Page 28 of Reckless Desires

“Whoever is in charge of branding is a spanner choosing a foxtail,” JoJo scoffs, shaking his head. “Imagine walking around with one of those.”

“Leon and Trevor will go check out the house and make sure it’s safe,” Mickey declares, nodding at both of them, his tone brokering no argument. “We have kept this area locked and under control. We would notice people with particular branding.”

“I need to use a safe house.” I lean against the wall with my arms crossed over my bare chest. “I’m holding onto some leverage.”

“What kind of leverage?” Mickey’s eyebrows knit together, his curiosity piqued. “There’s a warehouse you can use.”

“Human leverage,” I add, letting the weight of my confession hang in the air like a loaded gun.

“So, he gets scuffed up,” Leon shrugs, a nonchalant smile creeping across his lips. “Part of the process.”

“This one can’t.” I rub my chin. My mind races with the implications of my situation.

“It’s a woman,” Trevor concludes, a knowing look passing between the men.

“You fucking her?” Mickey asks, the edge of his voice teasing, but his eyes are sharp.

“No,” I shoot back, my irritation flaring.

“So then?” Mickey presses, leaning in.

“She has ties to the Costello Family.”

My brothers are well aware of my dealings with the Costello Family.

Mickey nods his head. “Kil, the best I can tell you is to head back to America.” He waves his hand. “Not sayin’ I want ya to. But it might be the better option.”

“It would have been nice having you around longer.” Leon steps to me, placing a reassuring hand on my shoulder, his grip firm.

“So, is she hot?” JoJo asks, breaking any building tension.

“I like to think so,” Liliana chimes in, suddenly appearing beside Aunt Maeve, her presence electrifying the room.

She’s wearing one of Fiona’s crop tops that hug her curves and a pair of yoga pants.

Leon speaks up, grinning at me, “Well, Kil, don’t be rude. Introduce us to your lady friend.”

“I wouldn’t call us friends.” Liliana shoots me a fiery look that could ignite a match. I can feel the weight of her gaze, a challenge wrapped in silk and fire.

Aunt Maeve tosses me a wet washcloth. “Why don’t you clean up. I don’t want blood getting on anything.”

Chapter Eighteen

Lily

“Let’s get you some clothes, dear.” The older woman approaches me as I remain on the horse. Her silver hair is pulled back in a low bun, and there’s a blanket over her shoulders covering her cotton mumu bedtime dress.

If I weren’t freezing and naked, I would have ignored her.

I dismount and follow her to the house. She doesn’t seem to hold any judgment. If my mother saw me like this, she’d have a full-on panic attack. She would go off on how a proper lady would never be naked in public and on about how no man would take me seriously.

As we enter, I notice the cottage is spacious and inviting. We pass the kitchen where Killian is making a call.

Killian looks more intimidating without clothes on. Standing there wearing nothing but his briefs, his abs are chiseled to perfection. His chest is covered in a large tattoo of a mural of a wolf on a cliff howling at the moon. Splatters of blood cover his face and parts of his body; his disheveled black hair and glowing blue eyes have me in a trance.

“This way,” the woman says, noticing my distraction. She leads me to a room and shuts the door. “Izzy is about your age. She moved in with me. She’s been taking their mother’s death really hard. But feel free to pick out something to put on. I’m sure you’re cold.”

By now, being naked is nothing. As long as there aren’t hungry eyes looking at me, then it’s no bother. I am interested in trying to learn more about Killian. He has a much younger sister; maybe I can use that somehow.