Page 27 of A Mafia Mistress for Christmas

Years of training keep the mask in place. Marco is the same.

He’d warned me what kind of person he’d have to play during this dinner, how he’d have to be the cold and ruthless asshole everyone thinks he is in order to handle Stefan.

Despite every mechanical bite we take, I see bits of him leaking through the façade. I speak when spoken to, answer any question with a vague sort of dismissiveness I imagined the real Natasha might use, the kind where the implications for poking me too closely are implied.

The moment I’m able to excuse myself to use the facilities, leaving Marco in a heated debate with the cartel leader, I go snooping. Less than five minutes; it’s all the time I have.

It’s got to be this way, I think as I hustle down the hallway, past the door to the powder room and further, right to where Marco told me the office would be.

Every second counts. Someone is going to find me if I’m not careful, which means every movement has to count, every breath I take.

The office door is locked, and the tapes are hidden inside, as Marco said. The camera attached to the opposite wall points at the door, a steady red light showing it as active. The keypad nestled above the doorknob gives a clear indication of just how heavily the room is guarded.

What other secrets are inside?

My heart flips in my chest, and I—

“Mygoodness, you are a curious little vixen, aren’t you?’

Stefan’s voice sounds from directly behind me, and I stiffen. Oh. Fuck.

“I didn’t realize a trip to the ladies’ room warranted an escort from the head honcho himself. Have you gotten lost, my dear?”

I turn and plaster a confident smile on my face at the same time.

“As you can see, this isn’t the powder room, is it? It’s my office, and you are the one currently staring at my keypad like you’re trying to figure out what the password might be.” He steps close, his hands in the pockets of his suit jacket—easygoing to anyone who spares a glance at him, but I’m not fooled. “Curious…”

I’ve heard reports of exactly what Stefan likes to do with his hands, especially to women. Brutal things. Violent things. Unlike his brother.

I need to get away from him without causing any more suspicion. I harden my gaze, on edge, poised and ready to do whatever it takes to get out of this situation. “A lady isn’t allowed to get lost in a big house?” I toss my loose, curled hair over my shoulder then move to step past him. “Excuse me.”

Stefan steps with me to block my exit. “You’re no lady,” he whispers.

Goosebumps erupt over my exposed skin.

“Not wearing a dress like this, and not from everything I’ve heard about you. How you and Mad Dog go at it like animals in fucking heat.” He draws in a long breath, smelling me. “And now you’re with my brother.”

Stefan uses his massive frame to back me against the door. The keypad presses into my back, the metal cold, and I swallow over a flash of pain. He slams his arms on either side of my shoulders, low enough to keep me from ducking underneath and bolting, loud enough to spook. His body wedges me into the wood, his leg between my thighs in a smooth, dominating movement.

“Does he fuck you raw? Does my brother make you beg for it before he sinks himself into that tight little cunt of yours?” He drags his nose along my neck, licking the lobe of my ear before jerking his hips forward, letting me know exactly how he feels about this moment.

He’s already hard.

“Except there are a few points I’m still unclear on,Natasha. I swallowed my pride and contacted Gerardo last night, and he says his mistress is being detained by law enforcement as we speak.”

Every part of me goes cold.

“What did you say?” The question bursts out of me before I can slam my teeth down to stop it.

Stefan chuckles, and I feel it through every portion of my icy body. “Didn’t think I’d do my research?” He clicks his tongue. “What little faith you have in me and my abilities. So, the question remains. Who. Are. You?”

I keep my attention on his eyes, but there’s nothing human about them. I see only a beast, ready to strike, to cause as much chaos and damage as possible, even if he goes down with me. I’m done. I’ve been figured out before I even got into the office. Those tapes are going to stay where they are.

“I’d be very careful how you choose to answer me.” Stefan slides his right hand along the door, down my shoulder, lingering at the side of my breast before pinching my nipple hard enough to make me gasp, at both the shock and the intrusion. “Tell me the truth.”

I glance down, gaze snagging on the hidden camera pinned to his lapel disguised to look like some kind of coat of arms.

Marco was right: Stefan records everything. He’s paranoid as fuck. Not that I hadn't believed him, but a flash of vindication flashes through my blood, doing absolutely zip to thaw the ice.

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