Page 51 of Empire of Temptation

“So, what are you?”

“I’m the head of a Calabrian criminal family.”

I wasn’t surprised. I hadn’t expected him to admit it, but I wasn’t surprised. “The mafia.”

“The ’Ndrangheta, but yes.”

I didn’t know what to say. A myriad of emotions churned inside me—anger, fear, regret, curiosity . . . and yes, hurt. He’d lied to me.

But deep down, I’d known it all along. Or at least suspected it, as had Maggie and Sam. But I wasn’t thrilled about having my suspicions confirmed.

I just let a mafia boss give me head.

My mother would be so proud.

When I didn’t react, Luca said, “You don’t seem surprised.”

“That’s because I knew. Or heavily suspected.”

“This changes nothing between us, but I wanted you to know. I try to be up front with all of my mistresses.”

Oh, wow. This was . . . wow. We just jumped from him eating me out on a desk to me living in an apartment that he paid for. “We should probably talk about this later.” Jumping down from the desk, I scrubbed my face with my hands, not giving a damn about ruining my makeup. “I have to go.”

“Tell me what you are thinking.”

“That this is a fucking lot right now!” I eased away from him and put some distance between us. “You’ve blown into town and taken over my life. I’m not ready to be a mistress or whatever else you’re thinking. Because if that’s why you’re helping me, then stop!”

“Valentina, I’m not helping you in exchange for anything. I never expected you to find out about the contractors or the background checks.”

“Or the mayor?”

He grew very still, not even blinking. Ah, so I’d caught the great Luca DiMarco—make that Benetti—off guard. “Yeah, I know about that, too,” I said.

“I won’t apologize for scaring that motherfucker. So don’t expect it.”

I pressed my hands together and prayed for patience. “Luca, this is a small town.Mytown. We aren’t used to thugs coming in and terrorizing everyone.”

The planes of his face sharpened, hardened, his chest expanding. “This is what you think of me, that I’m a thug?”

“Is it the word you object to, or the definition? Because I can find another word, if you prefer.”

“How about you thank me instead?” he snapped.

I rocked on my heels, the fury so swift and fierce that I wanted to throw something at him. “First of all, I have thanked you. And you can fuck off if you think I’ll let you take over my life without putting up a fight.”

Luca closed the distance between us and I began backing up. I wasn’t afraid of him, but I hadn’t argued with a mobster before. They weren’t known for being reasonable.

Then my spine hit the hard surface of his office door.

Luca kept coming, his muscular frame even larger as he caged me against the wood, pinning me like a bug. His hot breath ghosted along my ear as he whispered darkly, “Fight me all you like, fiore mio. But you slept in my bed and came on my tongue. You’re mine now and you will do as I fucking say. Capisce?”

Chapter Thirteen

Valentina

Ishould’ve been terrified. Scared out of my wits and begging for mercy.

I wasn’t.

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