Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 79991 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 400(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79991 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 400(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
The flash of realization breaks through my self-pity, and just in time.
He left the door open. I don’t know where he took Prince, but he left the door open. This is it—my chance. I scramble off the bed before my brain can catch up with my body, peering up and down the hall and finding it empty. This could be a huge mistake, but I have to take it.
I run to the top of the stairs on my tiptoes, even holding my breath in case it helps. Where is he? Where did he take Prince? I’m not sure it matters because I’m getting closer to the living room, creeping down the stairs, and leaning over the railing to see if Enzo is nearby. I don’t hear him. Maybe I’ll finally get lucky, and he took him to a soundproof room or something. Unlikely, but who knows in a place like this? With people like this? I’m sure a soundproof room would come in handy.
The front door is right ahead once I reach the landing. I’m shaking so hard I can barely run in a straight line, but somehow, I manage it, my feet slapping against the hardwood, my arms outstretched. The door is locked, but it’s only a plain deadbolt. All I have to do is reach it.
“Hey there.”
No sooner do I hear his voice than the weight of his body slams me against the door I was only a second away from opening. And of course, that’s not enough—he grabs the back of my neck and digs his fingers in, pushing me harder against the door until I’m afraid he might snap my bones.
“Now, what did you think you were doing?” he growls in my ear. “I know you weren’t trying to get out of here, right? You wouldn’t do something as pointless as trying to get away from me.”
He leans in until I’m sure he’s going to crush me. “Because, sweetheart, that would be a terrible mistake.”
I have just enough room to pull in a deep breath, which I’m ready to let out in a scream because he’s going to kill me. I know he is; this was the last straw. And when he clamps a hand over my mouth, I’m sure of it. No more letting me up for air at the last second like before.
“You don’t want to scream,” he continues before emitting a dark chuckle. “It’ll only turn me on.”
8
ENZO
This fucking girl. When is she going to learn to leave well enough alone?
“No. No. No,” she screams from behind my hand like it will make any difference. Like I’m going to take pity because she doesn’t want to be here. As if I want her here. As if I want to deal with any of this.
“You are way more trouble than you’re worth.” Especially since I can’t seem to think straight with her body wiggling against mine, rubbing against me in all the best—or, depending on how I look at it, worst—possible places.
My hunger burns, desire unfolding low in my gut, the devil on my shoulder reminding me how easy it would be to take her here and now. There’s nobody to stop me. Even Prince left, not wanting to face my wrath over the way he touched her.
“Keep it up,” I growl in her ear. “The more you fight, the worse it will be when I shove my cock in your mouth. Or maybe I’ll put it in this cute little ass you keep rubbing against it. Is that your way of telling me what you want?” Her enraged scream only makes me harder. I bet she’d be explosive in the right situation.
“Back to bed for you,” I grunt, bitterly accepting the fact that I can’t give in to anything as coarse and low-level as desire right now. Losers, weak assholes—they’re the ones who lose sight of the end goal, too undisciplined to fight what they want here and now in favor of the bigger picture.
One of Renato De Luca’s many lessons. It runs through my head as I lift her off her feet and carry her kicking and screaming back to the upstairs bedroom.
“This is probably my fault,” I snarl. “I should have locked the door. I won’t be making that mistake again.” Her dismayed moan makes me laugh. She really thought she was being slick, like she could get away from me. All she’s done is fuck herself over. I’ll be doubly sure to secure her from now on.
I don’t know whether it’s a relief or a disappointment when I finally reach the bedroom and throw her onto the bed. She flips onto her back right away. Rage, hatred, and fear fight for control of her expressions as she scrambles back until she hits the headboard. Like she expects me to fuck her now. At least I know my intimidation tactics are working.