Page 10 of Brutal Don

It was starting to feel a little awkward. Cara needed a quick escape from the confusing puzzle that was Dante Massimo.

Once safely behind the bathroom door, she locked it. Cara thought she heard Dante’s chuckle.She wanted to punch him in the face but he’d probably catch her fist or resort to something unexpected like kissing her. A man like him probably knew how to kiss and please a woman. Her pulse leaped. Cara pictured him holding her close, brushing his beautiful mouth over hers.

“Screw you,” she whispered.

Cara breathed in and out. Having romantic fantasies of Dante wouldn’t get her anywhere. This couldn’t end well. Cara wasn’t a heroine in a romance movie.

Once she felt calmer, she removed her clothes and took a long bath, her second of the day.

Since she didn’t have her own clothes, she borrowed Dante’s again. She picked another oversized sleeping shirt and shorts. By the time she emerged from the bathroom, Dante was in bed, reading some sort of business book.

“You certainly took your time,” Dante said, flashing her a devilish smile.

He patted the spot next to him. Cara took a deep breath, before moving to the opposite side of the bed. His bed was massive, so there was plenty of space between them.

Keeping his distance like he promised would be easy. Why that thought disappointed her, she didn’t understand.

“I like seeing my clothes on you,” Dante remarked.

“I don’t have clothes of my own,” she muttered. “I don’t have anything.”

“That’s right. I’ll tell one of my men to retrieve your belongings from your old apartment. I’ll also leave you one of my credit cards in case you need to purchase anything.”

Was his generosity also an act? She didn’t know what to think but she had to say something.

“Aren’t you worried I’ll start buying expensive and useless crap with your card just to get back at you?” she asked.

Maybe baiting him just to see if he’d lose his temper wasn’t the wisest idea. Then again, Cara felt like she was on uneven footing the moment she woke up in his bed.

This man was definitely way out of her league. Then again, her father always told Cara she was a fast learner. She wanted to show Dante she could beat him at his own game.

“Correct me if I’m wrong, but you don’t strike me as a vengeful woman,” Dante said.

“You don’t know me at all,” she answered. “Or what I’m capable of.”

“True, but that will change. One look at you tells me your old man raised a good girl. You don’t have a petty bone in your body.”

“If you cage a wild animal, you can’t expect it to be obedient right away,” she said.

Her heart beat wildly. Why did it thrill her to provoke him so much?

“Even wild animals can learn tricks given enough time. Now lay down. Isn’t it tiring to stand?” Dante asked.

Did he really just call her a wild animal? The nerve of this man! Cara slid in the bed, then angrily pulled the covers over her body. Cara doubted she would get any sleep tonight. Minutes crawled by, maybe hours. Cara couldn’t tell. Eventually, Dante set his book aside and turned off the light.

Cara tensed, waiting for the moment he would break his word and touch her—but he didn’t. Dante turned to his side of the bed and said, “Good night, Cara.”

She didn’t respond. Certain he wouldn’t do anything but sleep next to her, Cara let her guard down. She shut her eyes, evened her breathing. Tonight, she was safe at least, but Dante could break his word anytime.

To her chagrin, Cara found herself getting sleepy. She fought to stay awake, but dreams took her under. Cara still hoped this was all a nightmare, or a product of her imagination.

****

As Cara’s soft snores filled the room, Dante changed position so he could look right at her sleeping profile. He was certain she was sound asleep because he doubted she would lie facing him. She looked angelic like this, certainly not the hellion he’d glimpsed tonight.

Dante thought about their dinner and how nothing went according to plan tonight. The moment she started talking about her father, something inside him cracked. The sorrow in her voice and her grief-stricken expression got to him. He didn’t think it was an act. Her vulnerability fascinated him. No one ever called Dante soft in his entire life. During dinner, Cara made him weak.

That made her dangerous. She was supposed to be a plaything, a distraction and nothing more. Dante wasn’t completely heartless. Once he dealt with the Gambinos, he had considered returning her to her old life.

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