Page 28 of Bound to the Mafia King

I won’t tell if you won’t.

I scurried out of his hold and, thankfully, he let me go and allowed me to return to my seat. There was no winning when it came to him. I was in over my head and avoiding him was proving to be far more difficult than I realized.

I settled into my seat and tore my gaze from the smug look on his face. He knew what he was doing, and that knowledge only pissed me off more. But regardless, I remained quiet in my seat while we made our way to the mall.

Two hours and several stores later, I had made a sizable dent in my brother’s card. He had told me that I could buy whatever I needed on his card to make my transition easier. And new bags and shoes were a much-needed comfort for me. I was sure that I was going to get a call from him soon enough when he woke up in Russia.

Valerio had been well-behaved for the most part. He kind of just sat and watched me. I felt his eyes on me from the moment we got out of the car until now. His gaze was unnerving, but there was something oddly comforting about his presence. He made me feel safe, in a weird way, seeing as he was the man who could get me into the biggest trouble.

We were on our way out of the mall when I stopped short, seeing the largeLa Rosesign. It was the same store my heart pendant was from. The same pendant that my mother had gifted me before her death.

"Let's go here." I was already making a beeline for the store.

"Haven't you shopped enough for one day?"

I looked over my shoulder at the overbearing shadow I had today. "There is no such thing as having enough of shopping."

I stopped short when I heard him scoff. I gave him an incredulous look and moved toward him.

“I’m also a woman who likes to soothe her heart with retail therapy,” I said to his face with a serious expression. “If you are tired, then you can head back to the car or send one of your other men to watch over me.”

“And let them be near you?” His eyes bored into mine. “Walk,cielo.”

“Will you ever tell me what that means?” I tilted my head to the side and observed him. “You call me that more than you say my name.”

He took one large step in my direction, successfully closing the distance between the two of us. The gentle hum that always began when we drew closer filled the space between us. We stood half an arm's length apart. His tall structure leered over me, and all I could focus on was his closeness.

My heart lurched in the middle of my chest. The memories of the night before filtered into my mind and against my will, my brain gripped onto the memory hard. The way his mouth had tasted my core and lapped me up like I was the most delicious-tasting thing on the face of the planet.

“Maybe one day,” he said before he breezed past me and made his way into the store. “You coming, Anastasia?”

It took me a few minutes to settle myself. I followed him into the store so I could get my bracelet.

I walked up to the large window glass that displayed the bracelets I wanted and moved along, taking in the intricate jewelry. My brother had given me his card if I needed it, and seeing as he was making me marry a monster, it was only fair that I maxed out his Amex.

I moved along the glass cabinets and came to the pendants. The heart necklace I wore was bought at one of these stores, a gift from my mother.

I looked over my shoulder to Valerio, but he had paused by the bracelets and was looking at one intensely. I saw something flash across his eyes. It was only for a brief moment, but it was the same look I had seen him have when he smashed his hand through the glass that day.

“You have that look,” I said, breaking through the thick silence. “The same one that you had that night when you broke the window.”

My eyes darted to his hand which was adorned with scars from the shards that had sliced his skin.

“I think you’re mistaken, Anastasia. Why don’t you just choose a damn band so we can leave?” His words came out short and biting.

“Something or someone hurt you.” I didn’t know why I was pressing the issue so much. There was no need for me to. I should have just let it go.

His eyes darkened. “Drop it, Anastasia.”

I knew the look he had in his eyes. It was a look of immense distress and fear. It was a look of being trapped and feeling like you had no way out.

Valerio always had this bravado about him. He was sharp, mysterious, and cold. But now I believed that was a protective layer that he had placed around himself to keep himself safe.

“I’m sorry that someone hurt you.” The words slipped past my lips before I could even stop them. But my heart was leading my words.

The darkness in his eyes took me slightly aback. It was hot and ferocious, and made me rethink opening my mouth.

“Just because you are abused in your own life doesn’t mean that we all were, Anastasia.” His words sliced through me like a double-edged sword. “I am not some little puzzle piece that you need to try and figure out. We aren’t all broken dolls that need to be glued back together.”

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