Page 20 of Queen of Vice

“I have no intention of running,” I replied.

“That’s good to hear. Because if you did, I would have to chase after you and trust me, I always catch what I hunt.”

His smile now held a menacing edge. I tried to brush off the unease creeping into my every pore, but it clung to me like a sinister shadow.

His hand reached out to tuck a loose strand of hair behind my ear, a gesture that should have been comforting but instead felt like a warning. I inhaled sharply as his body grazed against mine, causing me to fight against a shiver. I was only wearing my black sports bra and matching shorts, which Mateo seemed to take full notice of. His gaze traveled down my figure, following the path of his hands as they traced over my bare skin. The sensation was like a burning imprint on my body. I had to resist the urge to lean into him, unsure of this intense attraction between us. This feeling was unlike anything I had ever experienced before.

“You’re joining me for dinner tonight," he murmured.

"Why?"

"We have a deal to finalize, don't we?"

"Is it necessary for us to eat together in order to do that?"

"It is," he confirmed, tracing the outline of my lips with his finger. "And afterward, I plan on spending all night making you come."

I blinked, feeling the heat rise in my cheeks as I pulled away from his touch. "I don't recall signing up for any of this," I protested, my voice shaky.

He flashed a sly grin, his eyes dark and smoldering. “Dinner?” he questioned. “Or me fucking you until you can’t walk or remember your own name?”

“Both. But mostly the second one.” I wasn't naive, but I was still a virgin and couldn't fathom sleeping with this man. Despite how my body reacted to him or how good-looking he was, I wasn't ready for that kind of intimacy. The thought alone was overwhelming and intimidating, considering his vast experience compared to mine.

He laughed, clearly amused that I was growing flustered. “If this is all it takes, anjinho, imagine how you’ll feel by the end of the night.”

I started to voice my concern but his grip on me tightened, silencing me. "You don't need to say anything else," he said firmly. With one hand still on my waist and the other covering my mouth, he continued, ". “You don’t need to say anything else. All you need to do is walk to and from the car. You don’t even have to concern yourself with what to wear. Not that you’ll be wearing it long.”

I glared and he applied more pressure to keep me silent. "A nod that you understand will suffice."

I grudgingly bobbed my head. He removed his hand from my mouth and stepped away. "I'll send a car for you."

With that, he simply turned and resumed his jog. I remained where I was until I could no longer see him, then headed in the opposite direction, my head spinning and worry setting in.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

When I returned from my jog, the house was silent; neither my grandmother nor my uncle had returned yet. I was relieved by their absence. I ascended the stairs thinking about Mateo's declaration, that he’d be having dinner with me tonight—without specifying a time. How was I supposed to explain that to my uncle and grandmother? I didn't care what they thought, but I dreaded their inevitable barrage of questions. I hardly had the answers myself. I had yet to know why this man had taken such a vested interest in me. I could only take his words with a grain of salt.

As I approached my bedroom, a sense of dread gnawed at me. Entering, I silently prayed that the stench of burning flesh had finally dissipated. I had disposed of the severed hand Mateo had sent to me by tossing it into the fireplace, unable to think of any other way to handle it.

Returning it to him was out of the question and touching it any more than necessary was unthinkable. Thankfully, the smell was gone—an experience I never wished to endure again. But now, on my bed, another satin-wrapped gift box awaited me, its presence unmistakably linked to Mateo. A wave of unease washed over me as I stepped further into the room and closed the door. How had his messenger managed to place it here before my return?

Then again, if he was having me watched they could've come right in after I left. With cautious steps, I approached the bed, eyeing the box suspiciously. My heart pounded as I reached out and picked it up, feeling its weight. I gave it a gentle shake, listening intently. There were no unsettling sounds, no telltale signs of another gruesome surprise. Relieved but still wary, I carefully set the box back down on the bed. I hesitated for a moment longer, then began to untie the satin ribbon, my fingers trembling slightly.

Another wave of relief washed over me when no severed parts appeared. Inside was a stunning black dress, elegant and meticulously designed by Alexander McQueen, the tag still attached, indicating its exorbitant price. Alongside it was a pair of heels, their signature red soles gleaming. Nestled beside them was a small note card with a simple but commanding message: "Be waiting outside by 7.

A quick glance at the clock revealed it was already 4:30. Setting the card aside, I carefully lifted the dress from the box, still in disbelief at the unfolding events. I knew that getting entangled with him would irrevocably alter the course of my life yet again, but at this point, the choice felt like it was out of my hands.

I sat my cell phone down on the bed and stared at my reflection in the mirror with a frown. “Aren’t you guys supposed to talk me out of this?”

“We’re supposed to talk you out of bad decisions, not smart ones,” Melody replied.

“Have you not heard anything I’ve said?” I replied, frustration creeping into my tone.

“Listen, babe, Mateo Escuro doesn’t casually tell a woman he’s taking her to dinner.”

“He doesn’t do dinner, period,” Melody added.

“Mel’s right. He just jackrabbits them into the headboard and then they disappear.”

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