Until he pulls away and backs off. Confusion comes over him again, and I can feel it slipping. It’s dangerous, these moments of transition, and for the man I know is still inside that shell, I drag myself to my feet and force myself to get it together.
“I was looking for something,” he says, frowning at me. “You might know where it is?”
“Come on, I know where you were going. It’s this way, in the kitchen.”
“You’re a good kid.” He pats my elbow and allows me to lead him away. “Such a good kid.”
He’s wrong. I’m fucked. I’ll get him killed and my mother too if I can’t find a path through this nightmare. Carbone knows where I live, he knows where my parents are, and I know his visit was more than an interrogation.
It was a threat.
CHAPTER 27
DEANNA
Prime’s waiting on the back porch when I get home. He’s got a glass of bourbon clutched between his hands and wine poured for me. I’m not sure what to say, and keep seeing that dead man, all the blood and brains on the wall, and Prime’s calm, quiet strength.
“Carbone came to my house.”
He stiffens. His hands grip the glass tighter, knuckles whitening. “What did he want?”
I tell him everything. The only part I leave out is when I admitted to falling in love with him. I know it was true, and I still feel it right now, but I’m not ready to go there yet.
Prime finishes his drink and paces. There’s a slight breeze and it feels nice. I collapse into a chair as the clouds turn pink with the sunset.
“They were feeling you out. You did good, Deanna.”
“I can’t do it again.” I close my eyes and can almost feel Carbone’s gaze on me. “He was terrifying.”
“I know.” Prime kneels by my side and takes my hand in both of his. “But you did good.” He kisses my knuckles. “I didn’t want this for you, I swear.”
“It isn’t your fault. I basically forced my way into your business.”
“I should have known better than to bring you though.”
“Prime, it’s okay.”
“It’s not.” He kisses my hand again. “You weren’t supposed to see what I did. It’s who I am, Deanna, it’s who I’ve always been, but when I’m with you…” He trails off, chin lifting. There’s a desperate hunger in the way he looks at me that sends a shiver down my spine. “I want to be better. Or at least I want to be different. All my life I’ve been driven by only one thing: power. The more power I have, the closer I can get to righting all my wrongs, and Fontana’s been one of the biggest. I hate him for what he did and I plan on seeing him bleed, but you make me feel like there’s something to fight for afterward.”
“Maybe… maybe there’s another way. Something… something we can do.”
He touches my cheek. “I want you. God, I want you so badly, it’s like every morning I wake up and think I’m still dreaming, but there you are lying in my bed. I’ve wanted you for years, Deanna, ever since I hired you, but I refused to let myself get distracted. I’m death, I only ever hurt people I care about, so I never let myself care. I thought I could handle being your husband, but I was so fucking wrong.”
“Prime, I wanted you too. Why do you think I was… you know… on your pool table?”
“I thought that was your childish way of punishing me for making you work that weekend.”
“Well, it was, but I could’ve thought up a dozen different methods instead of… you know…”
“I’m going to fix this, Deanna. I swear I will.” He kisses me. I whimper, afraid of him but wanting him too, what I said to Carbone still ringing in my ears.I love him.
“I know you will.”
He kisses me again and this time it lingers. I’m desperate for comfort, to feel something good, and shift in my chair to face him. He stands, pulling me to my feet, and I wrap my arms around his neck, getting on my toes to reach his mouth as my tongue plunges between his lips.
Fear from my meeting with Carbone lingers as I dive against Prime. His arms pull me tight to his warm chest and I kiss him with everything I can, doing my best to wash away the negative emotions still whirling around my head. I know who Prime is now and I can see him for what he wants to be, and I didn’t lie when I said those words. They burn in me now as I tug at his belt, unbuckling it, kissing him hard and turning him, pulling open his trousers and slipping my hand inside.
“Fuck, Deanna,” he says, his voice thick with desire as I stroke his big dick. I love the way he gets hard under my touch. “You fucking kill me, baby.”