Authors: Renee Graziano

Playing with Fire (27 page)

Reign looked over. “You look like shit.”

She didn’t really mean it. He looked fabulous because he was still alive, but his shirt was covered in dried blood and his hair was disheveled and she doubted she looked any better.

“Fuck, the doctor gave me a shot.” He rubbed his shoulder but then winced. “I can take the stitching part.… I did it without anesthetic. Could she have told me the shot was not optional?”

Reign laughed. “You know we live to torture you, right?”

He took her hand and entwined their fingers. “I do. Women were born to torture men, I get it. Tell me what happened?”

“You did warn they might be coming. But through the skylight? Luckily, Sal wasn’t all that surprised. Going upstairs was a very good idea, and we both seem to be good shots. It wasn’t luck, really.”

“Carre said he got a text you both were dead.”

Oh, he had. She’d personally taken the cell phone from one of the men, scrolled through his number directory, and sent it herself. Reign smiled grimly. “That was from me.”

“I assume the police took the guns. They’ll be able to tell from ballistics.”

The interrogation hadn’t been all that fun. “The only reason we aren’t at the police station is that in a roundabout way they said both of those men were under surveillance for some reason that was not shared with us, and the detectives saw them breaking in. Too little, too late, to really help us, but whatever it was those bastards were supposed to have done, it seems glaringly obvious it might involve contract hits. Otherwise there’s no way the cops would have left here without carting us along.”

This particular evening, it had been a good thing the police officers were there, even if it was after the fact. Since the incident at her home had involved a similar problem, they’d believed her too.

She tightened her fingers around Nick’s. “So it’s over?”

He gazed at her with those beautiful blue eyes. “I think so.” There was a pause. Then he said, “You did hear me on the phone, right?”

She had. It had been a mistake to go talk to John. Now she understood Nick better, and it made her … vulnerable. Worse, she was afraid it made them
both
vulnerable.

“You do realize that you are complicating what seemed to be a mutually satisfying sexual relationship.”

“My fault, is it?” He touched her cheek. “You love your son. You love your sister. You love your father, I saw it. You even love Sal, but you aren’t right for each other. Isn’t there room for one more?”

He had a very good point.

E
PILOGUE

Italy, eight months later

“That was one hell of a nice wedding.” Nick adjusted his sunglasses. “I’m going to say the Ariano family knows exactly how to do it right.”

It
had
been a pretty dazzling event.

Next to him on the beach, Reign tilted her head back, the warmth of the sun welcome. “I know I was only invited because they were delighted that Sal was marrying someone other than a Grazi, but I’m okay with that. I actually think our families might have a truce going on.”

“True. He married a respectable doctor instead of—”

Reign rolled over on her towel and smacked his bare chest. “Watch it, Fattelli.”

He pretended it actually hurt. “Hey. I was going to say the sexiest fashion designer in the world. Her wedding dress was really pretty. Sal was certainly impressed by it from his expression.”

That was true. Jennifer had been a very beautiful bride, and Reign had a poignant happiness that Sal had moved on. He was over her and in love with someone else, but then again, she really wished him the best.

And now she and Nick were having a much-needed vacation. The design line was a dream, but a lot of work. Not to mention her empty house, now that Vince was busy with classes and his new friends.

Italy had been a great idea.

The water was a perfect aquamarine and the breeze warm.…

“By the way, I love the bathing suit.” Nick ran a finger along the edge of her top. “You look hot.”

She smiled. He didn’t look so bad himself, tanned and muscular. “Good save.” She said it dryly, and then added, “I checked the weather on my phone. It’s raining in New York.”

He reached over and pulled her on top of him in one smooth movement so they were face-to-face. “This is nice, I agree, but even if we were there, I’d just suggest we spend all afternoon in bed. Kiss me, Ms. Reign Supreme.”

She did, long and slow and heated. Mingled breath, brushing tongues; definitely a scorching lover’s kiss. “I think we’d better cool it down,” she said when she lifted her head and saw a couple walking by smile as they watched them, the man saying something to make the woman laugh. “It seems to me you might have an embarrassing walk back up to the hotel. Swim trunks don’t do much to hide your current state of enthusiasm for my company.”

“I have a
lot
of enthusiasm for your company,” he responded, and audaciously squeezed her ass.

“The feeling is mutual.” She smoothed back his hair. “You know me, I like playing with fire.”

A
BOUT THE
A
UTHOR

RENEE GRAZIANO, the star of
Mob Wives,
is perhaps the show’s most compelling character. She is divorced from Hector Pagan, Jr., who was exposed as an FBI informant, and with whom she has a son, A.J.

Renee Graziano has been the subject of feature articles in
People, US Weekly, in Touch, VIBE,
and
OK!,
and has appeared on
The View, Good Morning America, Extra,
and many more television programs.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

PLAYING WITH FIRE

Cover photograph by Trevillion Images

A Forge Book

Published by Tom Doherty Associates, LLC

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New York, NY 10010

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Forge
®
is a registered trademark of Tom Doherty Associates, LLC.

The Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available upon request.

ISBN 978-0-7653-7619-0 (hardcover)

ISBN 978-1-4668-4991-4 (e-book)

e-ISBN 9781466849914