Well, at least he’d be in his own version of hell during the flight. If anyone deserved to sit between those two for a few hours, it was Luca. Maybe he’d do us all a favor and fix whatever freaky fight they were going through.

“So…”

I jumped in my seat as Luca leaned over and began talking to Chase and Frank like I was nonexistent. “How is the happy couple?”

Chase gripped my hand, scaring the crap out of me. I winced as he squeezed harder and harder. “Just perfect. Right, Mil?”

“In a state of utter and complete bliss unmatched by any other moment or day in my life.” I gave him a wide, mocking grin.

“Too far,” Chase mumbled under his breath.

“Good.” Luca nodded. “So there is nothing for me to be concerned about?”

Nobody said anything. Screw that. Nixon wanted me to take my place alongside these guys? Fine.

“Actually…” I unbuckled my seatbelt so I could turn to face Luca. “There is one problem.”

“There is?” Luca and Chase asked in unison while Frank laughed.

“Well, it is a problem, Chase.”

“What is?”

Poor guy. He did have it coming though. “Your little problem.” I pointed down.

“What?” he roared.

Luca’s eyes widened in surprise, taking on an entirely shocked look I’d actually never seen on him before. “Uh, well, uh.”

“Luca…” I batted my lashes. “You’ve been so helpful with every other aspect of this arrangement I thought you could take your help a little further. You see, Chase and I are having problems in the bedroom. Know anything about that? It’s so clear how knowledgeable you are about everyone and everything. So why not help with this? After all, you love sticking your nose where it doesn’t have any right to be.”

Luca sputtered. “Well, I…” He looked helplessly to Frank who lifted his hands in the air and looked away.

“Oh wait. You don’t work that way.” I tapped my chin. “You work with threats and violence… so how about this. Chase’s gun—”

“Oh, dear Lord.” Chase swore. “Nixon, get your ass over here!”

Luca’s brows furrowed as he held up his hand for Nixon to stay in place. “Do continue, Emiliana.”

I cleared my throat. “As I was saying, his gun…” It was as if everyone in the airplane took a deep breath in anticipation. “It keeps getting in the way. And you know how I hate being the nagging wife, but could you please tell him to put it away? Especially when it’s time for bed.”

I smiled triumphantly as everyone exhaled.

Luca’s right eye twitched as he glared at Chase. “Son, the bedroom is never a place for guns.”

“Speak for yourself.” This from Nixon. I heard the crack of skin hitting skin. Pretty sure he was going to pay for that many times over.

“Wow, good talk. Thanks.” I said thanks with such force there was no guessing at how pissed I was that he kept sticking his nose where it didn’t belong. He wanted me to take my place? Fine, cut off the damn apron strings and stop patronizing me and looking over my shoulder.

Chase’s eyes narrowed on mine.

“I think,” Luca said in low tones, “I underestimated you, Emiliana.”

“People always do,” I said loudly. “And, Luca?”

“Yes?”

“Until you see me joining in with the De Langes — I’m innocent. I’m in charge of what happens to them. I’m their leader. And they are my responsibility. You’ve helped put me in this position, now let me do my job. I’m not a puppet, and I don’t work well when people are looking over my shoulder every damn minute. I’m a De Lange. I’ve got venom in my veins, and I’ll spit you out like poison if I have to. Now, can everyone please stay out of my business?”

“Yes,” Luca said.

Frank blinked as surprise washed over his weathered face.

I smirked and turned my attention to Luca. “Yes, what?”

Luca’s smile reached his eyes in amusement. “Yes, ma’am.”

I sighed in relief and turned back around just in time to see Nixon silently clap twice and nod his head in my direction.

I didn’t want to look at Chase. I expected him to be pissed that I’d gone and thrown him under the bus or even teased him. My cell phone went off.

Crap, I needed to turn it off before I got in trouble. I quickly glanced at the screen and saw three texts from Chase.

Chase: I’m so turned on right now.

Chase: Oh and I’m proud of you. In that order. Turned on first, proud comes second… always second.

Chase: Three words. Mile. High. Club.

Me: Three words. I. Don’t. Think. So.

Chase: That was four words.

Me: Just making sure you were still the smart one.

Chase: I’m still holding your hand.

Me: Okay.

I turned off my phone and looked at Chase out of the corner of my eye. His grin was so big he looked like he’d just gotten lucky instead of sending a few silly text messages. He was proud of me. And he wanted me.

I could live with that, for now.

Chapter Twenty

Nixon

“Damn,” I muttered under my breath. Even I wasn’t insane enough to publicly humiliate Luca like that. The girl either had a death wish or balls of steel.

“Nixon.” Trace gripped my hand as the plane started its taxi.

“Hmm?” I kept my eyes trained in Luca. He closed his eyes and leaned back against the seat, looking cool as a cucumber. What was his play? His reason for helping us when all signs pointed to him going back to Sicily and letting me handle what he kept referring to as the situation.

“Are you okay?”

“Of course,” I said gruffly, my eyes darting between Frank and Luca until I got dizzy from blinking so damn much.

“Leave it,” Trace grabbed my chin and forced me to look away so my gaze fell onto her perfect face, “and kiss me.”

“Trace, you know I love you, but I can’t just ignore the fact that—”

Her mouth crushed mine. Hands reached to my seatbelt, unbuckling it as she tugged me to my feet.

“Uh, Trace?” People weren’t necessarily staring, but it was totally possible I’d just moaned out loud — maybe said a few choice words as I’d tasted the mint on her tongue.

Like an idiot, I followed her down the first-class cabin to the bathroom. When I looked back, Tex was giving me a giant thumbs up. He seemed to be the only one really paying attention. And then Frank’s head snapped up. No chance in hell I’d make a play for his granddaughter right in front of him.

I smiled confidently just as Trace pulled me around the corner, away from the bathroom, and to the little kitchenette where the flight attendants were getting things ready.

“Five minutes,” Trace said in a low voice to the guy making coffee.

He shook his head. “I don’t make the rules. The airline does. You kids need to return to your seats.”

Did I seriously resemble a child? I was twenty-two — almost twenty-three. I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from saying something that would get us all kicked off the flight.

“It’s the baby…” Trace sniffled. “It’s yours!”

“What!” I roared, grabbing her arms.

“Never mind, take your time.” The guy gave a low whistle and pulled the curtain so we had privacy.

My hands shook as I gripped her arms.

“Gotcha.” She winked.

“Not laughing.”

“Who said I wanted you to laugh?” Trace gave me a coy smile and snaked her arms around my neck. “I kinda had my heart set on a few moans, some biting—”

My mouth, colliding with hers, stopped whatever else she was going to say. How long had it been since we’d made out? Kissed? Last night I’d gone to bed only to find Trace already sleeping. With a moan, I threw my head back and lifted her legs around my waist.

“I need you.”

“I need you too.” Her lips moved to my neck, driving me crazy with her little nips as her teeth tugged my skin, only to be replaced by her tongue as it swirled around afterward.