He came straight over and stopped by my bed. I sat up quickly, trying to feel a little less exposed and frowned at him.
“A decent man would knock before barging into a lady’s room.”
“I’m not a decent man. When are you going to get that through your head?” His tone made it sound like he thought I was stupid. What a jerk!
I exhaled sharply. “How can I help you, Carlo?”
“With your honest opinion. Did you enjoy the show?”
I was sure every drop of blood in my body had rushed to my face. I looked away and stammered, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Oh, you do. Now look at me,” he said, his voice suddenly stripped of all teasing.
I clung to my act, pretending I hadn’t seen anything. Carlo stepped back for a second and placed his glass of scotch on the nightstand. Then, without warning, he grabbed my legs and yanked me down the bed so fast I didn’t even have time to gasp. His hand moved behind my back, cushioning the fall as I hit the mattress, and then he braced himself on either side of my head, caging me in.
He stared down at me, his voice calm but solid. “I’ve got a lot of red lines in my life. Cross one, and it’s betrayal. And in our world, betrayal gets you killed. You’re nowhere near most of those lines, except one. Lying to me. You already earned one death sentence for lying about Tony and Lucia. And now you’ve earned another.”
The clean scent of soap filled my nose, and I learned he’d taken a shower before coming here. Probably to wash off the smell of sex. Did he do that for me? A small, traitorous flutter stirred in my chest.
“I didn’t lie,” I whispered.
He leaned in closer, his nose brushing against my cheek as he whispered in my ear, “I can smell lies, like I can smell fear, Emily. Remember, you’ll never get the chance to hide anything from me.”
The warmth of his breath against my neck made me flinch, but his hand pressed flat against my chest, holding me still. I tried to explain myself again.
“I didn’t lie about Tony and Lucia. I just didn’t tell the whole truth.”
“Don’t play word games, girl, because in the Mafia, those two words mean the same thing. And Mafia men aren’t into diplomacy or negotiation. If you want to stay alive, you better learn the rules. Fast.”
Then his tone turned razor-sharp. “I don’t want to hear another lie from you. Got it?”
Despite all his brutality, this man had the charisma of a leader. When he wanted something, it wasn’t only fear that made people listen. Theywantedto obey. I gave a small nod. His lips brushed from my ear down to the corner of my mouth, then he paused.
“Good girl. Now, tell me the truth. Did you enjoy watching me with another woman?”
My chest rose and fell beneath his hand, like I couldn’t get enough air into my lungs. “I don’t know.”
His hand slid lower, slipping beneath the hem of my T-shirt, grazing my stomach, making it even harder to breathe.
“Think again.” He said.
I forced a breath past the tightness in my throat, desperate to end this torturous moment. “Yeah. I found it interesting.”
A sly grin curled the edge of his lips. “Did you imagine yourself in her place?”
I shook my head, unable to form a single word. His hand on my skin, the weight of his body pressing me down to the sheets stole my voice. I’d never felt like this before. Never been wanted this much. I couldfeelhow much he desired me. And it terrified me. I was afraid he’d take away my choice.
His hand crept back up, slower this time. He leaned in, voice low and full of heat. “Have you ever imagined yourself under me?” A pause. “Ever gotten wet thinking about me?” Another. “Touched yourself, dreaming about me?”
When he grabbed my breast, I instinctively twisted away, trying to break free. But a sharp pain tore through my side and I cried out. Carlo sprang back like he’d been burned, suddenly standing next to the bed.
“I’m sorry. It still hurts when I move too quickly.” I didn’t even know why I was apologizing.
“I know. Your doctor told me.”
He walked over to the small loveseat in the corner and gestured. “Come sit with me.”
That bastard actually thought he could treat me like a dog. Not that I had the guts to say it to his face. So, like an obedient pet, I got up and did exactly what he said.
