Page 6 of Owned by the Italian Mafia Boss
“You’ll be waiting forever then,” she tries to sound smart as if she has the upper hand.
“I highly doubt it.” Without breaking eye contact, I press a button on my phone because I can’t tear my gaze away from the fear and bravery staring back at me. “Gianni, please escort Ms. Reynolds to my room. Lock her in there too. I don’t trust her,” I say to him, loving the fight burning in her irises.
“On my way,” he replies.
“You’ll like Gianni. He’s my righthand man.” I don’t have friends, but Gianni would be my only one if I did. I don’t let anyone get close. Close means strings.
And strings always end up needing to be cut.
“I’m sure I’ll like him more than you.” She tugs free from my grip, but I let my fingers graze the softness of her nape.
Accidentally.
Because sneaking soft touches is something I do not do or know how to do.
The doors to my office open, and Gianni, without breaking stride, grabs Delilah by her arm to lead her out.
She yanks herself free. “I’m capable of walking with you without force. I’m not a fucking damsel.”
And yet, she came to me to be saved.
“Don’t count that out just yet, Sweetling.”
She whips around, hair spinning like an angry tornado, and marches up to me. Gianni grabs for her, but I hold up my hand, too interested in her fire to even consider extinguishing her flame.
Delilah shoves me in the chest, but I don’t move. Her attempt to punish me has me smiling, and her cheeks flush with anger as she lifts her index finger at me. “I am not your Sweetling. I am not your anything. It’s business, and I’ll be counting the days until this transaction is complete.” Her eyes waiver, skimming down my body to reassure the lie she’s just told herself.
“We’ll see about that.” I step forward, my chin hitting my chest to look at her. My presence swallows Delilah’s stature, a sight I love to see. She’s so small, and I want to wrap my arms around her fragility to keep her safe.
What the fuck is wrong with me?
“There will be nothing to see, Carmine.”
No one calls me Carmine. No one.
Coming from Delilah, though, my entire body reacts, my cock twitching in my pants from how gentle and breathless my name sounds from her lips, in complete contrast to the hate-filled gaze.
Gianni clears his throat to remind her to leave.
Delilah rolls her eyes. “Impatience is an annoyance in this house.” When she walks away from me, her hips sway, and her soft skin gleams in the sunlight peeking through the windows.
Gianni lifts a brow at her as she walks by him without breaking her stride. Licking my lips, I watch her stroll down the hallway until she must choose whether to go left or right. She looks over her shoulder and waves her hands.
“Well, do I have figure out where to go myself, or are you going to show me to my room, Gianni?”
I chuckle. “She’s something else, isn’t she?”
“We’ll see if you still think so tomorrow.” He grabs the door handles and walks backward out of the room, closing the doors.
I exhale a weighted breath, thinking about the last time I felt so out of control. I despise it. My hand flies to my chest, and the raised skin of the scar left from father begins to itch. A phantom reminder of how many years I was out of control, and I refuse to fall back into weakness because of a pretty woman with prettier eyes.
The scotch glass scratches along the desk as my fingers push it across the polished surface where I sit. Lazily, I step around until I’m clutching onto the leather chair, anger rising with every breath I take.
What have I done?
I’m not getting any younger, and an heir is something I’ve wanted for the last few years, but it can’t be with just anyone. It had to be with someone who tests me, who challenges me, drives me insane, and has me question everything.
In the short amount of time I’ve spent with her, Delilah not only challenges me but also makes me wonder what it would be like to change.
