Max thrived on the challenge.Life in his world wasn’t about brute force; it was a continuous game of strategy and control, of knowing when to press and when to hold back.He didn’t just play the game—he dominated it.And tonight had been no different.Yet, as he left the ballroom, a flicker of pink satin lingered in his thoughts, a reminder that even the most disciplined mind could still be caught off guard.
Chapter 7
“Whythehelldidn’tyou bring me to him?”Enzo snarled, gripping the steering wheel so tightly his knuckles turned white as the car hurtled down the darkened streets toward Lexie’s house.His voice was loud, angry, and laced with frustration.
Lexie clung to the door handle.“Could you maybeslow down?”she asked through gritted teeth, her voice tinged with desperation as the car swerved sharply around a corner.They barely missed the curb, the tires screeching in protest.
“No!”Enzo barked.“What I need is answers!Why didn’t you do what I told you to do?”
Lexie’s heart raced as he ignored yet another red light, speeding through the intersection without so much as a glance.She clutched the handle tighter, holding her breath as the car accelerated.Yellow lights are supposed to mean slow down,she thought bitterly.But for Enzo, they seemed to be a signal to floor it.
By the time he pulled to a screeching halt in front of her tiny house, Lexie sent up a silent prayer of gratitude.Her body felt like one giant knot, every muscle tense from the terrifying ride.Never again,she promised herself.I’m never getting into this car again.
“Well?”Enzo barked, snapping her out of her thoughts.
Lexie pried her fingers away from the faux leather covering the grip on the door handle.Her hands trembled as she flexed her fingers, trying to get the blood flowing again.She turned to face him, her frustration bubbling over.
“Well, what?”she shot back, her voice sharp with exasperation.
“Well, why didn’t you introduce me to Max Diatras?”Enzo demanded, his tone rising with every word.“Thewhole pointof me bringing you tonight was to get closer to my boss!”
Lexie let out a bitter laugh, shaking her head in disbelief.“That’s not how it works with Max,” she replied firmly.“He doesn’t justtalkto people because someone drags a date to a party.He chooses who speaks with him.”
“Iknowthat!”Enzo snapped, his face red with anger.“But you were with him for over ten minutes!That was longer than anyone else had with the man tonight!You should have suggested that he speak with me!”
“And what exactly would I have said?”Lexie shot back, her frustration rising to match his.“‘Hey, Max, you should really talk to Enzo.He’s got some brilliant ideas about...what?Smuggling?Extortion?Impersonating a mob cliché?’”She waved her hand dismissively.“It doesn’t work that way.Max doesn’t owe you a conversation.”
Enzo slammed his hands against the steering wheel, making Lexie jump.“You don’t get it, do you?”he growled.“I needed that introduction!Do you know how hard it is to even get into the sameroomas Max, let alone get his attention?And you had it handed to you!”
Lexie narrowed her eyes, her voice dropping to a dangerous calm.“Maybe I had his attention because I didn’t treat it like a transaction, Enzo.You can’t just force Max to notice you.If you thought throwing me at him was going to work, you’re even dumber than you look.”
Enzo’s face twisted in fury, his breath coming in short, angry bursts.For a moment, Lexie thought he might hit something—or worse, someone.But then he slammed the gearshift into park and leaned back, glaring at her.
“You’re lucky I brought you tonight,” he hissed.“And you’re lucky I’m giving you another chance to fix this.Next time, youwillmake it happen, Lexie.Or I’ll make sure those videos go public faster than you can say Max Diatras.”
Lexie could feel the tension radiating off Enzo, his fury a living, breathing thing that seemed to grow thicker with every second.She knew there was no reasoning with him in this state, so instead of trying, she pushed the car door open.Anticipating his reaction, she jerked her arm out of his reach just as he lunged to grab her.
“Enzo, you have to approach Max more carefully,” she said, forcing a calm she didn’t feel as he slammed his own door shut and stalked after her toward her house.“Max doesn’tget manipulated.If you want something from him, you have toearnit.He’s not going to give you anything just because I’m standing next to you.”
She barely had time to react before Enzo’s hand shot out, clamping on her arm like a vise.His grip was so tight it sent a sharp jolt of pain up her shoulder, and she winced.
“You’re my ticket,bitch!” he snarled, dragging her closer so abruptly she stumbled.His face was twisted in rage, his eyes glinting dangerously under the dim porch light.“You know what you need to do!Next time, youwillget him to speak with me!”
“Enzo, you’re hurting me!”she cried, struggling to twist free, but his grip only tightened, making her gasp.
“I’m going to do a hell of a lot more if you don’t help me!”he growled, his voice low and savage, vibrating with barely contained rage.
Before she could react, his free hand shot up, tangling in her hair and yanking her head back so hard her vision blurred.Pain exploded across her scalp, sharp and hot, as several pins clattered to the floor.Her breath caught, her heart slamming against her ribs like it wanted out.
She saw it in his face—the dark gleam in his eyes, the shift in his breathing—and the truth crashed into her with ice-cold clarity.She knew exactly where his anger was headed.The sour, metallic tang of fear coated her tongue, choking her, and under it she caught another scent—his arousal.
Her stomach rolled.She was out of time.
Panic roared in her ears.Acting on pure instinct, Lexie twisted, bracing her hand against his shoulder and driving her knee upward with every ounce of desperation she had left.
The sound of his strangled grunt shot through her like an electric current, a vicious, fleeting burst of satisfaction.She didn’t look—didn’t dare.The second his grip slackened, she wrenched herself free and ran.
Her feet pounded the ground, every step a frantic drumbeat in her chest.She bolted for the front door, her pulse a wild, painful thud in her throat.Keys—where were her keys?Her fingers were clumsy, slippery with sweat as she fumbled at the lock.She jammed the key in, twisted hard, and shoved herself inside, slamming the door and throwing the bolt with a trembling hand.
