Page 53 of Sin & Secrets

“Look.” I try to hold myself with as much dignity as I can. “I don’t care if you’re not…you know…”

“What?”

Fuck, he was really going to make me say it. “If you’re not looking for a relationship, that’s fine. I’d just rather know, either way.”

He blinks back at me. “You think this is casual for me?”

His words send a cold shiver across my skin. For a moment, I can almost pretend that he cares.

“You are the one who left. You are the one who avoided me all week. What else am I supposed to think?”

“Is that what you want? To be in a relationship with me?”

Under his icy gray eyes, I suddenly become aware of every insignificant movement I make—the rise and fall of my chest, my shuddering breaths.

I can’t discern a single thing he is thinking, and yet my body reacts almost instinctively to the intensity of that gaze.

“I…” I find speech escapes me when he looks at me like this. “I don’t know.”

“I recommend you don’t think on it.” He finally releases me with a small, flippant smile. “My line of work does not allow me the time required to fulfill such…duties.”

Right. Murderous billionaire Mafia don.

There is absolutely no reason for me to feel so disappointed. Hadn’t I just gotten myself out of a very toxic relationship? Why on earth would I feel like anything beyond sex with this man would lead anywhere good?

“However, should you request me to your room again, I wouldn’t deny you.” His eyes seem to darken with his words. “Kissing is off the table, but I’m sure I’d be able to make time for whatever else you might desire.”

It shouldn’t matter what he thinks. But his words strike an irksome chord. “Is that how you proposition all your women? I might be able to squeeze in a quick fuck between selling drugs and murdering traitors?”

“Is that what you think I do?” He gives me a humorous look.

“You’ve not given me any reason to think otherwise.”

“You know I own theCandelabra,though.”

I cross my arms. “Likely as a front for all your illicit activities.”

He merely shrugs. “Sometimes I take clients there. The ambiance and spectacle of the performances help me win them over. But in terms of illicit activities, I predominantly deal in luxury goods.”

My shock must be clear on my face as he laughs loudly. “It’s not what you were expecting?”

“So what, you illegally trade Italian leather shoes?”

“Artwork, mostly,” he corrects me.“And not always illegally. In fact, the Museum of Modern Art wouldn’t be the institution it is today without us.”

I fold my arms. “You expect me to believe that you’re like the good guy mafia, then?”

“No, you are also right.” He looks away from me as he stands to approach the drink cabinet beside us. “Murder is a useful tool to create fear.”

I watch in nervous silence as he reaches for the whiskey decanter and pours. He then picks up his glass and takes a long drink. “Plus, we do also sell drugs on the side. But that’s mainly to annoy the Cartel.”

I take a heavy seat on the now unoccupied couch. A cool sense of dread falls on my shoulders. “Oh my God.”

“What?”

“You’re going to kill me, aren’t you?”

He lets out an inelegant snort as he turns back to me. “For what?”

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