Page 10 of Sinister Intentions

I scooped up the terrified pup and cradled it against my chest as it let out a pained yelp. I locked eyes with Matt who was standing between the car and his open door, and jerked my head towards the driver’s seat.

He opened his mouth to protest, but then, apparently thinking better of it, rounded the hood and took the wheel while shaking his head.

I eased into the passenger side while holding the shivering puppy against my chest. “It’s okay, Picco. I got you,” I murmured.

Matt shot me a sidelong glance. “Seriously, bro? What if it belongs to someone?”

“Just shut up and drive,” I growled and pressed the trembling bundle to my chest.

CHAPTER FOUR

Icouldn’t help but stare down at the road. Even from above, Vince Salvini looked like a wretched, ethereal god of doom and gloom, who’d descended to Earth to bring trouble and misfortune.

Misfortune and trouble for me.

According to my research, he was the most dangerous man in NYC.

Well, whoever coined that title forgot to mention the menacing, infuriating, and grumpy side of him.

He was like a dog with a bone, or maybe a dog who wanted a bone…if the bone were me…being married to his brother.

Suddenly, he turned around and looked up as if he could feel me watching him.

I jumped back, my heart suddenly galloping, and hid behind my curtain, but he kept on looking with those intense eyes and annoyance etched into every line of his face.

Did he see me?

Maybe he had some kind of sixth sense…or he was the demon himself. Wouldn’t that fit the picture perfectly?

I glared and poked out my tongue at him.

Childish, but…feel this, demon.

He shook his head, turned back to the car, and took the wheel.

The ruthless head of the Salvini crime family…driving himself. Did that mean he had some kind of control issues—that would fit.

And would he be like that in every aspect of his life? Dominant and needing to be in control?

I averted my gaze, heat creeping up my neck. I would definitely not think about Vince Salvini’s dominance, in whatever aspect of his life.

No sir. Not gonna go there.

My moment of weakness earlier in the library was borderline dangerous because if the infamous Vincenzo Salvini knew he managed to crack my armor—if only for an instant—there was no way of knowing what can of worms would open up.

My mind raced. I was almost certain Vince had some suspicion. But how would he have found out?

And if my real identity had been linked to the hacking, I would have found out by now, right?

And how would anyone have found out anyway? I’d been so meticulous, covering my tracks at every turn. I had been new to the group, but if they ratted me out…the thought made my blood run cold.

Shit.

I needed my laptop so I could contact my group and figure out if there was any chance Vince knew.

And then, I needed to find the strength and opportunity to escape this madness. Because right now, every instinct screamed at me to cut and run before it was too late.

There was a knock on my door, a split second before Fee barged into my room and fixed me with a concerned look. “You okay?”

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