Page 6 of King Of Order

‘I do care. I just don’t give a fuck. Also, tantrums don’t work on me,belleza,’ he drawled, eyes gleaming with amusement.

I tamped down the urge to rush him and squeeze his neck until all the air in his lungs leaked out of him.

But my logical brain told me I’d be flat on the floor if I dared raise a hand at him.

Which made him formidable. With a sigh, I admitted a grudging level of respect for him, which made me even more fractious.

I found an excuse to rail on him. ‘You can’t smoke in here. The gallery has a strict no tobacco policy.’

‘Hush now, woman, it’s herbal.’

He extended the slim cigar to me, and I shook my head. ‘I quit.’

A flicker of indecipherable emotion flashed in his eyes, and I wondered why.

The pause made me aware of the scent in the air—sage, thyme, and hints of rose petals and jasmine. I had to admit, it was lush.

‘It’ll still kill you, just slower,’ I groused to cover up my sharp need for a smoke.

I’d given up the habit a few years ago, but it still lured me every so often.

‘Not when I have one a day, Chiara,’ he shot back.

‘You know my name,’ I tossed out. ‘What do I call you?’

‘Rio,’ came the timbred drawl, the appellation sending a shiver down my spine.

I threw up my hands in huffed annoyance. ‘As in Rio de Janeiro, or the code-name for the character in Money Heist? Either way, it can’t be genuine.’

His lips twisted as I placed my fists on my hips, defiant, unconvinced. ‘Believe what you want,signora. Rio means river, and like the real freaking thing, when I rise, I wipe everything out. These are the traits you need to protect your fuckin’ ass from the terror about to rain down on you.’

VALERIO

Chiara Tirone was a lioness, graceful and wild, with a magnetic power that enticed the senses.

My damn attention was locked on her, unable to tear away, so I studied her.

Bristling before me, hands on hips, enraged at my intrusion, my insinuation, and my damn entitled asshole imputation.

I didn’t give a fuck.

Still, she was enticing, enough to stem the flow of my murderous thoughts toward her and her family.

Her long, tawny hair cascaded down her back in loose waves, catching the light like a golden mane.

Every aspect of her held pure predatory beauty; her limbs were elongated and athletic, and her body was the perfect balance of strength and elegance.

She had the kind of allure that wasn’t delicate—it was striking, commanding, like the wild landscape of a sunlit savannah.

Her eyes, deep and amber like the heart of a flame, seemed to see through everything and everyone. Her gaze shifted from soft warmth to sharp, cutting focus in an instant, depending on the situation.

She carried herself with effortless confidence, her head held high and her shoulders back, and every movement imbued with the natural poise of someone who existed in her power.

Her athletic frame hinted at a life of discipline and control. Her muscles were toned and lean, and her body was a curvy bombshell.

Her tits.Cazzo!Glorious, swaying in my line of sight.

Her hips, heaven, those legs, would walk you right to hell.

---