Page 48 of The Devil's Deal

I cup her chin roughly in the span of my palm and lean into her mouth, my lips hovering over hers. “You have a very big mouth on you, Chiara. If you’re not careful, I may find better ways to fill it.”

She gasps, not expecting the vulgarity. Her cheeks flush, and the temptation to mark her ass cheeks has my palm aching.

I narrow my eyes, leaning closer until her lips graze mine.

Her mouth falls into a quiet moan, one I know she didn’t mean to give me.

Fuck.

My dick hardens, wanting her.

What the hell am I doing?

I drop my hand, stepping back and creating an arm’s length of space between us. Why can’t I resist this temptation? I need her out of my mind for good.

I run a quick hand past my face, clenching my jaw.

“Do you have the phone numbers of all your employees at the club?” I ask, my voice harsh and cold now as I finally get to the real reason why I came.

She lifts a brow. “Why? Are you going to kidnap them too?”

I take out her cell from my pocket. “Tell me the code.”

“Excuse me?” Her brows bend with disbelief.

“You heard me. I wasn’t asking, Chiara. Code. Now.”

She crosses her arms over her chest and gives me her tough-girl face. “Swear you won’t hurt them, and I’ll give it to you.”

“They’re lucky you care so much,” I say, meaning it.

“Yeah, well, they’re my people.”

“I’m not out to hurt them. The opposite.”

She exhales a sigh. “Fine. I’m going to believe you. Zero, two, zero, two.” I can tell by her voice how hard that was for her. “What are you going to do to them?”

“Tell me all the names of your employees.”

“You didn’t answer my question.”

“I know. Now, tell me.”

She groans. “Fine! Go to my contacts. They’re all under the name ‘club.’ Happy?”

“Very,” I answer without looking up, finding the list of people and preparing the mass text I’m about to send.

Glancing up at her, I find the daggers in her eyes pointing right at me.

“How do you word a text when you send them one?”

Her features tighten with irritation. “What do you mean?”

“What the fuck do you write in it? You know, shit like, ‘Hey, it’s Chiara. I’m a shitty boss…’” I smile.

“Oh my God!” She throws her hands in the air. “You’re gonna pretend to be me? You’d better not hurt them! They’re good people.”

“I told you I won’t. I don’t like to repeat myself.”

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