“Hold on. I have to prove a point.”
I open my mouth to ask,What?But there’s no time to get the word out.
His grip tightens around me and his lips collide with mine. When Cannon’s tongue steals inside, I’m too shocked to do anything but hang on as he plunders my mouth, tasting of wine and all things forbidden.
One of his hands drags my hips closer to him, and the bulge of his erection presses against my belly.
Sweet Jesus. That can’t be real.
I lose myself in the kiss, not caring that my fingernails are digging into the shoulders of his suit jacket, or that we’re definitely causing a scene. At least, not until Cannon pulls back and glances over my shoulder with thunderclouds forming in his eyes.
“Come on. Let’s get out of here.”
I turn to see what he was looking at with such a fierce expression, but he stops me with one word.
“Don’t.”
What the hell did I miss?
21
Cannon
Ishould have expected Dom to have us tailed. Hell, Ididexpect it. But somehow, I fuckingforgotwhy we were even having dinner at Per Se. Even if my lapse lasted only a few seconds, it was unforgivable.
Fuck me.I knew Drew was dangerous, but I had no clue how much until she made me forget that everything we’re doing tonight is to put on a show for Dom. I also knew there was a chance he’d have someone watching us and reporting back to him so he could be sure I was telling the truth about being interested in her, and not just trying to keep her away from him.
Because even though I share his blood, I’ll never have his full trust. I know that. Everyone knows it.
And even with that knowledge, I managed to let that key detail slip my mind because I’m drowning in this woman whose hand I’m gripping like a lifeline. I’ve never let this happen before. Ever.
When I glance at her, Drew’s eyebrows strain up toward her hairline and she looks at me like I’ve lost my mind.
“What’s going on?” she asks quietly as I pull her toward where the Bentley idles at the curb without concern for the traffic cops giving tickets, and away from the man leaning against a lamppost only a hundred feet away.
Not just any man.Lorenzo Angelini. My father’s number two, and someone who would be more than happy to execute an order to take me out. At least, if he could get away with it.
We’re nearly the same age. Same height. Same coloring. If I hadn’t been told by Dom himself that Lorenzo wasn’t his son, I’d be convinced he was another bastard Casso offspring. And unless something else changes, when Dom passes on or decides to bow out, Lorenzo is the one dying to take charge of the family.
Feeling his gaze bore into the back of my head like a laser sight soon to be followed by a double tap from a .45, I pretend I didn’t notice him. One thing I don’t have to pretend about, though? That I want to get this woman away from here as fast as possible.
Warren alights from the Bentley as we approach and opens the back. We both slide in, and as soon as the heavy door shuts and before he can return to the driver’s seat, I turn to Drew to tell her as much of the truth as I can manage, but she speaks first.
“Tanya is going to kill me, isn’t she?”
I blink twice, staring at her expertly made-up face. “What the hell are you talking about?”
“Tanya. She’s ... staked her claim on you. She’s going to be pissed that you kissed me.” Drew scoots toward the window, as if putting distance between us.
Because she thinks I give a damn about Tanya, or that Tanya wants me?I have no idea where she got that impression, but before I can ask for an explanation, Warren slips back into the car.
“Where to, Mr. Freeman?” he asks with a glance in the rearview mirror.
Drew and I need more time together. Not just because of Lorenzo or because I don’t understand her comment about Tanya, but also because I’m not ready to let her go tonight.
“The Halal Guys. Fifty-Third and Sixth.”
Warren nods approvingly and a smile sneaks onto his face. “Yes, sir.”