Gotti offered a small, dangerous smirk—the kind that reminded her he wasn't just a lover, but a predator. "I'm going to see if they want to play. Hold on, little moon."
Gotti didn't speed up. Instead, he took a sharp, unnecessary exit onto a secondary logging road. The SUV lurched as the tires hit the gravel. Behind them, the grey SUV didn't hesitate; it swerved and followed, its engine roaring as it abandoned all pretense of subtlety.
"Nero, wake up, buddy," Gotti said, his voice calm but commanding.
Nero blinked, rubbing his eyes. "Are we home, Papa?"
"Not yet. Lean down and stay in the middle of the seat, okay? We're playing a game called 'The Fox and the Hound'."
Nero, sensing the shift in the air, did as he was told, his small face etched with a mix of excitement and worry.
