Page 32 of Inferno
He inhaled sharply. ‘Fine, let’s talk about something else, then.’
‘Like what?’
His eyes were trained on my lips. His hand moved to the small of my back, the other cupped the back of my neck, pulling me into him. ‘This,’ he said gruffly.
He pressed his lips against mine, hard and searching. I shivered against him as his kiss grew stronger and more urgent.No. I made myself think. I made myself remember. He dragged his hand down my back, brushing his fingers along the waistband of my jeans.No. I pulled my lips from his just as he slipped his hand into my back pocket. I pushed against him, but it was too late; he was already pulling the card out from where I had tucked it.
He jumped back from me as I lashed out at him. He jerked his head and my fingers caught his chin. Quick, but not quick enough. His hand flew to his jaw.
His eyes went wide. ‘Sophie.’
‘How could you?’ I gasped.
‘I’m protecting you.’ He shook the alarm from his face and flipped the card over, his dark eyes slitting as he read Jack’s handwritten message to me. ‘I had to do it.’
I glared at him.
‘You weren’t going to give it to me,’ he said.
‘It was mine! I didn’t have to!’
‘You don’t know what you’re dealing with here, Sophie.’
I had to curl my fingernails into my palms to keep from trying to slap him again. ‘In that one kiss, you just cheapenedeverything we ever had.’
Alarm spread across his face. He stepped into our bubble again, his hands reaching out for mine. ‘I didn’t cheapen it. I did it to look out for you.’
I backed away from him. ‘Just leave me alone.’
‘You can’t go see your uncle, Sophie. I don’t care if you’re mad at me, but you can’t go into that club. That’s Black Hand territory. It’s not safe for you there.’
I gestured around me as I walked away. ‘It’s not safe for me anywhere!’
He matched my quickened pace easily. ‘Listen to me. Donata Marino doesn’t care about Jack. The Marinos never associate with anyone outside their family. They’re using him, and if you get sucked into their world, they’ll use you too. I’m asking you – I ambegging you– do not go to that club.’
I didn’t look back at him. ‘It’s none of your business what I choose to do.’
‘I’ll make it my business to go in there after you.’
I turned around. ‘You wouldn’t!’
He set his jaw. ‘Try me.’
‘You can’t manipulate me like that,’ I hissed. But he could and he was. I didn’t want him following me into that club and going head-to-head with my uncle and all his new allies. There would be blood, and it would be on my conscience.
I started walking again. ‘You were supposed to stay away from me.’
He followed me. ‘That was before.’
‘Before what.’
‘Before I knew the Black Hand were involved.’
My mind was swirling with possibilities. How could I get ridof Nic from this scenario? How could I convince him not to go to that club? He wasn’t going to give up.
‘Let’s make a deal, then,’ I said, swivelling. I masked my features and lifted my eyes to his. I made them as wide as I could and nudged at my bottom lip with my teeth.
He watched me, unblinking.
