Page 21 of Cruelest Contract
I’ve been looking at men like this since I was a child. They are Mafia soldiers, likely here to make sure there’s no trouble as I get handed off. It’s an uneasy reminder that the reach of the Mafia isn’t confined to east coast cities no matter how much Hollywood prefers shootouts in gritty urban settings.
And the Tempestas?
They aren’t simply wealthy cattle ranchers. Even my grandfather used to utter Cassio Tempesta’s name with fear and respect.
The sense that I’ve walked right into a den of wolves intensifies.
I’m not delusional. I’ll never overpower one wolf, let alone a pack. Turning on the tears and pleading for mercy on Gabriel’s behalf will only result in contempt and pity.
Gabriel’s chances depend on my ability to appease the Tempestas. One word from them and he’ll be hunted again. He won’t survive that. And I won’t survive losing my twin.
This is why I calmly turn to Julian Tempesta on the windy tarmac and push my hair out of my face. “Do you mind if we stop at a store? I’m afraid I didn’t bring a litter box for my cat.”
“No problem,” he says without missing a beat. “We’ll make sure you have everything you need.”
I manage to force my lips into a smile. “Thank you.”
Julian gives a signal to his Mafia brutes. They disappear into the SUV, the tinted windows hiding them from view.
“Are we fucking sleeping here or what?” shouts Getty.
Julian throws his brother a look. Getty coughs into his hand and flips it up, extending his middle finger.
“Is it a long drive to the ranch?” I ask Julian.
“No,” he replies. “Eighty miles.”
I nearly laugh and then realize he’s completely serious. To me, eighty miles is pretty freaking far. The rules must be different here.
I tighten my fingers on the strap of my purse and keep my back straight. “Lead the way.”
Julian shakes his head and flashes a quick smile that unleashes chaos on my pulse. “Your first lesson about life with us, Cecilia, is that ladies are always first.”
His palm grazes my lower back. The gesture is both protective and distracting. As he steers me toward the pickup trucks, I sneak a quick glance at his face. In the same instant, he looks down at me.
His hand applies more pressure, flattening across my back and moving in a slow, circular motion that comes across as dominant as it is provocative. I can’t stop the deep tug of arousal low in my belly any more than I can stop my heart from beating.
Even through the haze of unwanted lust, I am very aware this ishisterritory. The Tempesta boys are all grown up but it’s clear Julian remains the crew commander.
In a clash of wills, Julian will win. When backed by his brothers, they are an unstoppable force. I’ll need to keep my wits about me.
And I’d better pick my battles with care.
5
JULIAN
No photo does her justice. Cecilia Grimaldi is gorgeous. Irresistibly fuckable.
Yet there are plenty of women worth fucking in the world and Cecilia’s looks are only one of the reasons why she interests me.
So far, she’s everything I hoped she’d be. Beautiful and polite. Intelligent and rational. I wondered if she’d be too shy, so overwhelmed that she ends up jumping at her own shadow.
Instead, she’s standing her ground. When the boys try to get a rise out of her, she doesn’t take the bait.Good.I’m determined to peel back the layers and see what she’s made of.
Any woman who joins our family can’t be a pushover or she’ll fucking drown here. But I’ll be damned if I’m going to deal with some turbulent wildcat who picks a new fight every hour.
Cecilia just arrived but she gets a lot of credit for striking the right balance from the start. She’s in a tough position. The fact that she’s loyal enough to her twin brother to come here at all says a lot about her character.
