Without thinking, I raised a hand to slap him. Unfortunately, he caught my wrist easily, keeping it midair, his thumb slowly caressing my pulse point. Bolts of electricity shot down my arm, all the way to the apex between my thighs, a shudder following in its wake.
“Careful…” he trailed off as his gaze shifted, pausing on a scar on the inside of my forearm. He stared at it for a moment. And maybe I’d imagined it but there was a faint change to his expression, something I couldn’t quite grasp.
“How did you get this?” His gentle tone was somewhat unnerving.
“What’s it to you,” I retorted, trying to pull my hand away.
Although I struggled, he didn’t let go. His features shuttered; he slowly brushed the thumb of his other hand over the indentation. I gasped, freezing, unsure if I was shocked by the gentle action or that he was the first person to touch the scar.
If anyone asked about it, I just shrugged it off as a school incident. The circular shape, twice the size of a dollar, with swirling lines on the inside of it and two straight lines on the outside top and bottom, looked like it had been burned into my flesh.
The disturbing part, just like so many other things, I had no memory of how I’d gotten it.
“Where do they live?” Remo asked, his tone suggesting he cared.
“Who?”
“The people who hurt you?” He caressed the scar once more and again my entire body reacted to his touch. Goosebumps skittered across every inch of my skin.
Flustered, I scowled, meeting his stare dead on. Thick dark lashes, most girls would kill for, fluttered downward, shielding his eyes from me and when they lifted barely a moment later, I could’ve sworn there was a subtle transformation to those blue irises.
Had they softened somewhat?
I took advantage of that change. “I’m to be engaged soon, my uncle has already made the arrangements with the other family.” It wasn’t an outright lie. My uncle’s visit, explaining I had to marry someone to get back a brother I somehow forgot, left me out of sorts.
Remo’s brow was slow to rise and ashamedly, I was attracted to that deep dimple following the clench of his jaw. He leaned closer, bringing the tip of his nose to mine and there was a distinct darkening to the color of his eyes. The gentleness nowreplaced with a pure primal threat I’d only ever seen in a vicious animal set loose on unsuspecting prey.
“That ring on your finger might be his, your pussy, however, will be mine. Forever.” There was an unquestionable harshness to that last word.
Dumbstruck, I barked out a laugh, tugging on the hand he refused to let go. “Are you that?—”
He placed a finger to my lips, cutting me off. “When I call, you’ll come. If not, I’ll fuck you where I find you.” My eyes widened. “Now, go sit your ass down and pretend you’re enjoying dinner. Tell your date if he doesn’t want to end up like that fucker,” he jerked a thumb over his shoulder, “he’ll keep his hands where I can see them.”
He was gone before I could formulate a suitable reply, not like it would’ve made a difference. My mafia monster was clearly in a league of morally gray men some women would give anything just to touch. Admittedly, my body might fall into that category, my head, however, cautioned I should stay as far away from him as possible.
Sagging against the wall, I breathed in deeply to calm my racing heart. The sudden appearance of two suited men had me straightening. Wordlessly, they flanked Billy, grasped his arms and stood.
“Where are you taking him?” I asked, not sure if I should bother myself with Billy or Remo’s men.
The taller of the two raked a slow gaze over me, his expression blank before they turned and walked off. A second later, Sean came down the passage, his face twisted in concern, his gaze following the three men as he reached me.
“Are you all right.” He breathed a sigh of relief.
“I’m fine. Sorry, I think the guy was drunk, so they walked him out.” God, did I just lie with a straight face. “Guess some people can’t handle their liquor.” My laugh was nervous as shit.Sean grinned and I used that moment to hide again. “Give me a minute, okay?”
“Sure.”
Inside the bathroom, I dabbed my cheeks and neck with cold water then took a moment to stare at my flushed reflection in the mirror. “When did my life become this complicated,” I snorted a laugh.
Barely three months ago, I was a budding neurologist with just one relationship. My work. Today, I had a good-looking date I should be relishing. A would-be stalker, who by the look of his blood loss might need a morgue. A potential engagement forced on me simply through blackmail over a brother I didn’t know I had. And then there was the arrogant criminal—a man I seriously shouldn’t want between my legs yet every time he opened his mouth, I wet my panties.
“When did my life become this complicated?” I repeated.
Blowing air out on a frustrated sigh, I patted my face with a paper towel then made my way back to the table. A quick look over Sean’s shoulder as I retook my seat showed Remo was still there. This time deep in discussion with two men, clearly badass from this angle yet not even close to the killer vibes emitting from my so-called admirer. Remo’s gaze met mine briefly, his smirk delivering a clear message of possession I planned to ignore.
Sean pouring me a refill distracted my stare down with my dark monster. “I had a great time today, Ishika. I’m hopeful we can do this again, soon.”
“I don’t see why not.” I smiled accepting his gentlemanly behavior which should’ve engaged all my senses, only I couldn’t help sneaking a look every now and then at the black-suited man behind him.
