Page 85 of Ruthless Mafia Boss 3: Vino and Claire

“So you’re Angelo,” I said, pacing the floor. “You said you organized the masquerade ball, yet my benefactor claimed they did.”

He leaned forward, his elbows planted on his knees, while the scent of his cigar—a mix of cherry and vanilla—washed over me.

“I’m your benefactor,” he said as he rested the cigar in the ashtray. “The condo you’re staying in belongs to me. The men guarding you are my bodyguards.”

It was as if an axe had struck my chest; I couldn’t breathe. “No, no, no, no,” I roared.

“What is it about me that makes men feel they must possess me? Do I come off as meek? Weak?” I asked as tears blurred my vision.

He jumped up so fast, causing the chair to fly back with great force. Vino stalked toward me, chest heaving. “I admit it, I’m fucking obsessed with you. I have been ever since the day I first saw you. I’ll do anything to keep you safe. You’re going to be my wife.”

I shoved against his chest, but he didn’t budge. “No, the fuck I’m not.”

I ran to the balcony, pushing the doors open, desperate for fresh air. “You fucking played me!”

His heavy footsteps got closer. I could feel his body heat. “No, I didn’t. I intended to tell you who I was, but the truth got away from me. I was focused on diverting your attention from Angelo to me.”

Slipping an arm around my waist, his lips grazed the crook of my neck. “You’re having my baby, Claire.”

I shrugged off his allure, putting distance between us. “I’m not pregnant. I’m on the pill, Angelo, Vino, whatever your name is.”

“Trust me, you’re pregnant.”

My brows furrowed in disbelief.

“I may have taken matters into my own hands. Once you agreed to have sex unprotected, I switched out your birth control pills for sugar pills.”

“You did what?” I yelled.

“We’re getting married. Before you give birth, your last name will be Romano.”

I burst into uncontrollable laughter. “Me? Marry you? In your fucking dreams, Mr. Possessive Mafia Boss.”

“Yeah, I’m possessive. And obsessed with you, Claire. I’m not wrong for giving you everything you deserve,” he roared.

“You did it the wrong way.” I jabbed a finger at his chest. “You’re no better than…”

His eyes clouded with darkness. “Don’t fucking say it, Claire.”

I met his gaze and said, “You’re just like Ivan—controlling, manipulative. He pushed my face into a mirror of coke. You got me pregnant before I was ready. I have a career… you’re rotten,” I sneered.

I watched as his fist curled at his side.

My eyes narrowed even more. “There’s no difference between you two.”

Vino lowered his head.

“He’s in the bratva and you’re in the mafia. Both of you are obsessive, willing to do whatever the fuck you want. Next, when you’ve had enough of my pussy, you’ll lock me in some wing of this house and go looking for another version of me.”

My body blazed with heat.

He closed the distance between us. “So you say I’m like him,” he growled.

When I peered into his eyes, I realized the man I once knew was gone. Only the ruthless mafia boss remained, ready to hurt me.

“I’ll show you I can be just as menacing as him.”

I visibly swallowed hard, terrified that he might kill me. My heart hammered, threatening to burst from my chest.

---