Page 55 of Twilight Mask

“What did you tell her about me?” I ask him.

“The truth. That you and I are seeing each other. She wasn’t happy about it, but like I said, she owes Marco a whole lot. I think she’ll get past it. But maybe she won’t. That doesn’t matter.”

I touch the rim of my glass but don’t drink. I feel cold and confused, and I’m trying to decide how much of this I can believe, but Jackal hasn’t lied to me yet. He made it clear that revealing his identity would ruin our game, and he was absolutely right about that, and he never claimed to be something that he’s not. There have been multiple opportunities for him to hurt me, to spy on me, to steal something from me, to press me for information about my family, but he hasn’t a single time. It’s always been about us.

“Were you involved in the war between our families?” I ask, afraid of what he’s going to say.

Again, he nods. “Yes, Marco was. He ran a crew that got involved in more than a few altercations with the Biancos, but mainly they controlled the cyber division of the Famiglia.”

“Do you still hate us? Do you still hate my family?”

This time, he hesitates. His shoulders tense, and his head tilts to the side as if considering. But he nods. “Yes, baby, I do.”

I appreciate his honesty, but hearing that hurts anyway. “Then how can you justify this?”

“I don’t know,” he admits. “You aren’t your family. I don’t hate you, but I do hate the organization your brother runs. They’ve been systematically destroying any competition and closing an iron fist around Chicago. Soon every minor crime family will either be paying tribute or chased out of town. My future depends on resisting them.”

I let that sink in. I’m not sure how I feel about it. I’ve never been very involved in the Famiglia and never really cared what my brothers were up to before. He’s right, I’m not the organization, but I am still a Bianco, and the men running the Famiglia are still my brothers. I care about them, even if I don’t really care about the mafia.

“Your boss drove armored trucks into the oasis and tried to murder me,” I say quietly, meeting his gaze and trying to keep my voice from shaking. “He tried to hurt everyone I care about. Why should I get past that?”

“It was war. I wasn’t involved in that operation. I could make other excuses, but you’re right. You don’t owe me anything.”

I don’t like that answer. I don’t like it at all. I lean toward him, pitching my voice softer. “I want you to beg, Jackal, or Marco, or whoever you are right now. If you want me to keep seeing you, I want you to beg.”

He stiffens. I try not to smile. My heart’s pounding in my chest at the idea of this powerful man pleading with me. For most of this relationship, he’s been the one in control, but now I feel like the roles have reversed, at least for the moment, and I like it.

I figure, if this proud man’s willing to debase himself for me, then I can believe that he’s sincere. And really, I don’t hold what happened against him, in the same way he shouldn’t hold all the dead Santoro soldiers and his dead boss against me. It was a war, and we didn’t know each other. It’s not like I didn’t pull the trigger more than a few times myself during that fight. I have blood on my hands, too.

“Please, Laura,” he whispers, but I’m already shaking my head.

“Not good enough.”

“I need you,” he says, speaking louder. “Listen to me, baby. I can’t lose this, not when it’s only beginning. Not when it feels so right. Please, give me another chance.”

I lick my lips and cross my legs. “Not too bad. But I’m not convinced.”

An edge of panic breaks into his voice. “You’re all I think about,” he says and that gets my attention. “From the moment I wake up until the moment I go to sleep, I can’t get you out of my head. Even when you blocked your cameras, I keep refreshing the link I have to your house’s system, obsessively making sure it’s still there. I need another chance with you, Laura. I need you in my life. I need our game, but I also need you, and whatever it is we’re building.”

Tingles run down my spine. I sit up straighter. “More.”

He slips out of the booth and kneels beside the table. People are staring with open curiosity. “I’m pleading with you. I’m begging. I’ll give you anything. I’ll do anything. But I need you to give me another chance.” He moves closer and puts a hand on my thigh. I’m breathing fast and my mouth is watering at the sight of him on his knees, staring at me through his mask. And I swear, I can’t prove it, but I think he’s smiling.

“More,” I whimper.

His grip on my thigh tightens. “I dream about you. I touch myself, thinking about your taste. Ever since we played our first game together, you’re all I’ve wanted. I’m going to ruin my life for you, Laura Bianco, and it will have been absolutely worth it. Please, baby, give me another chance. Let me back into your life.” He’s right next to me, both hands on my leg, and I’m trembling with excitement. He leans in closer and whispers, “Did you like that, baby? Do you like it when I beg for you?”

I nod slowly at him, my mouth hanging open. Fuck, this guy somehow takes getting down on his knees and turns it around on me, like all along this was some game he’s playing. Like he’s the one teasing me, and not the other way around.

And it’s absolutely working.

“Let me taste your soaking wet little pussy again, baby,” he says, very quietly now. “I want to sink my cock between your legs. You haven’t had me inside of you yet, and I am fucking dying to stretch you out and make you come. I want to lick your nipples, make you sweat, kiss you hard until your lips are swollen, and I want to fill you to the brim again and again. I want to make you crawl to me, take my cock down your throat, and ride my dick until you can’t see color anymore. I want to make you mine, baby. Please, play another game with me.”

Well, shit.

My resistance officially melts away.

And my panties are soaking wet.

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