“Look at me,” I demanded.
She obeyed, her blue eyes shining bright for the first time since she had been with me. We were standing in my foyer as the luggage was loaded into my speedboat outside. She had just come down from seeing Haley, wearing the exact outfit I told her to wear. My angel was a vision in black.
The front door was open, the late morning sun shining into the house, making her blonde ponytail shine like a damn beacon.
An hour ago, she was coming on my face, begging for a form of mercy I wouldn’t give. My cock was straining against my pants painfully, my thoughts racing, my dark world tilted on its axis as my angel smiled up at me. Touching her was never a part of the plan, but when she pressed my gun into her, I lost all sense of control.
The second my lips touched hers, everything changed.
I gripped her jaw, her soft skin burning against mine. I couldn’t get enough. My dick ached to be inside her, stretching her, claiming her as she screamed my name.
“Who owns you?”
“You do,” she said. Two little words had the power to make me blow in my fucking pants. That dress she was wearing would be ripped from her skin later.
“Karina,” I warned.
She stepped closer to me.
“Col, I want this. I want you.” The softness in her voice sent a shiver up my spine.
A part of me didn’t like this—didn’t want this. This wasn’t what I was supposed to do. I should have killed her months ago, ridding myself of the temptation—but I could never fucking kill her.
The day my angel died would be the day I would light a match and watch this world burn.
“Wanting me comes with darkness, angel.”
I was taking her to Boston with me.
At this point, I didn’t know what the fuck I was doing. My insurance was set in place, but she was never a part ofthis plan—no matter how much I might have wanted it. She was never meant to be here. All I knew was that I wanted her with me. Her presence was like nicotine. Addictive. Toxic. Heavenly.
She touched my face, her palm on my cheek.
Fuck. I liked that.
Ilovedthat.
I tightened my jaw, hating that she had this power over me.
“I trust you, Col.” Her voice was soft and assuring.
“With more than just your body?” I snapped, not believing her. I didn’t give my blonde angel a chance to answer, walking away from her.
“Don’t you dare,” she hissed, grabbing my arm.
There was darkness inside of her too, and I wanted to bring it out. I wanted to taste it, to fuck it, bend it to my will as I consumed her. Jesus.
What the fuck?
Turning to face her, I admitted the truth to myself.
I was pissed at myself for giving into her, wanting her with me. I was pissed at Romano for lying to me, years and years ofdevoted service—for what? I was pissed that I'd been running this goddamn empire for months while he lied to me, mourning a spineless son who liked to fall in love with cheap whores and whine.
Ray Romano underestimated me.
He thought he had control of me, but the truth was, I was in control of him. Behind the scenes, I was the one calling the shots, not him.
Did his men respect him? Yes, but they stopped fearing him a long time ago.
