Page 21 of The Players

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She was halfway through counting to ten when she noticed Sy hadn’t moved. He was playing with a curl of hair he had entwined around his finger. There was no aggression that emanated from his powerful body. One that screamed it worked out and could easily break her into two. By the time she’d counted to ten, her heart rate had returned to normal.

Except now she found herself in the exact same position she’d been trying to avoid, a state which she’d swore she wouldn’t go into again—fear. She refused to bow down to Sy, a man she hardly knew. If he thought she was going to relive her life with Franco, he was mistaken.

“I’m not Franco’s wife anymore.” She’d meant for those words to come out more firm. Judging by Sy’s faint smile, she hadn’t succeeded.

“Got the message, loud and clear.”

Did he really, though? “This is a temporary situation. The second there isn’t a threat to my family anymore, we will go our separate ways. The only one controlling my life will be me.”

His lips almost touched her throat when his raspy voice whispered, “You say that as if you mean it.”

She swallowed, but refused to back down. “I do.”

“Here’s the thing. You may tell yourself that you don’t want anyone to control you, own you, but I think you’re wrong. I think you have no idea what you want ’cause you don’t know the options yet. When all you’ve seen is darkness, you’ll do anything to just stay in the gray. You know, that area which is like twilight, between darkness and light. An area you don’t particularly like but you figure is better than being in the pitch black.”

Oh, the arrogance. “Let me guess. You’re going to pull me into the light?”

He chuckled. The deep vibrating sound made goose bumps appear on her skin.

“Nah, baby. I will light up your world when I plunge into you, just to pull you back with me to the dark side.”

His voice promised hot, decadent chocolate on a cold winter night. Hold on. Why was she even considering it?

Get a grip, Carmen. He just outright admitted that he’s bad.

Like I didn’t already know.

“No, thank you. I like where I’m at right now. Don’t want any man plunging in me ever again.” She couldn’t be clearer than that, now could she?

His hand circled her throat, a thumb caressing it. For a man with huge hands, they were gentle. Of course, it was all a facade. The second she let her guard down, he would make her regret it.

“We don’t always know what we want until we get it. And we definitely don’t always get what we want. You, for example, may not want to admit that you live in a world controlled by men like Keegan and Morelli, but this is your life. If you don’t belong to a man, either Morelli or the Irish will take you out. A woman defying them? They’d make an example—out of you. By the time they’re finished, you’d be begging for death.”

It made her sick, knowing he was right. She’d heard the horror stories of what had happened to some mobster widows.

“I hate it,” she whispered.

“I know.” His eyes hardened when they landed on her bruised knuckles. “What happened before me is over and done. The second you go home with me, you fall under my protection. It means you are mine for as long as we both want. You brave enough to follow?”

***

She had been brave enough to get into his car and go home with him, not knowing that “home” to him was a penthouse above Club Obsidian. Guess she hadn’t thought that one through. Then again, she hadn’t thought much of anything after the Keegan incident, except for wanting to be safe.

They entered a large foyer, with a gray tiled floor, and a coat rack. He led her into the living room—it was a large, open space with modern furniture and a marble fireplace. As she walked onto the plush cream carpet that led into a big open spaced room, it hit her she hadn’t even packed a bag. Or even told anyone she was coming here. Except for Raul, of course. More than anyone, he deserved to be free. Freed from her and the responsibility over her he believed he had.

She thought back on Raul and the message she’d send him.

Coward.

She internally winced. Sending him a message that she’d sold the casinos to Vince, and would be staying with him, instead of telling him upfront wasn’t exactly an act of courage. The man deserved better. On the other hand, this way she was giving them both a breather. Raul deserved his freedom just as much as she did. At least now he had one less worry. Perhaps he could finally retire and have a life.

Of course, the old enforcer wasn’t born yesterday. When she didn’t pick up the phone, he’d immediately texted her that Vince was after something. And he was right. What Vince wanted wasn’t what Raul expected though. All he wanted was to clear his conscience. Despite her never being able to trust him again, deep in her heart, she knew he wasn’t a bad man. Unlike Franco, he did have a conscience.

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