towards me like I thought it would be. Instead, he moves his attention to a blood-red rose and plucks it. My heart races as I watch him move, stealthily and with purpose. There’s no one here but us.
“I know it’s past due, but I promise he will have every cent to you before the start of the next quarter,” I lie, and even to my own ears it sounds like a lie.
He stares at the rose that he twirls between his deft fingers as he speaks. “Do you know the men here?”
“Know them?” I whisper the question, my brow pinched.
“Do you know what they do?” he clarifies, and my heart races.
“They are executives,” I speak clearly, although inside I’m screaming.
“Don’t lie to me.” His voice isn’t harsh, but his tone is threatening.
With a tight swallow, I stay calm in my composure and take a single step closer to him. In the moonlight, his gaze shifts to my shoes, then back up. The shards of auburn and gold in his eyes shine back at me.
I answer again. “They are the men who run every aspect of this city. Drug dealers, murderers, and yes . . . executives. They control the wealth and the elected officials. They control everything.”
“Wrong.” The single word is rushed from his lips and he mirrors my action, taking one step closer to me. “I control everything.”
A cold sweat lines my skin, a shiver running down my spine as a gust of wind blows by us both. The smell of roses mixes with his masculine scent, and it’s heady, nearly dizzying.
I can only nod, “Yes. I know.”
“I could have your father killed.”
My heart lurches. “No. Please.” I nearly go to him, rushing to him to beg him not to, but he closes the distances between us before I can make that move.
Thump, thump, my heart protests, but my body stays right where it is as he towers over me. Slowly, ever so slowly, his hand reaches for my throat. His fingers wrap themselves against my pulse one at a time. And all I can do is look into his eyes. There’s so much that swirls in that dark gaze.
“You lie to me.”
“No.” The attempt at shaking my head in denial is thwarted by his strong grip tightening. It’s only a warning.
“You just told me he could make his payment.”
My eyes open slowly, but I don’t make an attempt to respond.
“I should kill him and set an example. When men take my money and can’t pay it back . . .”
“Please,” I beg him again. My clutch falls from my grasp to the stones beneath our feet. My trembling fingers reach up to the fine fabric of his suit. “Isn’t there anything you want instead?” I question, and I’m very aware that the offer is leading.
So much so that when his eyes drift down my body, I’m certain he can see the hardened peaks of my breasts. I’m not a whore, and I’ve never offered myself to a man . . . but the tension between us is thick and undeniable.
“Yes, there is. You can take his place.”
“Not to die, I hope,” I make an effort for my statement to sound as if it’s a joke. But with his hand on my throat and the knowledge of what he could do to me, I can’t deny fear lingers under the lust.
Leaning closer to me, Harrison drops his lips to the shell of my ear to whisper, “There are many things a man like me requires. I’m sure you can think of something.”
2
Calum
There are only two things that keep me from fucking Annabelle on the leather seats of my car right now.
Alessio, my driver; I’m not sharing her moans of pleasure with him or anyone else.
And the second thing . . . my phone going off in my suit jacket. The vibrations haven’t stopped since I escorted Miss Belle out of the party.
I’ve never been harder in my life, walking behind this beautiful rose with everyone’s eyes on us. There isn’t a single guest that didn’t watch in silence as her heels clicked and my hand rested on her back.
Speculation and rumors have already started. I can only imagine what they’ve conjured up in their heads.
Not a single one of them has the balls to ask though. Maurizio is the only soul who’s called. Time after time, his calls have been persistent, and I’m certain his voicemails are riddled with concern. Perhaps threats at first. Maybe indignation. There’s no doubt