Page 30 of All the Dangerous Things

I relaxed my hands, which were tight fists at my side, and then pushed his door open, stepping over the threshold and closing it silently behind me.

It took long seconds for my eyes to adjust to the darkness. He didn’t have curtains on his floor-to-ceiling windows, and the lights from the city cast across his apartment, creating this hazy glow.

And then I saw him. Gio. He sat on the couchwith an arm slung over the back, his legs outstretched and slightly spread, a bottle of whiskey in his free hand. He said nothing as he brought the bottle to his mouth and took the longest damn drink I’d ever seen someone take without wincing.

“Lock the door,” he said in a gravelly voice.

I did as he said, and the sound of the lock engaging had my heart jumping to my throat.

“I couldn't stay away,” I admitted, finally speaking, although I didn’t sound like myself. And the longer he stared at me silently, the more my heart raced for a different reason. “I told my brothers about everything.” I swallowed, expecting Gio to be upset, but he just sat there and drank. “I didn’t tell them about you though. That you’re the one who saved my life.”

“Why?”

I licked my lips and took a step closer but then froze and inhaled a deep breath. I didn't want to lie anymore. “Because they’d see it as a betrayal that you didn’t let them know right away about what happened. They’d take it personally.”

He pushed up off the couch and walked closer to me. I noticed the whiskey bottle was almost empty and wondered if it had been full when he started.

“You took an enormous risk coming here. Yourbrothers would kill me if they knew.” He smirked, but I knew he didn’t think this was funny.

“I don't want them to come after you. I don’t want them to kill you.” He was right in front of me now, and I stepped back, my back hitting the door. I thought about last week and being in this same position, when Gio was so close that all I could see and smell was him.

“Your brothers don’t scare me, and they certainly aren't strong enough to kill me, but your concern for my well-being is cute,bambolina.”

I tipped my head back and stared at his face. He brought the bottle up again and took a long pull from it, his gaze never leaving mine.

“They are crazy.” I loved my brothers, but the truth was the truth.

He stepped closer, crowding me. “Sono più pazzo.”I’m crazier.

I didn’t know what he said, but Gio had spoken with so much clear intent I knew whatever he uttered was the absolute truth, his wicked-ass grin causing my pussy to clench. “I had to see you,” I whispered, admitting what I should have kept to myself.

His eyes narrowed, his presence overwhelming.

I swallowed hard, feeling a shiver run down my spine when he didn’t respond.

Gio's jaw was clenched, and I swore we were in a stare-down, where it was this tug-of-war I didn’t know I was fighting.

And then in a sudden move that pulled a shocked gasp from me, Gio grabbed my wrist, hauling me forward. My body slammed into his before he took a step to press my body against the door once again, and I placed my palms on the rock-hard expanse of his male chest that was only covered by a thin, white t-shirt.

“This isn’t a game,bambolina.”

“Who said I was playing games?”

He leaned down so our lips were only inches apart. I smelled the alcohol on his warm breath, and I found it highly arousing. “Do you have any idea what wouldactuallyhappen if your brothers found out you were here?”

I looked up at him, my head resting back on the front door. He was a dangerous man, a mafia boss who had no doubt seen and done things that would make most people run screaming. Hell, he’d killed for me… right in front of me.

There was something about Gio that drew me in, made me feel alive in a way I never had before. I’dnever been touched or had sex.Hell, I’d never so much as kissed a boy while growing up.

Men had steered clear of me, at first because my father demanded I remain untouched for whomever he pawned me off to. And then, my brothers…. Everyone was too scared to even look at me, let alone talk to me.

“I know the risks,” I said softly.

God, was I really going to say what I was about to say?

Yes. It’s too late to turn back now.

“But being here is worth it.”

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