Faked A Dark Mafia Romance - Vanessa Waltz Page 0,7
on the wall behind me. Our eyes clashed, and my stomach flipped.
“If I’m harsh, it’s because I have to be.”
What a pitiful excuse.
“Nobody makes Vinn Costa do anything.”
“For now,” he agreed. “That won’t last if I allow you to disrespect me.”
“So what’s your plan? Beat me until I cry?”
I smoldered when he rolled his eyes. He shot me a look that flickered with heat.
“Something like that.”
His threat hung in the air, darkening the atmosphere.
“If Michael were here, he’d stop you.” My words tumbled out in a broken whisper. “You wouldn’t dare.”
“You’re right,” he drawled. “Let’s go somewhere private.”
Fear jangled in my insides as he grabbed me, but I couldn’t deny the spark in my chest. His embrace still wrapped me in all-encompassing warmth, and his appeal was devastating. I shut out my awareness of him and shoved his biceps, fighting his viselike hold.
“Stop! Let me go!”
He pulled me violently toward him, locking his arm around my waist. I choked back a scream as he cinched tight. My breathing hitched as he kicked open a random service door, yanking me through a darkened restaurant. His loud footsteps drowned the thudding of my heart.
Stainless steel gleamed from the moonlight that filtered inside, but Vinn manhandled me past the kitchen and thrust me toward an eating area with vinyl booths.
“Get off, Vinn.” I swallowed the tight knot begging for release. “You don’t want to do this.”
His lean body molded into my curves. “What am I doing?”
My stomach churned. “No idea.”
“Guess.”
I flinched at his whiplike tone.
Vinn wasn’t a man of impulse. He weighed every action against its rewards and consequences. He took nothing lightly, which meant I’d soon be writhing in pain. His hand was buried in my thick hair, his grip punishing. Hard.
My struggle ended in a few breathless seconds. He rendered me immobile with a vicious yank of my arms. He’d twisted them behind my back, balling my wrists in his powerful fingers. He shoved me over a table. His hard body was on top, pinning me.
“Vinn, stop!”
“Stop what?” he taunted.
“I don’t know,” I growled into the wood, desperate for a wall between us. “But going any further is a huge mistake!”
“I doubt my life will be impacted in the slightest.” He teased the hem of my dress, gently stroking a growing fire. “And maybe you’ll learn to shut up.”
“I won’t be silent if you hurt me!”
“Let me count all the fucks I give.” His quiet voice seethed with cold contempt. “None.”
My startled hurt turned to white-hot anger. “What the hell are you doing?”
My pulse skittered as he grabbed my thighs and casually moved upward. The brazenness lodged a golf ball in my throat, the roaring in my head drowning the panic.
He’d never fondled me. An alarming amount of heat dipped into my belly as he took my hips, close enough to thrust my legs apart and—
No.
“Vinn, this is crazy.” I turned, catching his feral gaze. “What would Michael say?”
“I’m not thinking about your brother.” He slapped my cheek. “But he’d agree that you need a firm hand to tame that out of control mouth.”
“I’m pretty sure he’d kill you.”
“What about my wrath?” His grip tightened, and blood rushed where his fingers branded me. “You should worry about what I’ll do to you.”
“Get off me!”
“No.”
I stamped on his boot, grinding my heel where his toes should’ve been. It broke off on the hard surface, causing me to stumble. His soft laughter grated at me as he slid closer, wedging me between his knees.
“Congratulations,” I snarled. “You’ve overpowered a woman a quarter of your size. I’ll buy you a fucking medal. Can I go home now?”
“Not yet.”
I gritted my teeth. “But I did nothing wrong.”
“Liar. You’ve been rude, obnoxious, and petulant. You told me to fuck off in front of everyone. If you think I’ll let that slide, you’re delusional.” He bent, his body folding over mine. “I am not letting you go until I believe you’re sorry.”
I wouldn’t be. He would.
My chest pulsed against the wood as his weight crushed me. Somehow, I found enough air to snap at him. “I’m sorry I’m not a braindead idiot like everyone else.”
My heart somersaulted as he yanked at something on his waist. There was a metallic jingle, followed by the slapping of leather. A sensual thrill stroked my body as he fisted my dress to my middle back.
Too fast.
“Wait,” I begged, licking my lips. “Let’s—let’s talk.”
A deep note rumbled from his throat. “An improvement already.”
I had no idea what he intended with the belt,