see where I'm going with this? ”

"Not really," I said, and his fingers flexed once again, prompting me to remark, "You said you researched and observed me but not others, why?" ”

"Jesus," he whispered, looking over my shoulder.

"Now you're not staring at me," I noticed, and his gaze returned to me.

"I'm OK, sweetie, and I know you enjoy it, and I know you like what I can do to you, but that's not it for you with me, and now I know it never was. And you're you to me. That meant I had to participate."

My heart pounded faster.

“What?" I said quietly.

He persisted. "I did the standard crap, dug into you, and discovered Isabelle was your sister." I discovered you exposed too much skin when you walked out. I discovered that you treat strangers as though they were your greatest friends. I discovered you don't live in the real world; you live in a fantasy world where you don't pay attention to what's going on around you and make dubious life decisions, and I discovered you just provided what you had to offer to me. As a result, it became evident that you need attention. As a result, I did."

"I can take care of myself, Falcone," I half-lied. This was true under normal conditions, but not when I was being fired at.

"Bullshit," he said.

I wasn't going to fight it, not now, not with bullets flying, so I chose another battle.

I reminded him, "You didn't complain about too much flesh the other night."

"That's because your ass was in my ride and on my arm the other night, and your full emphasis was on me."

Hmm. That was an excellent response.

I persisted. "I do not live in a fantasy world."

"Gia, you took one look at me, determined I was the one, I uttered four things to you, and you brought me to your goddamned house and goddamned bed and didn't say word fuckin' one when I kept comin'."

He was correct.

It's time to go home.

"I'm hungry and I need to go to the restroom," I declared.

"Christ, you're a pain in my ass," he said, his fingers flexing on my neck once again.

"All right, then let me use your bathroom and then your phone to call a taxi so I can get to a hotel."

He scowled down at me and flexed his fingers at my neck again, but this time he used them to draw me in and up.

"You complain that I don't listen to you, but you haven't been listening to me." We're going to ride this wave together, with what we've got, what we had the night before, and even, fuck me, what we have right now. Don't imagine for a second that you can give me the delicious taste you gave me yesterday morning and then panic out and sever connections. And while we're at it, you won't be filled with holes, abducted, tortured, or maimed for your fucking sister, not on my watch."

That last part did gave me some comfort and made my belly mushy. Though I didn't say anything, I simply gazed.

He kept my gaze, then exhaled, his hands eased on my neck, and I was only able to move two inches away.

"I'm sending one of my boys to get Imperial, and then you're sending your father, and then I'm sending Magtanggol to come here and talk to you about what occurred at your house today." What exactly do you expect from Imperial? ”

I wasn't going to argue since I was hungry. In any case, Imperial served the greatest Chinese cuisine in Manila. It would be a crime against nature to argue while Imperial is on the table.

"Sesame chicken and hot and sour soup," I said, adding, "with crab cheese wonton."

He looked at me and asked, "Anything else?"

”

“No.”

"Are you sure? ”

"I'm generally too full to try their sweets, so I don't know whether they're excellent, but if you don't have a roll of cookie dough in your fridge, one of the commandos swinging by King Soopers and getting some wouldn't be unwelcome. Sugar cookie or chocolate chip cookie."

"I don't have any cookie dough in my refrigerator."

I was aware of this. I'd checked his fridge the day before and found yogurt, cottage cheese, fresh fruit, slices of smoked salmon, and vegetables. It was a desert in there. He lacked even condiments.

"Babe, it's not a punishable violation not to eat cookie dough," he said after studying my face.

"Perhaps not, but you don't have any condiments."

"Ketchup and cottage cheese don't go along very well."

My mouth curled in disdain as I saw his lips quiver in amusement as his hands at my neck softened completely and one thumb caressed the area beneath my ear.

"How are you?

" He inquired quietly.

“About what? What about you and me? Is my living room a complete mess? Or a conflict with Finn, which, by the way, is not my fault."

"Any of that," he said.

"No," I informed him flatly.

"You need to stop being such a smartass," his lips twitched again.

“Why? ”

He continued as if I hadn't said anything. "While also being so adorable."

"I agree that cute is becoming an issue."

The lip twitch became a smile. "You gave Magtanggol lovely and cute, and you gave Finn smartass and cute," he whispered as his head dropped, "Lucky for me, I'm the only one who has it all."

"Falcone," I whispered when his lips touched mine.

“What? " he inquired.

“I need you to feed me.”

"Right," he muttered, brushing his lips against mine, but as he pulled away, he didn't move very far, and his gaze was fixed on mine.

"Don't try dodging me again, Gia," he cautioned, his tone stern.

"Whether your friend's boyfriend is a cop or not, I'll come get you. You almost died today. That is twice a week. That stuff will come to an end, and it won't be Finn's responsibility. Got me? ”

“I’ll gstop being a smartass if you stop being so bossy.”

"It seems you did not take me seriously."

"I'm completely serious."

"You can't possibly not be a smartass."

"The same goes for you, bossy."

He locked his gaze on mine.

Stalemate.

He then released go, took a half-step back, and fumbled through his baggage for his phone.

"Call your Dad," he said as he gave it to me.

"Bossy," I mumbled as I accepted it.

Falcone exhaled a sigh.

I picked up the phone and dialed my father's number.