Page 28 of Fortress of the King

RAYNE

I closethe door behind me, and as soon as the lock clicks, I turn and press my back against the wood and sink to the floor.

I press my fingers against my lips and touch the bruised skin from our illicit kiss, wondering why I feel that thrill running through me like this when I shouldn’t. I should hate the fucking prick, he’s just like the rest of the criminals and low lives in this Godforsaken place. But worse, he’s the ringleader. Diablo.

I need to calm myself, but it seems that whenever I’m around him, the lines get blurred.

I stare at the box in my fist and dare myself to open it. He didn’t….

I flip the lid of the box, and the Harry Winston studs I sold to him earlier tonight for thirty grand stare back at me.

He gave me the fucking Harry Winston earrings?

They’re beautiful, small, and dainty, the diamond and sapphire stones gleam back at me. They are absolutely stunning.

I swallow hard.

I need to lock them in the safe until it’s time to wear them for him. Obviously, I’ve never worn jewelry worth this amount in my entire life. Once this is all over, I can pawn them and get the cash, fuck knows, I’m going to need it if I have to run.

It occurs to me that there is no corner of the globe where I could hide from someone like Angelo, but it’s best not to think about that right at this moment.

Heat rolls through my body in waves as I sit on the floor and close my eyes.

Breathe, Goddamn it.

I don’t get like this.

I don’t ever get like this.

I’ve been strong up until this point, but maybe deep inside my soul, there’s a dark part of me that wants to be taken and owned by a man like Angelo Medici, even if for the night.

Maybe I need him to take control.

Losing myself with him would be like sweet surrender, something that I may never come back from, but it’s not like I’m going to lose my head. I’m aware he’s hypnotizing and intense, that’s all part of the Medici charm, and I’m not here to be charmed by him, as much as my body’s telling me otherwise.

He has a presence that not only spells danger but also calls to me on another level, one that almost sickens me because I know I should run. Except I can’t.

I’m in this game, and the clock is ticking.

If only I could just breathe….

In my lust-filled haze, I try to remember that this is all just a fantasy. I can never have him that way, and I wouldn’t want to. He has no soul; cold-blooded killers never do.

The things he does, how he thinks he can buy people, what he stands for. When it’s all said and done, he’s the enemy. He’s the head of the mafia crime family for a reason.

Nobody can be trusted, least of all me.

And it’s not why I’m here.

My purpose in all of this far outweighs my ridiculous, lust-filled thoughts. Thoughts that I shouldn’t even be having since he’s not only the enemy but also the solution to all my problems. A means to an end.

I don’t know what’s come over me. I’m obviously having some kind of out-of-body experience because this feeling washing over me isn’t normal.

I should get as far away from Angelo Medici as possible, but I know I can't, even as the thought enters my head. I hate that I can’t help Mia any other way, that these cowards stay hidden and out of sight, yet they watch my every move.

I hate going along with this charade when all I want to do is run.

I glance at the clock and wince. The call will come in soon to check on my progress. I take one long last breath as I think about Angelo’s mouth assaulting mine. How I wanted him to push his way inside my apartment and take me with force. Make me forget every wretched thing going on in my life. Ravage me because that’s all I deserve.

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