Page 17 of Filthy Desire

Nope. Feel free to have your investigator double check.

See you at 7:30

Her phone went silent after that.

She knew she was being followed all week and by whom. There was a van parked in front of her building four days in a row. She was able to verify the licence plate and found it belonged to a private investigator named Jasper Hawk. The man lived in Brooklyn, not far from Gio’s residence. If he was trying to be stealthy, he hadn’t succeeded.

Let him look, investigate away. There wasn’t much to tell. She had no secrets from men like Gio.

She’d had a busy week, booking new clients and scheduling regulars. Fridays were always crazy because she had to give her employees their weekend assignments. Twenty grand landed in her bank account on Saturday morning and Kara had treated herself to a little shopping therapy.

A new dress, a new pair of heels, and a new perfume. Just for Gio.

Once she was done with tonight, however, the dress and the shoes would be donated or recycled. No reminders.

For now, she was taking her time getting ready for the evening. It had been so long since she put in the full hair and makeup routine that she spent over two hours in the bathroom. Shaving, moisturizing, plucking, concealing. Fake eyelashes, a coat of mascara, and a plumping lip gloss and she was good to go.

She’d bought a dark green velvet dress with a corseted bustier and a ruffle at the hem. It hugged her in all the right places and complimented her hair. Tonight, she’d done simple waves again and smoothed her locks until they shone brightly. A spray of perfume in her cleavage and her pulse points and she was good to go. She slipped on gold sandals and a beaded purse and was standing in the lobby of her building at exactly 7:28 P.M.

The concierge wished her goodnight but didn’t stay and chat. Most everyone in her building kept to themselves. There were a few notable celebrities who lived on the premises and security and privacy were top notch.

A minute, then two went by.

A black SUV pulled up to the curb. Then her phone buzzed.

You’re late.

I’ve been waiting here for two and a half minutes. You’re late.

She really was pushing her luck by talking back to him, but she had a feeling that Gio enjoyed their banter far more than he let on. He was the type of man who wouldn’t hesitate to tell her to shut it. Until he did, she’d continue.

Keep your enemies closer…

The concierge opened the door and she stepped out, surprised to find Gio getting out of the back of the vehicle, his bodyguard flanking him. Their gazes locked and she caught the hunger in his blue eyes. Her cheeks heated as he perused her from head to toe. Fuck, now she was blushing like a teenager on her first date?

What next? And why this man? He was an arrogant prick.

An arrogant prick who looked delicious in a three-piece navy suit. His broad shoulders were made for tailored clothes. Or none at all.

She’d find out soon enough.

He gave her that crooked grin, a knowing smirk, like he could read her mind and she forced herself not to react.

“You look stunning,” he proclaimed as he held his hand out.

“Thank you. You clean up pretty good yourself,” she replied as she reluctantly placed her hand in his.

Hand holding was far too intimate, but she forced herself not to pull back. When his warm palm met hers, a jolt ran up her arm and through her body.

Like lighting striking. She didn’t like those odds.

Her heart began to race out of control. Taking a deep breath, she gave him her best smile. “And a reminder, I’m fully capable of getting into a car on my own.”

He ignored her comment, let go of her hand, and let her slide in first.

“I may be a gangster, but I still have manners. My pops would kill me if I let you open a car door.”

“Pops?”

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