Between Desire and Denial: A Fake Dating Romance (Hardy Billionaires)
Between Desire and Denial: Chapter 41

I was only allowing the interaction between Jameson and Olive because I knew I could watch every damn second of them out there on that porch. I pulled up my security system, but that’s when the first text from my family came in.

Izzy: So we should probably have a chat about this little mob issue going on with the Diamond Syndicate. Saw your girl just met with Jameson, Dimitri.

My sister was used to being involved in all this. I’d become accustomed to the fact that she’d married Cade, the brother of the head of the Italian Mob, and a man that essentially could hack into any system in the world. He’d promised he was reformed along with his brother, and so far, their investments with us had been clean.

He’d also helped clean up Dex’s mess. And smiled at every ounce of violence he witnessed. He was deranged and we all knew it. Still, he was family.

Me: Are you hacking security cameras again, Izzy?

Cade: Yup. My wife seems to think watching all of you is a great use of her time.

Izzy: So what if I am? Dimitri, you turned on these cameras before they were legal, so I am just being a good sister and seeing what’s so important over in that little Paradise.

Kee: Dimitri, you owe me a phone call about turning on those cameras. Are you watching Olive?

Lilah: Should we all stick to the matter at hand? The hubs says we’ve already partnered with Bane and Black Diamond Casino. It’s essentially the same thing as backing the Diamond Syndicate, so we should consider doing it. I also vote yes.

Izzy: Yeah. Probably best-case scenario doing that. You good with it, Dimitri?

Dex: Dimitri? How about if I’m good with it? No fucking way.

Kee: Don’t be overprotective for no reason, Dex. It’s ridiculous.

Dex: It’s not ridiculous to think the Diamond Syndicate could be catastrophically dangerous to this family in that some of them are partnering with the Irish Mob.

Izzy: Only like three people. Out of thousands across the United States. Bill Monroe, Earl, and Jameson’s family have ties with the Irish Mob, but we’re working on pinpointing the ringleader, and if we make our own partnership soon, we can stop that alliance in their tracks.

Declan: It’s messy.

Evie: It’s logical.

Izzy: So smart.

Me: At the potential detriment of what? The family’s safety? Olive’s? No fucking way is right. I’m with Dex.

Kee: Pink swears that it’s the best move.

Me: The fact that you’re talking to Pink about a secret society alliance with the HEAT empire is a problem, Kee.

Dex: What Dimitri said. I’m done with this conversation.

Declan: If Dimitri and Dex aren’t on board, neither am I.

Dom: Guess the boys have spoken.

Clara: Dom, just because the guys have spoken doesn’t mean the decision has been made.

She was right in most cases, but in this instance, it was for the good of the family—for my nieces and nephews and everyone’s safety.

I watched Olive and Jameson on the camera that I shouldn’t have had operational. I saw how he offered to fix our porch, how he kissed her cheek, how she let him. I swung open the door just as I heard her say, “When will it blow over exactly? And what will that choice be?”

Jameson crossed his arms over his chest, and I swear his ass was trying to puff his chest up as he glared at me. “You know I’m only telling her to lay low.”

“Your two minutes are up.”

“Man, I’m warning you about that too. She’s my friend. And we’re always going to be friends. You understand that, right?”

Like I gave a damn. He was circling too close to my girl and he knew it. “And we’re always going to be together.”

The guy had the audacity to goad me by looking Olive up and down in the bed sheet before he smirked. “Sure?”

Motherfucker. “Sure as the sun rising in the east and setting in the west. She’s mine, and I’m never leaving her.”

“What if she leaves you?”

I smirked. “Then I’ll follow her through whatever heaven and hell she dreams up for me on my damn knees, pleading with her until she takes me back.”