Page 18 of Bound to the Crime Lord

Breathe, Juliette. Breathe.

I turned away from the mafia man and ambled into the car, and then he shut the door for me. I made sure to press myself as far into the door as possible to create the necessary space between him and me.

He got in on the other side and instructed his men to pull off the tarmac. The three cars followed one behind the other, and we were off.

What the hell had just happened? Whatever that little moment had been, it couldn’t happen again. The last thing I needed was to be attracted to the mafia king. I had enough on my plate as it was.

Chapter Eight

Manuel POV

She was temptation on legs. Everything about this woman drew me in. Her hair, her eyes, her lips.

I was not one to believe in auras, but there was a light to her—an innocence. It was the kind of light that contrasted with the darkness that resided inside of me. I should want nothing to do with her, and yet she intrigued me.

My eyes traced the length of her body on the opposite side of the car. She wore a pair of skinny jeans, a cashmere sweater, and her hair was in that tight ponytail of hers. I yearned to reach across the seat and free her wavy curls.

She turned her head to the side and caught my gaze. I didn’t miss the way her cheeks tinted slightly and the slight pout of her lips.

I affected her to some degree, that I was most certain of. When she had gotten into the car it took all my restraint not to take her from behind then and there. Her ass had been so perfect and ripe for the taking.

But I held back. This one needed patience. I couldn’t come on too strong and then risk her pulling away. She was not like the others; she would not easily cave into our connection. She was stubborn like a mule. My favorite thing about her.

The fire that lay beneath her surface was what made me want to crack her open. How hot did it burn? And could I stifle her flame with my own?

The car pulled up to her townhouse and she wasted no time getting out of the car. She had not said a single word to me the entire drive over. Instead, she took to watching the buildings go past in silence.

Eduardo looked at me through the review mirror with a question in his eyes.

“No, I’ll help her. Make sure the perimeter is safe.”

I got out of the car and followed her.

I walked into the small foyer and drank in my new surroundings. Her home was exactly what I had expected it to be. Often, when you walked into a person's home, you could tell the kind of environment they were rooted in. Juliette’s home was very much lived in. Things weren’t neatly tucked away and folded and placed to perfection. There were cups on the counter in the kitchen and the smell of caramel wafted in the air. Her doctor’s bay rested at the entrance with her sneakers.

You could tell that someone lived in this home. It wasn’t just some museum.

I walked through her home, taking in every little detail of her space. The colors were muted and neutral, much like how she liked society to perceive her.

There were dozens of framed photos on the walls, showcasing various trips and adventures she and her brother had been on. As I moved through the living room, I noticed that there were only pictures of her and her brother. No parents, nofriends or lovers. The last part would have been an issue I would have dealt with swiftly. I didn’t like sharing my toys with anyone.

I stopped to admire a photo of her with a wine glass in hand in what seemed to be a vineyard. Her blue eyes dazzled against the sunlight that hit her face. Her smile changed everything about her.

I had yet to have the privilege of seeing this smile directed at me, but my God it was a marvel. But it wasn’t just her smile that captivated me, it was her eyes.

The Juliette I saw now was nothing like the one in the picture. This Juliette had joy and light in her eyes. The Juliette I had now was far more muted and subdued. That radiating light that she’d seemed to emit so boldly before was now gone.

What had happened to her sunshine?

I heard the sound of something crashing to the ground. Without hesitation, I pulled out my gun and moved up the stairs toward where I presumed her room was.

“Dammit, that hurt.” I heard Juliette’s muffled voice and I eased.

I withdrew my gun and placed it at the back of my waistband. I walked down the hallway to the open door at the very end. As I drew closer and closer, I could hear Juliette’s voice much clearer.

“Why must he be so damn… him. He’s a mafia king. Good girls like me don’t find murderers and Drug Lords attractive.” She was muttering to herself. I couldn’t hide the amusement at her obvious disdain for finding me attractive.

This little cat-and-mouse game of ours was going to be fun.

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