Page 27 of Wicked Games of Desire

“Answer me. I heard you call out Ian when you saw him tonight. How the fuck do you know the son of the most notorious mafia family in Ravens Hollow?”

My spine straightens, images of the last six months flashing through my mind like a slide show. He told me he was a detective investigating a string of burglaries in my neighborhood. He told me… I thought… I only ever saw him in the gym. No one ever called him Geovani. But when I think about it, I never saw him around another person. It was always late, and we were there alone.

Nausea rolls in my stomach, and I stand abruptly, making a run for the bathroom. Throwing the toilet seat up, I empty the contents of my stomach, tears of confusion blurring my eyes. He was there the night my family were killed. He said… he said he was undercover; he couldhelp me. But if he is who Maddox says, it was all lies. That whole six months was a big fucking lie.

“Are you okay?” Maddox asks from the doorway in a tone that makes me believe he actually cares.

I glare at him over my shoulder. “What do you think.” With shaky legs, I get to my feet. “Someone needs to tell me what the fuck is going on,” I yell, anger radiating through my tired body.

“How do you know him, temptress?” His voice is softer this time, more caring.

“I don’t think I know him. The guy I knew introduced himself as Ian, an undercover cop who could help me get revenge on the people who killed my family… He was my trainer.” My stomach rolls again when I think of our last night together. He was more than my trainer, but I’m not admitting that to Maddox after what he just told me. I go to the vanity and splash cold water over my face, trying to erase the memories. Trying to get a grasp on this reality.

I feel Maddox right behind me, but I don’t want to look at him. I can’t. His hand comes to my shoulder, and our eyes meet in the mirror. “Did he touch you?”

I stare back at him, not sure what to say. My bottom lip trembles with the fear of what this all means.

He takes a step back, running a hand through his bleached mohawk. “I’m going to fucking kill him myself.” He storms from the bathroom.

I jump when I hear shattering glass and what could be drywall exploding as Maddox takes off on a furious rampage through the house. I fucked the son of the most notorious mafia family in Ravens Hollow. Geovani D’Amico. Oh my fucking God.

Chapter 16

After a shower tochill my shaky nerves, I find my way to the kitchen in search of Maddox. Hopefully, he’s had time to cool off himself and is ready to talk. I’ve had time to think, and I’m not sure what he’s so angry about. Ian, Geovani, might have been lying through his teeth, but he was kind to me and took care of me when I was scared. He never did anything that frightened me or made me worry for my safety. The complete opposite, in fact.

I fetch a red apple from the fruit bowl and take a stroll around the living quarters, glancing around at my luxurious surroundings. My father’s house was lavish, but this is on another level. The interior design effortlessly combines modern sophistication with classic Italian charm through luxurious furnishings and ornate woodwork. I wonder how much blood you need on your hands to afford such a place, but I guess daddy’s money would help. The gourmet kitchen has high-end appliances, marble countertops, and custom dark wood cabinetry. With plenty of space for cooking, the island also offers a cozy breakfast nook for enjoying morning coffee.

At the heart is a spacious living area with plush velvet sofas and oversized armchairs, inviting relaxation by a roaring fireplace set in a hand-carved marble mantel. I wonder if the boys all hang out here together, though I can’t see it. I make my way over to the bifold glass doors; they blend indoor and outdoor spaces, leading to a terrace with dining areas, pool, and gardens. I don’t miss the ten-foot-high concrete wall that surrounds the lovely outdoor space, the only sign of high security out there.

While the place is lovely, it doesn’t provide the comforting warmth of a true home. It suits its current occupants perfectly. I wonder where they are. It’s early morning, and despite the late hour I made it to bed, I couldn’t sleep or stay cooped up in that room a second longer. Yesterday got out of control, and I need to get my head back in the game. I’m still no closer to the truth of what is going on with these guys. All I know is the name Moretti is important. But I kind of knew that because of the casino Alessandro’s papa owns.

I’ve never been there myself, but my papa used to indulge in nights out at Sinners’ Paradise with the men he worked with on occasion. Marco described it as an opulent den of vice, where the rules are mere suggestions and temptations lurk in every shadow. Something tells me the boys’ club is just another offshoot of that kind of entertainment.

I go in search of the boys, wandering down a long corridor at the opposite side of the house. I follow the sound of their voices, peering in the half-closed door. Each guy keeps telling me he’s just trying to protect me and I’m safer within these walls than on the outside, so maybe I need to change my plan. Killing them is no longer an option. Neither is escaping. But staying and marrying Alessandro isn’t topping my to-do list either.

Maddox leans against some sort of boxing ring, while Ricky and Alessandro take turns at sparring. The boys have a home gym. Thismust be where Maddox trains for his fights, the ones he and Ricky were discussing at dinner the other night.

Ricky switches out for Maddox, sweat dripping down his ink-covered back, making him look like a tasty treat I would like to get my mouth on. I wonder why Ricky wouldn’t let me touch him last night. His body is hot as sin, and what he can do with his mouth… Oh a tingle runs through me at the thought.

“We need to tell her. She deserves to know.” My ears prickle at Maddox’s words. Is he talking about me?

“Not yet. It’s too dangerous,” Alessandro grunts, taking a shot in Maddox’s direction. His voice is deathly serious. “She’s not ready.”

“Yet I feel you were about to last night right when we walked in on you two at the club,” Maddox snips back, taking a quick jab that knocks Alessandro off balance.

“That was before.” Alessandro stares him down angrily.

“It’s dangerous if we don’t tell her. She thinks we’re the enemy. She nearly got away from me last night. Then what?”

“We’re doing this to protect her, Maddox. You know that,” Ricky says, backing up Alessandro, and irritation crawls under my skin. We shared something last night, but in the cold light of day, he’s still under Alessandro’s thumb. Maddox surprises me. He’s the only one with the guts to stick up for me, and he despises me. Or so I thought. But after what happened this morning, I’m not sure how true that is.

Maddox stops moving, staring at the two of them, a sadness washing over him. It’s a side of him I haven’t seen before. “You didn’t see her last night. She had a nightmare, something about Marco…” His words hang heavy in the air between them.

The mention of my brother’s name sends a shiver down my spine, a sharp pang of dread twisting in my chest. He lied to me and told me he didn’t hear what I said, but I should have known he wouldn’t tell methe truth. I suck in a deep breath, my nightmare from last night playing again. I kept seeing my brother’s face the day before he was killed. He was worried about something, I knew he was, but he brushed it off. Made me feel like it was all in my head. Now I know better. He was hiding secrets from me as well.

The floorboard creaks under my bare feet, and I wince. So much for sneaking around, hoping to overhear something that might just get me out of this place.

Their attention turns to me.

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