Suddenly, a thought popped into my head:he found out and was furious with me.
“Lucky you, she has a break right now,” Keri, not sohelpfully, told Ciro. I could throttle her and would give her an earful the next time we were alone.
He inhaled my scent, his chest rising against my back. “Perfect.”
“Sorry, but I don’t want to waste my fifteen-minute break on you.” I whipped my wrist out of his grasp and faced him. “Leave. There’s nothing to talk about.”
There was a time I would have done anything for Ciro. Anything and everything. Not anymore though. I’d much rather spend my break in excruciating pain, ripping my nails out of my fingers.
In reality, my breaks were normally spent in the bathroom with a double breast pump attached to my chest, where I winced through the rapid, powerful suctioning. Unfortunately, I didn’t need to empty my jugs yet. I usually ducked into the bathroom ten minutes before the dinner rush hit.
His probing gaze danced across my face, moving to my hair then to my lips. I felt his commanding power searing my skin even though he wasn’t physically touching me. To say he unnerved me was the understatement of the year.
I was so stinkin’ weak when it came to him. He made me tingle between my thighs. Made me wet with need. How could he conjure pure lust in me after only thirty seconds?
My traitorous body reacted on its own accord, while hot tears burned behind my eyes. I’d needed this son of a bitch so damn much this last year, and now here he was, acting like he hadn’t destroyed me.
“Then give me five minutes of your precious time,” he said in a tone I knew well.
I snapped out of my near comatose state. Ciro compromising? Unheard of. Given his unyielding tone, Iknew I didn’t have any other choice but to obey. He wouldn’t be refused no matter how many times I rejected him. If I didn’t talk to him, he would never leave. And I needed him to leave. As much as I wanted to cause a scene, I wouldn’t.
Like a good, obedient girl, I relented. “Fine. Corner table. Do you want something to drink?” Why I offered him a beverage was beyond me. I was too nice for my own damn good.
“Whatever you’re having.” His delectable lips curled in victory. He’d won. Just like always.
But not really. He’d lostbigthe day I walked out of his life, and I prayed he never found out the depths of his loss. There was no telling what he’d do. He could punish me in unimaginable ways for betraying him. He could also not give a damn.
Had I really betrayed him, though? In my mind, absolutely not.
“Water it is. Go sit.” I turned on my heel and went to the serving station, trying like crazy to hold it together. What was with the harsh tone, Isla? Clearly, I was in a state of fight or flight.
Grabbing onto the counter, I held it tightly to keep myself upright. My insides were shaking violently. I felt faint. Numb. Terrified that he was here to take my baby and toss my expired body into the Pacific Ocean, where no one would ever look for me. After he had his way with me first, of course. Sex before death wasn’t the worst way to go, especially sex with Ciro Remotti. It’d be like a prisoner having an expensive steak on Death Row right before their lethal injection.
I sensed Ciro tracking my every move as I reached for two glasses, filled them with ice, water, and a slice of lemon. Not for one second did I feel his eyes leave me.
Inhaling a cleansing breath, I soldiered on.
My hands shook as I carried the glasses to the corner table. Whatever Ciro wanted, I didn’t care to hear. But maybe if I appeased him for five minutes, he’d leave and never bother me again.
Foolish girl. You know it won’t be that easy. This is Ciro, the Don of the Remotti crime family. He wouldn’t be here if he didn’t want something, presumably you.
His intense gaze drilled into me, and he ravished me with his eyes. The man had no shame whatsoever. After nearly a year and half, he had the audacity to treat me like I was still his.
I set our drinks on the table; grateful I didn’t make a fool of myself spilling the water everywhere. Sitting across from him, I dramatically took my phone out and started the timer. “Five minutes. Go.”
He chuckled low, shaking his head, and sipped his water. “How are you?”
“Really? You only have five minutes, and that’s what you ask me?” I allowed myself to stare into his all-consuming eyes. Not surprising at all that I couldn’t read him or make out his angle.
“It’s only proper etiquette.”
I rolled my eyes. “Are you here on business? Did you happen to waltz into my place of work and felt obligated to speak to me out of ‘proper etiquette?’” I made air quotes. “Let me put your mind at ease. I won’t be offended if you ignore me. In fact, I prefer you did.” Sarcastic much? More like bitchy.
“No business. I’m here for you.”
Shivers coursed through my body at his words.I’m here foryouslowly licked down my spine, tormenting me to the point I nearly jumped onto his lap in reverence.
“Yeah, okay. Three minutes.”
