Page 40 of Rotten Men

“Do you trust them?”

“They are loyal to me, if that is your concern,” I reply, pouring a glass of whiskey for her.

“Good,” she says, releasing a suspended breath. I hate that she could think I would be so careless with her safety. I hand her the glass, and she takes it willingly enough.

“Glad you approve,” I quip back.

“Why am I here, Vincent?” she questions, taking a small sip of the amber liquid and ignoring my snide comment.

“Funny you should ask that. That same question has been tormenting me since you arrived in Chicago. Why areyouhere, Selene?”

“You already know why. Because I need your help,” she answers somberly, draining the rest of her drink in one go. She places the glass on my desk and sits on the edge next to it with her emerald eyes transfixed on mine.

“So I’ve been told,” I sneer, drinking what’s left of my own whiskey and placing the glass next to hers.

I stand in front of her, forcing her to look up at my imposing form. Her lashes beat a thousand times, like butterfly wings taking flight, and I have to keep my fisted hands anchored to my sides, not to kiss each lid shut.

“I must say, I would have preferred to hear the reason behind your return from your mouth instead of Gio’s.”

“You didn’t give me much choice. I came to you first, but you never let me get two words in on why I came back,” she explains, her spine straight as steel, never once shrinking while facing my disdained expression.

I have had men cry and fall to their knees, begging me for mercy, with half the look of abhorrence I’m showcasing now. Yet, Selene looks up at me completely unimpressed and unbothered by my intimidating glare. I can’t help but be in awe of her bravery, as well as feel contempt that she has resorted to using her best poker face against me.

“Don’t let me stop you then. Tell me why you’re here,” I order, placing my hands flat on my desk, trapping her between them. I lean close enough that she has to tilt her head back to keep eye contact while enduring the feel of my warm breath on her skin.

“I need you to clear James’ name,” she spews, unaffected by my proximity.

“Your husband, you mean,” I add, cursing the word.

“Yes,” she replies this time somewhat carefully with a small flicker of something in her eyes.

It flew in and out of her stare so quickly that a less attentive man would miss it. I, however, don’t miss a thing, especially when it concerns Selene. She’s holding something back.But what?

“You have always been a resourceful woman. So ample is your ability that you have not been a blip on the syndicate radar for over a decade. I would think that clearing an innocent man’s name falls short of such an accomplishment. What is the real reason you came back?” I insist, hoping she’ll open those gorgeous, plump lips and tell me the truth, once and for all.

“Heis my reason,” she deadpans, with so much certainty it carves a brand new hole inside of me.

“Is he, now?” I ask bitterly. I place my hands on her waist, only to trickle them down to her bare thighs. Her skirt rises just enough to give me a little taste, but it’s the feel of her goosebumps under my fingertips that gets my undivided attention.

“I’m sorry if that hurts you,” she chokes, no longer as cool and collected as she had been when we started this discussion.

“You’re sorry?” I laugh chillingly. “Sorry cannot even compare to what I prefer you to feel. How about broken, Selene? Can you feel broken and shattered in the same way you left all of us ten years ago? Because that is what I want you to feel. I want you to feel the same pain we all did when you left us without a word. But I’m not sure if you are capable of feeling anything at all. Even pain,” I snarl, squeezing her knees to the side until her legs open up to my assault.

“Is that why you refuse to help me? You want to hurt me?” She gasps when both our clothed centers align. With one hand I grab her waist to mine, and with the other I pull her hair back forcefully, commanding her green eyes to look at nothing but my disgruntled face.

“I wish I could hurt you. As much as I want you to feel just a sliver of the pain you have caused me, I lack the courage to reciprocate,” I growl, my teeth seething to get a taste of her.

“So what are you saying?” She whimpers when she feels my cock harden at her pussy’s entrance.

“I’m saying that I’ll help you. I’m saying that I amalreadyhelping you. Your husband will be free by the end of the week. I promise you that,” I tell her, and relief overshadows any lingering lust in her gaze.

It’s the ice water I need to bring my focus back and remind myself of where her true loyalties lie. I break away from her warmth, taking the empty glass with me. I walk nonchalantly to the bar for a refill as if I wasn’t seconds away from kissing her.

“You can leave now. Go back to your husband, Selene. Don’t come back to Chicago. For your sake, as much as for mine.” My voice comes out so hoarse and low that I’m unsure she heard a single word.

The room grows eerily silent, and I shut my eyes so my senses can absorb her rosy perfume, albeit from a safe distance, in the last few moments of her presence. But there is no safety when Selene is in a room—a fact I can attest to, as I’m burned alive from the inside when I feel her soft hand touch my back.

“Vincent?” she whispers, making my blood heat just from my name on her lips.

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