Page 21 of Bound to the Mafia King

Yes, so she had said many times over.

“To a man you don’t want.”

“Does it ever matter what a woman wants in this world? My life was chosen for me before I took my first breath.” I didn’t miss the slight bitterness to her tone. There was something there that I would uncover with time.

“You won’t marry him.” I moved my thumb to her cheek and caressed the soft skin. As I trailed the pad of my thumb over her skin, it heated to the touch, turning a vibrant pink.

I loved to watch her fluster. She was always so prim and put together that I wanted to ruffle her feathers a little bit. I wanted to get her out of character.

“I will.” She placed her hand on my chest and tried to push me back, but I caged her as I placed both my hands on the side of her head. She let out a low, audible gasp as her eyes widened in shock. “Valerio, someone may see us.”

“Does it look like a give a shit?”

“Please.” She tried to push me off her again, but I only pressed myself more into her. “What do you want from me?”

I watched her for a moment. I took my time drinking in every single feature on her face. Her eyes, her nose, her perfectly rosy cheeks, her olive skin, and finally, her lips. Everything about her called to me. She was a perfect vixen. A black widow that drew you into her web, and the moment you realized that you were stuck, it was too late.

I trailed the back of my hand over her cheek and down her jawline until I got to the edge of her neck. I grabbed her neck in my hold and tightened it ever so slightly.

“What do I want? I want you, Anastasia.” Her body shivered at my words. “And I will stop at nothing till I have you. Even if it means taking your beloved groom to be to war.”

I stepped back, releasing her from my hold and creating the space that she had been yearning for. She gasped like she had surfaced from the water and was greedy for air. All the while, I watched her with intrigue.

She jumped away from the door and braced her hand on the side wall. She doubled over like she was trying to catch her breath after a long run. Had I truly left her that widened? Maybe my hold on her throat had been a little too tight.

She would need to get used to my touch. It softened for no one.

“You’re a madman, Valerio.” She flicked her gaze to me and straightened her spine so she could look me dead in the eye. “You’re crazy.”

One side of my lips tilted upward into a devilish smirk. “So many have told me,cielo. The only thing that matters is that you will be begging for me to place my cock inside of you, very,verysoon.”

“Over my dead body.” She tried to sound angry and appalled, but I didn’t miss the way her lips parted in anticipation. I had felt her body’s reaction to me. There was nothing that she could hide from me now. She had revealed herself.

“Let the games begin, Ana.” I gave her one last look before I moved past her and opened the door. “And I don’t play to lose.”

I didn’t wait for her response. I walked out of the small room and made my way down the hallway. The lack of security on Danill’s part was appalling. I should have never been able to get onto the property so easily. I would need to bring more of my men here. If her brother couldn’t protect her correctly, then I would be the one to do it.

As of today, she was under my ward and my care. To hell with Savina and anyone else that wanted to keep her from me.

I had come here to see if I could forget the little caged princess, but this visit had only solidified what I already knew.

She was mine, and there was no force on Earth and beyond that would keep her from me.

Chapter Nine

Anastasia

My heart was in my mouth as I sat beside Sergei in the back of the car. The tension had been thick since we left the cabin this morning with my bags all packed in the trunk.

Sergei was not happy with my brother’s decision to have me stay with Savina. I wasn’t overly thrilled about it either, but if I had to pick between the two devils, I would pick the Valdez manor any day.

Sergei reminded me of Lucifer. In his beauty, he drew you in. He would fool you into thinking that his angelic beauty was a representation of what lied in his heart.

Spoiler alert: it was simply a cover up. The man was as cold as the glaciers in his eyes, and as calloused as an extremist terrorist. He didn’t care whose blood he split as long as he got to his ultimate goal.

Yes, that was the man my brother wanted me to marry.

“She should stay with me,” Sergei spoke into the thick silence of the room.

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