lips that look dry as a bone. “My mother’s boyfriend skipped town with his drugs. We don’t know where he is, so he’s trying to get the money out of us.”
Must be the guy Franco was bitching about when we met up. Somehow, my gaze lands on her lips again, and I could kick my own ass for wondering how they’d feel between my teeth. “How did you hear about this secret group?”
Again, she lowers her gaze, as if she has no intentions of telling me. Stubborn. I don’t know what it is about this girl, the way she makes me want to spank her bare ass while kissing her at the same time.
“How?”
“Giulia.” She deadpanned the name as if I might dispute her. “She said you might help me. The way you helped her.”
“Do you even know what it is you’re asking me for?”
“No. But I’d be willing to work for you for free. To pay off what I owe. As long as you’ll have me.”
I want to laugh at that, the naiveté beneath her brassiness, like a bad joke. I lean further into her, pressing against the blade at my throat. “I fuck Giulia. That’s how she repays me. Whenever I want. Wherever I want. Is that what you had in mind, Isa? To let me use you, however I see fit?”
Throat bobbing with a swallow, she can’t possibly imagine the ways I’d ruin an innocent thing like her. “If that’s what it takes to save my family. Yes.”
The twitch of my eye fails to conceal the chaos exploding inside of me. This girl. This fucking beautiful, painfully fascinating girl. Snatching up her wrist, I grind my jaw as I twist the knife from her grasp, the glare on her face almost comical. The quick rise and fall of her chest betrays the defiance burning in her eyes, the courage she’s wearing like a shitty makeover.
Lifting her wrist between us, I run my thumb over her hammering pulse. “Do you feel that, Isa? The rapid pulse in your veins? The hard pounding in your chest? That’s your body’s natural defenses, warning you to stay the fuck away. Listen to it.” I push off her, all I can do to keep from acting on the sudden appetite I’ve developed for a sassy nineteen-year-old. The phantom sensation of the blade still lingers across my throat.
Get her out of here before you do something stupid.
“Please. You’re the only chance I have.”
I fold up the blade and toss it onto her lap. “I can’t help you. Return the doll, and we’ll have it repaired. Consider this a warning that, if you ever steal from me again, I’ll take pleasure in watching the police cuff you before locking you away.”
“What about my family?”
“I said I can’t help you. You’re far too young for what you’re offering.”
“I’m of age. I’m not a child. I’ve had boyfriends, you know. And sex!” The desperation in her voice only strums the depraved visuals tickling my thoughts.
“If ever I was desperate and stupid enough to have you, Isa, make no mistake, that’d be the day you’re properly fucked by a man, not a boy. It’s not an amusing diversion, but something I put a very concentrated effort into. Pleasure is business for me, and you’re not equipped to handle my ruthless nature. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have work to do.”
“Please. I’m begging you, Lucian.”
“Get out of my office before I change my mind and press charges for stealing.” I lean toward her again, sliding my hand over the delicate curve of her neck. “And if you ever hold a knife to my throat again, you’ll find out how adept I am at disarming a threat.” My head blares a warning, as my eyes dip to her lips once more, and I release her, instantly regretting the missed contact.
As hard-pressed as she was to hide her tears, the sniffling as she dashes for the door is unmistakable. The moment she’s gone, Rand reenters my office.
“My apologies, Sir. I did my best to ensure she was the right candidate for--”
“I want you to set up a meeting with Franco. Let him know I’m ready to discuss negotiations, and I’d like to invite him here for it.”
“Here, Master? Your father always felt it was too dangerous to invite the Scarpinatos to the Manor.”
“In case you’ve forgotten, my father isn’t here running the show. I am.” I fall into my chair, while my body scrambles to undo whatever the hell