Page 15 of The Viper

I push my body into his, wanting him to touch me. My heart is pounding, my skin is tingling. My fingers clench as I anticipate his every touch. His taste. His mouth on mine. What am I doing?

“Take me home please,” I say as I step away, breaking this insane connection we shared for a few seconds.

Dominic steps backward and runs his hands through his hair. “Yes, I think that’s a good idea.” He turns away from me, putting distance between us. Good. I don’t want this level of complication in my life.

Dominic Sacco isn’t a good man. And I don’t want to be involved with him. Thankfully, the disaster has been averted. I’m fairly positive Dominic agrees that we’re not meant to be anywhere near one another.

The drive back to my apartment is accomplished in silence. The air is tense with an unease that I’m sure we’re both feeling. He knows this was a bad idea, as do I. The moment the car pulls up in front of my apartment building, I don’t even wait, I simply jump out and head upstairs. “Great,” I murmur to myself when I realize I don’t have a key to enter. I turn and close my eyes as I lean up against my door.

“Are you looking for this?” Dominic’s smooth baritone caresses my skin.

Nope, don’t fall for it. My eyes open as I straighten off the door. “Sure am,” I say as I reach for the keys he’s holding. “I don’t even want to know how you got these.”

“Marco retrieved them from the hook behind your door.” I narrow my eyes at him. “You can trust Marco,” he says, reading my surprised expression.

“Uh-huh.” I add a small nod before quickly turning it into a headshake. Dominic waits until I open the door and I make my way inside. “You can go.”

“I will once I check your apartment.”

What is wrong with this guy? “No.” I try to shut the door, but he pushes it open and forces his way into my home. “I said, I’ll leave once I check your apartment.”

“What exactly are you checking for?” He’s silent as looks in the bedroom, bathroom and around the small living room slash kitchen slash dining area. “Satisfied?” I ask as I stay by the open door, ready for him to leave so I can finally shut him out.

He walks toward the door but stops just short and looks around the room. He turns to look at me and shakes his head. His expressive eyes lock on mine, sending a prickle over my skin. “Good night,” he finally says as he walks out. “Lock your door.”

Yeah I will, to keep weirdos like you out. “Will do,” I say in a cheery fuck you voice.

Dominic Sacco halts his steps, runs his hand through his hair and shakes his head before finally leaving.

Weird.

Chapter four

Dominic

Sitting in my office, I stare at the laptop in front of me. I can’t focus on the numbers, but I know they’re not adding up.

“What’s wrong,” Marco asks as he waltzes in and sits opposite me.

“Nothing.” His presence has forced me to pay attention to the screen.

“Is it the girl?”

“No,” I say as I lift my stare above the screen to Marco.

He takes in a breath and sits back on the seat. “Collections didn’t go so smoothly this morning.” I close the laptop and look at him, waiting for more. “Dean didn’t pay.”

“He didn’t?”

“He said he didn’t have the money.”

“And you did what?”

Marco’s lips slightly curl with amusement. “He’s in the trunk.”

“Good, bring him here.”

Marco pushes up from the chair and leaves my office. He returns within a few minutes, pushing Dean in front of him. “Look, man, I’ll get you the money,” Dean’s voice has a slight shake to it. I gesture to Marco with a flick of my eyes to push him onto the seat. Dean stumbles forward when Marco shoves him, and he falls into the chair. Dean holds in his breath and his eyes widen as he looks around my office. “I’ll pay ya.”

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