Page 491 of Hate Mates

I gently shoved him.

“Listen, I value our friendship.” He eyed my hand as if he wanted to take it into his, but he didn’t. It must have been a rule that Lazaro had for his staff to never touch anyone. A rule that Angelica never seemed to follow when she was crushing my wrist and dragging me everywhere like I was a belligerent puppy. “I promise I will keep my ears open and let you know if I witness any discussion that takes place about you...providing it doesn’t cost me my own neck.”

That was the least I could ask for here, and I was grateful. “Thank you.”

Massimo pointed a finger with a perfectly painted lavender nail at me in warning. “Just don’t sell me out and tell anyone.”

I crossed my heart with my own unmanicured finger. “Never.” He was the only one I could have a conversation with here.

“Not even during pillow talk.”

“Ugh. Massimo!” I groaned, forced to remember my twisted mistakes.

“What? You never know what someone will bring up after some good hanky-panky.”

“Okay, can you just stop talking?” I was beyond mortified. It was bad enough that he knew how I sounded close to orgasm, but I didn’t need him conjuring up post-coital visuals.

Lazaro’s head between my legs last night on the dining table hadn’t been my choice. It had been a tactic by an evil man to coerce me into a confession for setting off an explosion that had nearly killed him and his army of men. His false promise of orgasm had been a tool to get me to admit that I had tried to kill him. But I was innocent. I knew nothing about the origin of the explosion. Hell, it had nearly killed me, too, when I had been taking a break in the alley behind the lounge where I sang.

Sex could never happen with Lazaro. I needed to remain clear-headed and focus on staying alive and proving my innocence.

Massimo’s eyes gleamed with mischief. “So, how was he?” I sensed he might have had a small crush on his boss.

“Like the devil,” I snapped. “Unforgiving and narcissistic.” Thankfully, we hadn’t gone all the way, but from the little preview I had experienced, he was all things dark and dangerous.

“Ooh, better than I imagined.”

“You imagine what it’s like to screw your boss?” Massimo didn’t need to know exactly what Lazaro had done to me, and that it hadn’t involved screwing.

“Doesn’t everyone?”

My mind flashed to a swarthy Bosco, the owner of the lounge where I worked, naked and sweating profusely. I shuddered. “Fuck, no!”

“You’re missing out. I know my boundaries, but can you blame a man for looking?”

I couldn’t. Lazaro wasn’t short on good looks, and it was rare to find a handsome man who had skills. But he was still a criminal.

I watched as Massimo picked up his knife and resumed chopping, the silver glinting as it sliced smoothly through a plump onion.

If I couldn’t escape Lazaro, then I’d have to earn my freedom by other means—more drastic means.

Chapter Three

ANTONELLA

Ihad been here so long that I could easily recognize the change from evening to late night just by sound. Aurelio’s voice came as he bid the last employee goodbye. Then came the turn of the front-door lock, followed by the marching of boots, signaling the relocation of soldiers to the perimeter of the house.

The house was finally silent. It was time for the last step of the plan that I had spent the day carefully crafting. All the pieces were in place, and now, I just needed to steel my nerves and get on with it.No hesitation.

I gave a final tug on the sash of my silk robe and swallowed the colossal lump in my throat before opening the door. The hall was clear. I tiptoed out of my room on bare feet to keep from making noise. One sound, and my whole plan would be derailed.

Quickly and quietly, I climbed the stairs to the third floor. My nerves flared and my fingers cramped up. I gave them a hasty shake before knocking on the door.

The wait felt like an eternity. Just when my head convinced me this was a terrible idea and to run back to my room, the door flew open.

Lazaro stood there in only a pair of gray sweatpants. Tattoos sprawled over expertly chiseled muscles.

His severe gaze raked over my face suspiciously, as I’d never knocked on his door before.

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