Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 80503 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 268(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80503 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 268(@300wpm)
“I don’t know.”
“Don’t lie to me now.”
“Does it matter? I’m fired. I can’t get anywhere near him ever again.”
“Who are you working for?”
“Nobody.”
He inches closer. “You’re lying.”
“I’m not.” I clench my jaw and glare. “I’m working for myself, okay?”
His lips part. “And why would you risk your life to go through that man’s office?”
“Why would you?”
“I’m reckless and I’ve got a death wish. Besides, Malcolm doesn’t scare me. I’ve dealt with worse.”
“I’m all those things too, and I’ve got nothing to lose.”
He smiles at that. “I want to offer you a job.”
I blink rapidly, digesting, and take a long sip of my wine. “I’m sorry, you want to what?”
“Offer you a job.”
“Why the hell would you do that? You caught me snooping in my boss’s office.”
“You were looking for something you can use against him, right?”
I hesitate and wonder if I could lie to this guy’s face and get away with it. I decide that’s extremely unlikely. “Yes, I was.”
“Good. I like that. And I like the way you kiss. Come work for me.”
“I’m not going to—” My hands clench into fists. “I’m not working for you like that.”
He laughs, delighted, and takes a sip. Giovanna tosses me a look and I nod at her like I’m okay. She seems unhappy, but doesn’t come over.
“No, I don’t pay for that, don’t worry. When I fuck you, it’ll happen because you begged me to do it.”
“God, you’re such a prick.”
“No, I want you to come work for me because we have a common enemy. We both dislike Malcolm Strafford, and I like that you were willing to go to dangerous lengths to hurt him. I can give you what you want.”
“I doubt that.”
“Don’t doubt me, princess.” His eyes sharpen and he’s staring like a predator. “That would be a mistake.”
My heart’s racing and I feel dizzy from the alcohol and the stress and the strange, diffuse desire warring with my natural inclination toward hating this guy. He’s an arrogant mafia bastard and reminds me so much of all the other arrogant criminal dickheads I’ve known over the years. I know what getting involved with him will lead to.
But he’s also a Bruno. He’s got access and power and more funds than I can ever dream about.
Five minutes ago, getting revenge against Malcolm seemed impossible.
But now, with Gavino’s help?
“What kind of job are you offering me?”
He nods to himself, takes another drink, and spins the glass. “I’ll get you hired back into his organization. You’ll be my eyes and ears inside. Everything you learn, you’ll report back to me, and together we’ll sink a poisoned knife into that asshole’s chest. How’s that sound?”
I clear my throat. “It sounds… not bad, actually. But why do you hate him so much?”
“I’ll tell you if you’ll tell me.” I consider that and shake my head. He grins in response. “Didn’t think so.”
“Give me some time to think about this, okay? This is just… it’s a lot.”
“You know who I am. You know my family. This isn’t an empty offer. If you decide to come work for me, you’ll be mine. Do you understand?”
My jaw works. I hate the idea of being his but the idea of getting back into Malcolm’s orbit is extremely tempting, and this is by far my best chance of finding some measure of justice in this ugly world. I was willing to go to any lengths necessary, willing to risk death to get what I want.
Am I willing to give myself over to a man like Gavino?
“Let me think about it.”
“Take a few days. I’ll be in touch. In the meantime, I’d keep your head down.”
“Why?”
“You’re on Malcolm’s radar. It’s not healthy to be on Malcolm’s radar.”
“If he’s aware of me, how the heck will you get me back into his company?”
“Don’t worry about that, I’ll figure it out.” He stands up. I’m amazed by his size all over again—he dwarfs me like a giant. I remember his big hands on my hips, on my ass, in my hair. I remember his lips on mine.
I shiver with pleasure and turn away, unable to look at him.
This is a horrible mistake.
Whatever game Gavino is playing will get me killed more likely than not. A man like him doesn’t care about a girl like me—I’m nothing, a nobody, just a convenient pawn.
But my life is worth nothing.
Malcolm Strafford made sure of that a long time ago.
I’ve been ruined since the day I was born, and now I want Malcolm to suffer the way I’ve suffered.
The way my mother seethed and hurt and bled.
Gavino pays for my drink and leaves. I watch him go, wondering if this is salvation or damnation.
Chapter 4
Gavino
I take a long drink of coffee and stare out across the landscape toward where Villa Bruno sits on a low hill like a castle overlooking its feudal grounds. The house behind me is quiet and empty like it always is, though the exterior is bristling with cameras and nearby several guards walk lazily in the hot morning sun on a patrol of the mansion grounds.