Page 25 of King of Obsession

She winced.

I wasn’t hurting her, but my sheer strength was enough to immobilize her.

Up close, her eyes glittered with pure ire, her mouth parting to curse me. ‘You’re a jerk, just like all of them.’

I ignored her characterization, growling, ‘I’m giving you fair warning, woman, attempt any shit, and I’ll make you regret it,’ I whispered. ‘You have been warned.’

She huffed. ‘Not much I can do with you holding my Nonna hostage.’

‘You’d better believe it,’ I growled. ‘If you run off, I’ll find you wherever you go.’

‘I’ve got that garbage from all the men in my life. Your threat means nothing to me,’ she spat.

Despite her defiance, I tagged her fear of me in her eyes. Hating it, wondering if those jade beauties would ever pulse with wild craving and heat—anything but her twisted rage.

I released her, and she yanked away from me, standing over me, arms crossed, tits heaving.

She sucked her teeth. ‘Regardless, you can’t come after me. Not with that shoulder injury.’

I canted a brow.

‘You also won’t be able to fire any of your fancy weapons at him without my help,’ she said.

Her husky voice sparked: more ratcheting desire mingled with intrigue.

‘Scusa? Your help?’

‘To put it plainly,’ she continued, ‘You saw my action out there. If Franco comes for us, we’ll need to fight side by side, given the small army his sons have amassed at the farm.’

I was surprised by her intimation. ‘Fight with me, cara?’

She shrugged. ‘I want to end him, personally. You can fight him and his sons, but it has to be my bullet that goes through him.’

I shook my head nonplussed, impressed by her savage moxie on one hand and worried for her on the other.

‘How’ d’you know your fuckin’ way around weapons?’ I growled, hiding my concern with a scowl.

She gazed beyond me at the view out of the window. ‘I’ve had to learn how to protect myself.’

I raised an eyebrow. ‘That’s ice, woman. Badass.’

‘Living next to the Contis, I had to get training. But I’m low on ammo and guns, and your stash will supplement mine well. For when he dares come after me.’

I muttered a few choice words under my breath.

Her facing Franco in a gunfight made me want to break out in hives.

Still, I let my shoulders lift in a nonchalant shrug. ‘I need time to think it over, woman. About me giving my shit to you and about you helping me.’

She shrugged. ‘You’re not quite in a position to negotiate, Calibrese.’

I sucked my teeth, helpless in her bed.

With a jerk of her head, she twisted away from me, hips swaying as another surge of lust shot through me.

At the dim doorway, she turned and caught my gaze again in her emerald allure before she vanished beyond the door.

Chapter 6

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