Page 19 of Queen of Vice

His expression became shrouded. “I would never joke about something like this.”

I stepped closer and lowered my voice. “You sent me a hand.”

“Hm, yes. But did you recognize it? I was hoping you would.”

The approaching footsteps grew closer. I took a step back just as a pretty dark-skinned woman rounded the bend. She gave us a small smile that Mateo returned with a grin, causing a noticeable blush to stain her cheeks as she jogged past.

"What is wrong with you?" I questioned as soon as she was out of hearing range.

He looked down at me clearly amused. "It was just a smile, Elena."

"What?" Did he think I'd just gotten jealous? "I'm talking about that gift you sent."

"Oh. Did you not like it?"

I took a couple more small steps away from him. He remained where he was, watching me closely. “Why? Why would you have it brought tome?”

“What would you rather have had?”

My brow pinched. "You can't possibly mean I had choices."

"With me, you'll always have choices." He stepped closer. "I also took the smaller parts of him.” He grinned and got a look on his face that made me think he was replaying the moment he dismembered the man in question, finding joy in it.

Ugh. I was not broaching that subject. “Again, why did you have someone deliver that to me?”

“Think of it as a token of my promised devotion.”

“You could’ve sent flowers or a card,” I retorted.

“Flowers wither and actions speak louder than words, but if you want flowers, I’ll build you a greenhouse. If that isn’t good enough, I can give you fields of them.”

The sincerity with which he was speaking baffled me. This entire conversation made me wonder if I had somehow taken a wrong turn and entered the Twilight Zone. “Flowers may die but last I checked severed limbs aren’t everlasting. Did you expect me to store it as a keepsake, put it on a shelf in my bedroom?”

“Of course, not. I would never allow another man in our room.”

“Our room?”

“Where you’ll be sleeping,” he replied withouthesitation.

I dropped my eyes to the tarmac and shook my head, repeating more to myself, “What is wrong with you?”

He suddenly stepped forward, bridging the remainder of the gap I’d created. We were practically chest to chest. With a gentle touch, he grasped my chin and forced my eyes back to his. “A man put his hands on you. That’s what was wrong with me, Elena. So, I removed his fucking hands. I feel much better now.”

I stared up at him at a complete loss for words. Rumors were one thing, reality another. He truly was unhinged in an exceedingly nonchalant way. It terrified me that I didn’t one-hundred percent fear that. And now I knew without a doubt that he was, in fact, having me watched. Those men at the club weren’t some average employees coming to handle a disturbance.

Melody and Peyton were right. For some reason this man wanted me. He wouldn’t have looked at me twice otherwise or given me gift-wrapped body parts. But there had to be more to this than the physical attraction between us.

“Mr. Escuro—.”

“Mateo,” he swiftly corrected, releasing my chin. “I’m only Mr. Escuro to men under me and even then, it makes me think I’m trying to replace my father, who is alive and well.”

“Okay…Mateo,” I tested out. “I think I missed something between the last time we spoke and now.”

“You haven’t. I’ve decided not to wait and move things along.”

“What does that mean?”

“I had a thought that you might try to run away from me, but then I realized you’re too smart for that. You wouldn’t make such a reckless decision.”

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