Total pages in book: 108
Estimated words: 102546 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 513(@200wpm)___ 410(@250wpm)___ 342(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102546 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 513(@200wpm)___ 410(@250wpm)___ 342(@300wpm)
She slaps me across the face. “I will not …”
I wrap my hand around her throat and shove her into the wall by the door, slamming her back into it. Breathing heavily, I glare down at her. The woman shows no fear. She can’t be more than five two and a hundred pounds. I’ve seen grown men more afraid of me. “You do not have a say here. Do you understand?” I ask through gritted teeth.
“I will not be your prisoner,” she spits out. Her hands come up to my bare chest, and she tries to push me away.
I step into her, pushing my body flush with hers, pinning her to the wall. “No one knows you exist.” Her body softens against mine, and her lips part as if that fact never occurred to her, and now that she realizes it, it’s crippling. “I had everyone at the hospital sign NDAs to ensure no one speaks of you.” The Kings were right. If the wrong person knew where she was, it’d be over. And Luca would never forgive me. “So either you hide here in my house, or I ship you off again.” I lean my face down to hers and inhale her hair. It smells like my shampoo. Fuck, the thought of her naked in my shower makes my pulse race. “And I send you somewhere that you have no chance of escape.” Pulling back, I look down at her, and her silvery-blue eyes are swimming in tears. They search mine for any sign that I’m bluffing. I’m not. Shipping her away would be the best thing for both of us. Not only because of her life being in danger but also because my cock is hard, and all I want to do right now is rip off that shirt, bend her over, and eat her pussy. “Do you understand?”
She sniffs and lifts her chin; her hands grip my forearms, digging her nails into my skin. “Capisco perfettamente.” She speaks in Italian, and my cock jerks inside my jeans. Something about the way her voice sounds when she speaks Italian makes my knees go weak. Straightening her shoulders, she repeats in English. “I understand perfectly, Bones.”
I don’t miss the fact that she calls me by my nickname. She’s treating me as a King. Good. I’m not her friend. Releasing her neck, I take a step back. She lets go of my arms, and she reaches up to rub her now tender skin. I wasn’t holding her that tight. Not like last time.
The first tear falls down her face, and I watch it roll over her lip and chin before it falls onto the shirt. She just stands there, staring at me, looking defeated. Her mind is finally telling her that she will have no freedom here either. It’s Italy all over again. But at least she was alone there. Here, she has me—her own personal security guard in a gated prison.
We all do what must be done. My father once told me. I had to learn that the hard way, and so will she.
“Get out,” I order as she continues to just stand there.
She blinks, and fresh tears run down her face. Slowly, her eyes rise to meet mine, and they grow cold with a look of pure hatred in them. My name was just added to her very long list of people she hates. Which is fine, as long as I’m at the top. I’m a competitive person. “Luca lied.”
I tilt my head to the side with that statement. “About?”
“You. The Kings. He said you were different than my family, but you’re not. You’re all the same. Controlling and manipulative.” She pushes off the wall, taking a step toward me.
The corner of my lip turns up. “I do whatever needs to be done. No matter the price.”
To that, she says nothing. My eyes drop to her bare legs again, and my cock reminds me that it still thinks the idea of her and me naked is the best way to handle the situation. I have to agree. Reaching down, I undo my belt, and she stiffens. My eyes find hers once again. “I’m going to shower. Either you get naked and join me or get the fuck out.” I unbutton them, followed by the zipper.
She lets out a huff and then spins around, storming out of the bathroom and slamming the door shut. I meant that more as a threat than an invitation. But I’d be lying if I said I’m not disappointed she didn’t take me up on it.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
MIA
“I SAW HIM,” I growl at Luca while he stands in my bedroom.
Running a hand through his hair, he sighs. “I told him you were no one.”
I flinch at his words even though it’s the same thing I told the strange man who stood in my bedroom yesterday. “He’s a King.” I heard Luca call him Bones. And although I’ve never met the Kings, I know who they are.