Under Pressure [IAD Agency] (Siren Publishing Classic)

“That’s not good. It usually takes longer to push her to that point.”
    Danny laughed evilly. “Yeah, but you gotta admit it’s thoroughly entertaining. Don’t worry too much. Gio usually knows when it’s time to run.”
    “Da-yum, Mac, she’s a bloodthirsty little thing. You ever worry she’s gonna kill you if you piss her off when she’s PMSing?” Finn gaped as he continued to watch the battle in the kitchen.
    “No, but if you piss me off, I might just let her have a go at you with that meat cleaver.”
    “Like you wouldn’t take him apart yourself if he pissed you off,” Slade scoffed.
    “Too true.” Finn leaned back with a heavy sigh. “Jesus, Mac, the two of you are perfect for each other.”
    Jason’s pristine kitchen had been converted into what looked like a war zone. Hours ago Bella had banned everyone but Gio and Jenna from the room, slapping body parts with a large wooden spoon if anyone dared to cross her. She and Gio had been waging their own private battle all day, making enough food to feed an army, which could have been served at the most elegant of restaurants. The fragrances drifting from the kitchen were making his mouth water in anticipatory greed. Sitting in the living room watching the chaos unfold, Jason leaned back and lit one of his rare cigarettes as he watched his sweet little love threaten murder for the fifth time in an hour.
    Michael Bublé’s mellow voice crooned over the speaker system creating a musical backdrop for the creative genius at work in the kitchen. Jason had learned quickly that he could tell Bella’s creative cooking moods by the music she chose. He silently thought that a requiem would be more apropos considering her current murderous disposition.
    Jenna was watching the fight up close and personal with wide eyes. Bella and Gio argued, laughed, and cooked with the same passion.
    They were exhausting.
    They were inspiring.
    They scared the living shit out of her.
    Bella turned to Jenna and laughed at her terrified expression. Throwing a wink to Gio, Bella motioned Jenna to her side. Jenna rushed over immediately. “So, Jenna, are you ready to run yet?”
    “What? Of course not! I’m honored to be in the kitchen with the two of you.”
    “Of course you are honored.” Gio smiled easily.
    Bella groaned. “Why did I ever miss you and your ego?”
    Gio scoffed. “When one is great, others should be honored. You miss me because you know I am right. Besides, Jenna, mi amore , your cake is a thing of beauty that fits well with our greatness. And the icing?” He put his fingers to his lips. “To die for. You will make that in our restaurant, si ? Do you think she will survive working with us every day, tesoro ?”
    Jenna’s confusion was easy to see.
    Jason had kept Bella company the night before while she did her prep work, and they had discussed what Gio had proposed. With his unwavering support he told her to take the chance and to follow her dream. By the end of the night Bella had agreed to go into business with Gio.
    “I haven’t asked her yet, idiot.” Bella smacked his arm lightly. “Jenna, after our class is over, Gio and I are opening our own restaurant and we would like for you to come work with us—”
    Before she could say anything more Jenna flung herself at Bella and hugged her tight. “Yes! Yes! Oh my God, yes!”
    “Can we join in here?”
    Adrian and Sal stood off to the side, having just come in to the apartment. Jenna all but jumped behind Bella, using her as a shield the minute Adrian had spoken.
    Sal took a step forward to greet Gio and had his sister staring back at him incredulously, her voice low and mean. “Do you want to die?”
    Sal’s head snapped up, and he grabbed Adrian, pulling him back out of the kitchen so fast they almost fell. “Shit, shit. Sorry, hon. I forgot for a second. Don’t punish me. I swear, we’ll leave you guys alone now.”
    “What the—”
    Knowing better, Sal hastily ushered Adrian away to the living room where the others were gathered, explaining in a low tones about Bella’s position about people in her kitchen when cooking. Adrian’s indulgent laugh quickly sobered to a stoic nod of agreement when Sal hissed that they would be denied food if they pissed her off.
    “You have them trained well.” Gio snickered before going back to work.
    A short while later Bella, Gio, and Jenna went to change their clothes for the party. Quickly throwing on a dress Bella joined everyone in the