And they freely gave it.

Because of blood.

A choking sensation washed over me as I looked down at my dress. What was I trying to prove? My fighting for Tex wouldn't save us.

Not when he'd already jumped in with both feet.

"Mo?" Sergio said from behind me.

I jumped a foot and turned.

"Hmm?"

"You okay?" His eyebrows drew together in concern as he looked from Tex to me.

"Fine." I waved him off. "Just a bit stressed, lots of guns in the room and all that."

"Guns are tools, try not to think of them as weapons. After all, people kill people, guns are merely the object they use in order to carry out the sentence."

"Comforting." I snorted.

"You need a drink." His fingers gripped my elbow as he led me out of the room and into the kitchen.

"Yeah," I sighed. "I really do."

CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN.

Things look better when you've spent time apart from someone or something you care about. Said no one. Ever.

Phoenix "GET OUT OF THE d.a.m.n CAR." I gritted my teeth. "Now."

"No." Bee crossed her arms and examined her nails.

Groaning, I closed my eyes and imagined myself banging my head against the door in frustration. "Bee," I tried again. "Your brother, the one you've never met, is inside, I need you to get your a.s.s out of that seat and say hi."

"You left." Her voice wavered.

Good Lord I deserved this, all of this, her, the drama, the fighting. I deserved it, but I didn't have to enjoy it.

"I had to save your brother's life."

My teeth snapped together. "Apparently I have a hero complex."

She snorted, then smiled, a row of white teeth flashed before biting on her soft pink lips and looking down at her feet again. From where I was standing I was safe. I wouldn't be able to smell her vanilla perfume or look into her crazy deep blue eyes. They were like staring at the ocean and I really didn't need that type of distraction. Not now. Not ever.

She tossed her auburn hair. I d.a.m.n near whimpered as the vanilla scent floated out the open window and landed on my body, threatening to overtake all logic.

"Bee." I opened the door to the car and leaned in. "I'm sorry I left you, but I'm here now and I won't leave until you're safe. You have my word."

Her eyes fluttered closed. "You promise?"

"I swear it." After all I was probably going to die soon anyway.

She took a deep breath and straightened her black c.o.c.ktail dress. It had capped sleeves and was freaking glued to her body. I had to look away as she pointed those long legs out of the car and stood.

They went on for miles those legs, I would know, she kicked me with them twice. Apparently the woman had me confused with a soccer ball, it was the only explanation to the bruising on both my calves and thighs.

"Fine." She stood, her head nearly kissing my chin. "But only for an hour, and then I want to do something fun."

"Fun." I clenched my teeth. "Fine, I'll let you watch a Disney movie."

She pushed against my chest.

"Phoenix, I think we both know I'm not a little girl."

Wrong thing to say. My eyes immediately took in her curvy figure.

No, she was a nineteen-year-old bombsh.e.l.l with the ability to flatten me on my a.s.s.

"Let's go," I snapped slamming the door behind her. Her heels were a little higher than she normally wore, forcing her to walk slower than a turtle with hemorrhoids. "Sometime this year, please."

She rolled those blue eyes and flipped her d.a.m.n hair again then waltzed into the house like she owned the joint.

I followed, wincing as the smell of food hit my nose. I hadn't had much of an appet.i.te since my meeting with Tex and the closer The Commission got, the sicker I felt.

"Who's this?" Mo was the first to see us, her smile was bright, fake, but bright.

"Bee," I said as Tex's sister opened her mouth. "This is Tex's sister."

"Bee?" Mo tilted her head.

"It's my nickname." Bee elbowed me in the ribs. "From this one."

"I like it." Mo smiled and shook Bee's hand, "Why don't I introduce you to some of the girls?"

"No." Bee s.n.a.t.c.hed back her hand.

"I mean, no thank you. I really, um, I would really like to see my brother."

"Oh." Mo's face lost some of its color. "Well he's in the living room talking with some-"

"Phoenix?" Tex stalked towards me. "Is this?"

Bee launched herself into Tex's arms. "You look like me!"

Tex's face broke out into a smile as he returned the hug then set her away from him. "Yeah well, I think that means we're related."

Bee laughed, the first time I'd actually heard her laugh, and it was Tex who got it out of her. Of course.

"We should talk." Bee's face was so animated it hurt to look at her. "I mean, later, I know you have lots going on and-"

"I'll make time," Tex interrupted.

"For you I'll make time, it's good to see you healthy and happy?"

She nodded slowly.

"Phoenix kept his hands to himself?" Tex leveled me with a glare.

Bee shook her head. "No he kissed me like fifteen times." She leaned up and whispered loudly. "With tongue."

"No!" I held up my hands. "She's lying, she tends to exaggerate."

She let out a little laugh and crossed her arms while Tex's frozen glare never left my face.

"s.h.i.t." I gulped and looked away.

"I swear man, I didn't touch her, I don't touch girls, you know that."

"You're gay?" Bee gasped.

Moaning I just shook my head and walked into the kitchen. She was his problem now, not mine.

The minute I poured myself a gla.s.s of wine I felt a hand on my shoulder.

When I turned it was to see Tex chest to chest with me. Great.

"I need you to watch her."

"I'm more of a delivery type of service." I tried to side step him. "I don't babysit."

"Please." Tex's eyes pleaded.

"These men... I don't trust them, not yet, and I need to be able to focus. You know I do. I'm having a hard enough time focusing with Mo in that d.a.m.n dress."

Dress? What dress?

I shrugged. "Fine, I'll watch her for the night then I'm done, she can move in with Luca for all I care."

Tex snorted. "That would be the day."

"Don't knock it till you try it." I threw back the gla.s.s and set it on the table. "Now if you'll excuse me I'm going to go put on a cup... last time I wasn't prepared for the kicks."

"Kicks?"

"You really don't want to know."

I walked off down the hall with the sound of male laughter behind me, yeah he laughs now. Just wait. Bee was a freaking force to be reckoned with. I couldn't wait to rid myself of her.

Right, just keep telling yourself that.

CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT.

Sicilian Mafia rule number 8: When asked for any information, the answer must be the truth.

Tex BLACK, BLACK, BLACK, BLACK, d.a.m.n it!

People were talking to me, touching me, offering me cigars, time at their vacation homes, their freaking daughters and all I could think about was Mo.

In that black dress.

Officially my favorite color of all time.

On her, and only her.

Being impa.s.sive when she was in the room was like denying the sun was shining. Deny it all you want, but at the end of the day you're still going to get burnt if you don't have sunscreen.

She was searing me.

"More wine?" Speak of the d.a.m.n devil. Mo carried a bottle in one hand and a little tray of shrimp in the other.

"Lovely." Frank Alfero winked at Mo. "You read my mind."

"I try." She smiled and offered us all food.

"My daughter." One of the men whose name escaped me began chomping on the shrimp. "She is very beautiful." He nodded. "Would make a good wife."

"He's married," Mo said through clenched teeth.

"Oh..." The man held up his hand.

"I meant no offense."