Page 482 of Hate Mates

Isit atop the silken coverlet of the luxurious bed, contemplating what punishment will come when Massimo learns that I’ve bested one of his soldiers. I’ll take what I have coming. There was no way that slimebag was getting away with trying to put his greasy paws on me.

I may have embarrassedmyself with the dark-eyed devil earlier, and maybe it got around. Maybe Massimo isn’t to be trusted, maybe the minute he left he told the others that I would spread my legs for anyone. Maybe I deserve that, but for a moment, maybe a brief lust-blinded moment, I thought there was a connection.

No matter thereason the soldier thought he could lay hands on me, but he can’t. If someone tries it again, I’m going to do more than break his fucking nose. All the training from Papa’s crews over the years was intended for averting a potential kidnapping from a rival family or getting out of the same situation that I now find myself in. I suck in a deep breath,resigning myself to a new life, a new day where all of my training may need to come into play.

It won’t be long.Papa will send his men for me and then every single one of these fucks will rue the day they decided to mess with the Cassones. My chest locks with fear as the door bursts open and Massimo barges in, slamming the door behind him. “Lucky is done. He won’t be bothering you again. Going forward, keep the door locked.”

My eyebrow lifts.“Keep the door locked. It’s my fault your filthy-pawed soldier can’t keep his hands to himself or take no for an answer?”

He sitson the side of the bed and runs a hand through his dark wavy hair. “I’m sorry that happened. I should have told them you were off limits, that you weren’t to be touched.”

Maybe my angerwith Massimo isn’t reasonable. It’s not like I didn’t want all that he gave me, well, except for that spanking, because damn that hurt, but still, he touched me, why the hell did he think his soldiers wouldn’t?

“You usually letyour soldiers do what they want with the lady prisoners?”

“A poor choice of words.I just want your door locked going forward.”

“Clearly true though…I’m your prisoner and you put hands on me.”

His eyesdarken but he caresses my cheek with a tender stroke. “Not the same. You spread your legs and wanted what I gave, Sophia.”

My eyes burnwith humiliation and overwhelming emotion from this godforsaken day. “Get out of my room and don’t come back. And keep your monsters at bay before my father rains a world of fury down on your family that you’ll never recover from.” I point to the door. “Get out!”

A slight grimacecrosses his features as he takes in the cracks of skin on my hand. “I’ll send someone in to take care of your knuckles.”

“Don’t worry about me.Take care of your soldier. His nose looks a hell of a lot worse than this.”

His finger slipsunder my chin and holds my gaze steady. “For the record, you did want what I gave. You can’t hide your body’s response from me, Sophia.”

I’m not admittinganything to him. “I had an itch, you scratched it, end of story. I said get out of my room, and this time don’t come back.”

Instead,his hand snakes around my nape so fast I can barely react, drawing me closer, his lips so close they almost touchmine. “I’ll make you a bet, Sophia. In three weeks’ time you’re going to scream my name while riding on the end of my dick.”

I pull backfrom his grasp and scoff. “That’s an easy bet to take. You’ll lose. What’s the wager?”

The dark-eyed devilmakes me wait for precious moments before giving me an answer. “You win, your father’s debt is paid in full.”

My heart almost stops.He’s serious. Now I’m interested, very interested because this could solve everything. “And if I lose? Which will never happen, by the way.”

“Then you agreeto be my wife.”

My eyes narrow with disbelief.“What the hell? What reason would you have? What sense does it even make? Your father would be furious. My father would not allow it.”

The smile lightshis eyes and the lips of the handsome devil part. “Consider it a game to pass the time. Perhaps before it is up, your father will have paid the debt he owes. And perhaps you will pay it another way.”

I’mat a complete loss for words. I only know that now I have a chance to turn this around, to right a wrong and get my family out of this mess, as long as I’m willing to play.

The board has flipped.I’m no longer a pawn but the one who’s in control. “It’s a deal.”

Chapter Seven

MASSIMO ROSELLI

Ithought leaving her alone for at least a short while after spanking her would get her out of my system, allow me to shake the attraction to the youngest Cassone girl, but my reaction to someone putting hands on her was enough to tell me what I already knew… I am doomed.

I’ve heardthe stories about the way it was in the old country between Mamma and Papa. There was never going to be anyone else for him but her, and maybe these things don’t fall too far from the tree. I’ve wanted her since seeing the light in her eyes and touching her silky skin.

Besides,the more I think about my plan, the more sense it makes. Father has been pushing me to formalize things with Desiree. She may be the eldest daughter of a rival family and one he wants control of, but I certainly do not. A merger that for all intents and purposes would strengthen our family position, yet she’s not the one who causes my dick to ache or turns my bloodcold with anger the minute I hear anyone other than me say her name.

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