down innocent people for what? Money? Drugs? Power?”
“You could never understand, sweet and innocent Savannah. My family has made sacrifices, endured significant loss. We do what we need to in order to survive.”
I pushed hard against the stone, the action only shoving me against his sculpted body.
And his throbbing cock.
I was sick at the thought he was aroused, his desire for me off the charts. I was even more disgusted with the longing sweeping up through every muscle in my body, my nipple aching from the hunger betraying my mind. No. No! I couldn’t want him. Not this man.
Not this monster.
“What you needed to. My God, you actually believe the bullshit you’re saying.” I regretted the words as soon as I said them. “I thought for a crazy second that you actually cared about me.”
“I care about no one. Ever. That leads to betrayal.” His retort was hushed, the gravelly whisper as if he had the weight of the world on him.
“You are so damn sad. Whoever you’re pretending to be, you’re going to end up very much alone or dead because of the life you lead.”
I heard the fury building in his ragged breathing, could tell he was close to the edge as he loomed over me. The heat of his body was oppressive, the scent of him far too intoxicating. I took deep breaths as he snarled, his grip tightening around my throat. He wrangled my arms over my head even as I continued to fight him, able to get my wrists in one of his hands. My strength was nearly gone, the adrenaline waning. I was left with nothing but exhaustion settling in.
Still, I struggled even as his grip around my throat tightened. He was going to kill me.
He leaned even closer until he was able to whisper in my ear, finally releasing his hold on my neck. “I am Rafael Santiago, son of Sanchez Santiago, leader of the Galicia mafia organization. I didn’t lie to you in any way, Savannah Tyler of Charleston, South Carolina. I am a very dangerous, sadistic man who will not accept betrayal of any kind. Those men you believe to be so innocent are members of a true gang, the most vile and brutal criminals in Spain. The Los Charlines. Not only was the man they called the Blade ready to abduct you, spending time training you, he would have prepared you to be sold to the highest bidder.” He brushed his fingers down my spine.
Trembling, I heard his words. I knew what he was suggesting, the horrors I could have faced.
I closed my eyes as he crawled his hand down the length of my skirt, rolling the material into his fist. The moment the tip of his finger sliced against my skin, I let out an audible moan, my body now quivering from the building desire. What the hell was happening to me? Why was I so turned on?
“And I assure you, Savannah, the kind of man who would have gladly paid the hundreds of thousands of dollars would have gotten his money’s worth. From. Your. Body.” He pressed his lips against my neck, darting his tongue back and forth. “And when he was finished with you, he would have tossed you in the garbage.”
“Why are you telling me that?” I snapped, my fury reaching the surface. “Why? To feel grateful that you saved me only to be imprisoned by another monster?”
My God, he knew my name and where I was from. I could only guess what else he’d found out. Was my aunt in danger? My friends back home? Could he be that cold and heartless? The answers were even more terrifying. I’d been nothing more than a one-night stand.
Even though I’d seen the look of sadness in his eyes. There was no way I could trust him. He was a monster, a cold-blooded killer.
“Because you deserve to know the truth,” he hissed.
“And what you’re doing is any different? You’re going to kill me whether I give you this information you so desperately need or not. Isn’t that true? That’s because you’re a monster.” I dared to ask as his fingers moved dangerously close to my soaked panties. Oh, God. Oh... He was quiet, his movements ceasing even though I could hear the hammering of his heart, was able to gather a scent of his raw need. “Isn’t it?”
“What I’m going to do is exactly what I promised if you do not give me the truth. What is your