Tacie Graves - Compromising Positions

Mina stared at her. Ivy was the one person she had always trusted. Scary smart, hard-working, and snarky, she hid the biggest heart in the world under seventeen layers of black. She was no one’s fool, and had said, “fuck off” to more than one pretty face, but she wouldn’t steer Mina wrong if she could help it.

“You believed his story?” Her voice was soft but steady, and Ivy nodded. “I did.”

Mina stood up and straightened her shoulders.

“I guess I’d better to talk to him, then.”

As soon as the words escaped she wanted them back. Her bravery was tissue thin, but fear pressed down on her like a mountain. Her heart was beating erratically, and her hands were shaking. Marco was sitting outside, waiting-something he didn’t do well at the best of times. Fifty feet separated them- fuck , the streets here were so narrow it was probably more like twenty-but she wasn’t sure she could make it.

Ivy was standing across from her, watching her closely. Probably getting ready to trip her if she ran.

She is in for a world of payback. Mina met her gaze and Ivy smiled. “I’d like to see you try it, Hemingway. I can outplot you seven days a week, and you know it.”

Mina laughed in spite of herself. “Yeah, but you know me. Queen of Ignoring the Obvious.”

She stepped forward and gave her a quick hug. “Thanks. No matter how this works out.” She looked down at Giovanni and said, “Keep an eye on her, okay? There’s no telling what kind of trouble she’ll get into now that she’s here.”

He looked up at her, his face serious again. “If you want me to go out…”

Ivy poked him, “Stop that! She doesn’t need you sticking your big nose in the middle…”

Mina turned away from them, letting the squabble fade away behind her. One step… two… It seemed to take forever to reach the door, but she finally made it. Blood pounded in her ears and she forced herself to take a deep breath and open the door.

The street looked so normal-apartments and cars and a fat orange tabby cat sitting on the patio wall watching her suspiciously.

Yeah, I’m not sure why I’m here either, bud .

She walked down the three steps to the street and saw him immediately.

He was standing in a beam of sunlight, leaning against the bumper of a low-slung Italian sports car she didn’t recognize. His eyes were fixed on her and her breath hitched in her chest at what she saw there.

He looked wonderful and terrible, his dark eyes full of longing and anger, and she wondered if she looked as conflicted as he did.

She forced herself to put one foot in front of the other, every instinct screaming to turn and run the other way, and before she thought it possible she was beside him.

They stood there like there for what seemed like forever. She soaked in his scent, the heat of him so familiar and comforting that she had to fight the urge to lean into him to let it thaw the ice that had swallowed her for days, and she wondered that she’d ever thought she could have abandoned that feeling forever.

“You haven’t been sleeping.” He sounded accusing and she shook her head. It was pointless to deny it. “No. Not much.”

More silence. She looked up at him and made herself speak

“Thank you for bringing Ivy here.” It wasn’t what she expected to say, but it was true. Marco looked at her, and she could see him trying to gauge what she was thinking. Good luck with that , her inner voice mocked, if you figure it out, make sure to let us know.

“It was no trouble,” he said stiffly. “I was returning and there was more than enough room.”

Mina sighed. This wasn’t working.

“So, the only reason you brought her along was because you had extra carry-on space?”

Marco looked frustrated, a tinge of red creeping into his skin. “Of course not.” Irritation clipped his words and she could tell he was angry. “I thought,” he looked down at her, “you might need a friend.”

The bitterness in his voice surprised her. He expected her to believe that the only reason he brought Ivy was for her ? And what about why she needed a friend? Was he going to address that ? Anger masked heartache, and she lashed out.

“Sure. I get that.” Mina stepped away a fraction and nodded sagely. “The best lever is the one that’s already in place, right? You bring someone I care about and let them make your excuses for you. Perfect.” Sarcasm oozed from every pore. “Well, we all knew you were a master manipulator, but it’s good to see that you haven’t lost your edge.”

Marco growled low in his throat and Mina had a moment to gloat over drawing first blood before he grabbed her wrist, pulling her hard against him as an ancient Citroen made the turn and rattled past them. Her yelp of surprise melted into a groan as he held her in his arms, the position a perfect storm of emotional triggers. Just having his hand on her set her nerves buzzing. She could feel his heartbeat and smell the coffee on his breath-it was absolutely intoxicating.

The muscle at the corner of his jaw clenched and relaxed, and she watched mesmerized as he fought his temper for control. He shifted his grip on her arm, and his eyes fell on red marks that his grip had left under his fingers. He stood there for a long moment staring at them, and then his mouth twisted. He pulled her closer making sure not to hurt her again, and placed a breath of a kiss against the injured skin. Mina sucked in a breath as his lips touched her, sighing as Marco released her arm, leaving it to rest on his shoulder.

“I am not trying to manipulate you.” He sounded exhausted. Mina couldn’t imagine he’d slept much more than she had, although for different reasons. He’d been traveling almost non-stop for seventy-two hours, with two trans-Atlantic flights and God knows how many miles traveled. “I just wanted to talk to you.”

Mina curled her hand along the back of his neck. She felt his hair tickle her and she couldn’t help but thread it through her fingers. Marco wrapped his free arm firmly around her waist and held her there, almost as if he were afraid she’d run away. Again.

“You could have called.” She knew she sounded flippant, but she was too hurt to tread carefully.

“Called where?” The frustration was back. “You weren’t in our rooms, you weren’t at the office. Mamma said that Gio had put you on a plane, so I flew to Miami, but when I got there you weren’t there either.” Marco glared at her, accusation clear in his eyes. “You disappeared. No word. No warning-just gone.”

Mina put a little space between them so she could look at him.

“Hang on a second-you’re not putting this on me,” she said, trying to pull away, but Marco refused to give an inch, and she refused to give him the pleasure of struggling. “I didn’t disappear. I left . With good reason, too, in case you’ve forgotten.”

Marco loosened his grip and Mina pushed until she was as far away from him as possible.

It wasn’t far enough.

He was standing there, less than a foot away, and yet she felt like they were still worlds apart. How could he blame her for not calling, not explaining? He was the one who needed to explain, but no, that would never occur to him. He’d never admit that he was just as bad as Ethan, just as guilty as his father, stringing women along. Making promises and then breaking them, leaving a string of bleeding hearts in his wake.

Hurt flashed through her, and she grabbed it, slashing out at him with its razor edge.

“How is Serafina, anyway?” Mina showed her teeth in the semblance of a smile. “You didn’t lose her, too, did you?” She made a tsking sound. “You really should be more careful with your toys. Someday you’re going to break one and not be able to get a replacement.”