Page 128 of Tempting My Mafia Monster

He was tall. Really fucking tall. Dark, immaculate suit. Perfectly symmetrical face with sharp features. One look into his dark blue eyes, and I knew his type. Polished and controlled, but beneath the image of perfection lay a ruthless bastard any sane person would think twice before crossing.

I wasn’t anyone. And I definitely wasn’t sane.

“Aleksandr,” Giovanni greeted, shaking his hand before Alessio offered the same respect. “Welcome.”

The Russian turned his attention to me, sizing me up with a blank expression. “The Irish captive, I presume. Quite a story you are.”

Clearly, the Italians had prepared him.

“Maddox Moriarty,” Giovanni said, introducing me, since I made no attempt to greet him. “He’s provided useful insight into how Sean operates and who we should target to find him. We’ve managed to disrupt some of his businesses in Ireland to try to draw him out, but so far Sean isn’t taking the bait.”

Aleksandr stepped towards me and held out his hand. “Aleksandr Rostov.”

I stared at it for a moment, considered breaking his wrist, then looked away.

“...No.”

Tension crackled. Aleksandr retracted his hand. Giovanni groaned. Alessio glared. What they didn’t realise was that I was exercising self-control. If I touched that man, I’d kill him. When it became clear I wouldn’t cave to their intimidation or disbelief, an amused smirk tugged at the corners of the Russian’s lips.

“Not one for fake pleasantries?”

I didn’t answer, just glared daggers at him as he made his way to the other side of the table from me. The men all sat down.

The door opened again, and Raya slipped inside. Her eyes lit up when they met mine. My chest ached every time she looked at me like that, as if I truly meant everything to her.

Her expression changed quickly when she noticed Aleksandr had already arrived. She offered him a weak smile, and when he stood to greet her, I clenched my jaw so hard I heard my molars crack. If he touched her in front of me, I’d have no choice but to cave in the Russian’s skull.

I didn’t understand why I was like this. My protectiveness and possessiveness over this woman were instinctual. Completely fucking feral. I had no control over it. I had no idea how I was going to let her marry this asshole, but I would. I had to. She deserved more than the life I could offer her.

Luckily for him, Raya didn’t walk towards him. Instead, she came to my side of the table and pulled out the chair beside me.

I swallowed, keeping my gaze downcast, my jaw pulsing in time with my pounding heart as our knees brushed under the table.

She sat beside me, not him. Me. That calmed me enough to keep the beast inside leashed for now.

“I’ve located McKenna,” Aleksandr said with an unbothered air, causing all our heads to snap towards him. I narrowed my eyes, distrusting.

“Where?” Alessio asked.

“Crossing the border into Belgium.” Aleksandr tapped his fingers on the table, his eyes flicking between us all.

“You’ve confirmed this?”

“I have eyes and ears everywhere in Europe.” He didn’t say it with arrogance, but as if it were a fact the Italian had overlooked. I shifted in my chair, my pulse racing at the thought of being one step closer to revenge. “I have one of my best trackers following him. I’ll know his next moves before he makes them.”

“That’s great news,” Giovanni smirked, clapping his hands together. “Give us the location, and we’ll take it from here.”

Aleksandr’s gaze bounced around us all and landed on Soraya. My shoulders tensed.

“Information has value.”

There it was. What all mafia men did. Negotiated. Manipulated. Blackmailed. Call it what you want, but it was all the same. I rolled my tongue over my teeth, fighting the urge to dive across the table and force the information out of him.

“The Pakhan wants a wedding date set before we share any more details.”

My fists clenched on my knees, my nails breaking the skin. His father was calling the shots, and there was nothing anyone could do about it. The Italians handed the Russians their heads the moment they agreed to this alliance.

Every muscle in my body locked tight. Beside me, I felt Raya go still. I couldn’t look at her. I couldn’t look at him. I’d imagine them together. Then all hell would break loose.