Page 63 of Twisted Games of Revenge

I’m met with what looks like one of the rooms Sloane showed me on her tour around The Raven’s Nest. My attention comes back to Alex. “What is this place?” I ask with curiosity as much as surprise.

His eyes twinkle mischievously, and I know he’s up to something. “One of our private rooms.”

“Do you bring girls in here often?” I ask, suddenly feeling irritated for no good reason. But the idea that he has been in here with another girl makes me stabby.

With a predatory grace, he narrows the space between us, his nearness and his intoxicating scent stealing my breath away. “Never. You’re the first.” His hands come to my waist, and he pulls me in closer so I can feel how hard he is under his suit pants.

My lips purse together as my eyes narrow in on him. “I said I needed to talk, not fuck, Alex.”

“You said you needed somewhere private; this is as good as it gets in my club. Now spill, what the fuck is going on? You have two minutes, then I’m taking what I want from you.”

I raise a brow, wondering the same. What is going on with him? Something has him on edge more than normal, all possessive and desperate to get his hands on me. He hasn’t been like this since I was locked up with him. “Why was my brother in here tonight, and don’t even think about lying to me.”

I feel his hand sliding down my back, gripping my ass roughly. He can’t take his hands off me tonight. “Your brother needed a little help. Assurance that I will protect him if Enzo comes for him.”

“I thought that was a done deal.”

“Nothing has been a done deal since you disappeared, princess, you should know that. You taking off didn’t just affect all of us but your brother as well.” His hands slip down further, toying with the hem of my dress.

My head drops, ashamed for the trouble I have caused Marco when all this time he’s been trying to help me. “I know, I feel terrible about that part. Is he okay?”

“Marco is resilient, he’s learned to be. He knows you’re alive, and for now, that will have to satisfy him.”

My head shoots back up. “Was he asking questions about me tonight? This new girl you’re marrying, he doesn’t suspect a thing?”

“He knows we’re all doing what we can to survive. Before all this shit went down and we took over from my papa, he had a rule in place. I had to be married before I turned thirty-four or I wasn’t going to take over from him. He would have given his second born the chance to rise to the challenge.”

“That’s why he was trying to marry Ricky off to Elisa. But none of you knew he had another kid back then,” I say, not really understanding the reasoning.

“That didn’t stop his threats. Ricky was always his insurance. He believed he was more easily manipulated than I would be. But he wanted me in charge. I have the reputation amongst our people.”

“Why is marriage so fucking important? Your papa, and it seems every other fucker around, cheats on the regular, with whoever the hell they want, so why make such a fuss about it?”

“It’s all about image.” His fingers trail down my arm, then he spins me so I’m facing a mirror. His arm wrapped around my middle, his lips dust kisses down my neck. Our bodies are so close I can feel how hard his cock is. How massively turned on he is. Our eyes lock in the reflection, and I know he’s done talking. But I’m not.

“Alex,” I warn him. “I’m serious, I need to talk.”

He chuckles darkly. “Well, I need to fuck you. You look edible tonight, princess.” His hands are on the hem of my skirt, lifting it over my head before I can stop him.

He has a fucking one-track mind tonight. “Enzo came to see me tonight while I was working,” I get out, saying what I need to anyway. Maybe it won’t hurt if I am half-dressed while we have this chat.

He stills. Now I have his attention. “What the fuck did he want?” he growls, furious.

“He demanded I stop working there.”

He considers me. “He’s not wrong. That place is a death trap. You don’t need to work now that you have us to take care of you.” His hands land on my breasts, and he massages them through my bra, teasing my nipples to stiff peaks.

I shake my head, trying to pull away from him. “Don’t you start as well.”

He looks unimpressed that I’m avoiding his advances. “I won’t stop you from working if that’s what you want, princess.”

“But you will send Geovani to watch over me every second of my shift.”

“I won’t apologize for keeping what’s mine safe.”

I roll my eyes. He knows exactly where all the possessive bullshit gets him. “Well, it’s too late for that. Your papa has already demanded I stop working there, he just can’t stand Sloane. I’m so angry, Alex, I can’t stand him trying to control my life, and not only that, now he’s demanding I convince you in any way I can that you should replace Mayor Chambly.” I watch for his reaction, knowing how ridiculous it sounds.

He chuckles darkly. “Told you the old man has lost his fucking mind,” he says like he’s not even surprised, and part of me wonders if this isn’t new information to him.

---