Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 61692 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 308(@200wpm)___ 247(@250wpm)___ 206(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 61692 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 308(@200wpm)___ 247(@250wpm)___ 206(@300wpm)
“Ah, bella, such sweetness and innocence. Yes, I did love. A long time ago.”
His gaze drops from mine and I feel it then.
The pain. The uncertainty. The heartbreak.
“You’re quite the siren, aren’t you, Raina?” he questions, lifting his green-eyed gaze to mine again. I don’t respond, but I take in his distress. I drink it like a cocktail. A mixture of fear, love, anger, lust, and desire. It’s an intoxicating blend of everything I feel for Franco.
“Who was she?” I answer his question with one of my own. He regards me for a long while. Too long before he steps back and turns his attention to the windows before us.
“A woman I could never have,” he tells me, but his eyes never meet mine. The surrounding air is heavy with contemplative emotion. He’s been hurt before. Had his heart broken. Sometimes monsters love as well. I wish I could go to him. But my fear holds me back.
“Would you let me loose?” I question. When he spins on his heel, he immediately falls at my feet and grips the blade from his holster, slicing the ropes that hold my wrists. Without thinking and my hands free, I reach for his face. My hand tentatively caresses his jaw, which has a light dusting of stubble.
“I can see why he loves you. Your touch, it’s….” Lifting those deep green pools, he stares at me for so long I’m sure he’s forgotten what he wanted to tell me. “You’re like a drug,” he murmurs.
Smiling wryly, I regard him. “That’s what…” my words falter when he stares at me.
“Franco?” he questions and I nod. “You know, we grew up together. He was like a brother to me. For years. When I chose the wrong side, I lost him along with the only woman I ever loved because she chose my best friend.” He chuckles wryly.
“The woman you loved, she chose Franco?” My brows furrow in confusion and my heart leaps into my throat with the new knowledge of the man I love with another.
He nods with a sad smile, but as soon as it arrived, it’s gone. “Life moves on. I did.” He pushes up and turns to the window once more. I risk a glance at my wrists. They’re marked lightly with the pattern of the rope. “I’m sorry I have to do this, Raina. I’ve always done bad things. I’ve always chosen the wrong side. After I lost everything, I became…”
“Angry?” Dragging my gaze to him, I watch the suit jacket crinkle with his movements. He places both hands flat on the windowpane and drops his head. Pushing off the chair, I take a few steps toward him. The knife is still in his hand and my heart thuds in my chest.
As soon as I reach him, he spins on his heel, grabbing me by the throat and pinning me between his solid torso and the wall. His body heat warms me and his breath fans over my face. “I became a monster. I hurt people. I watch them die and you know what, Raina?”
I shake my head as his grip around my neck gets tighter.
“I love it. It makes me hard. It’s like sex. Feral, animalistic, and raw.”
My body shudders beneath his. My throat works to swallow and he eases his grip. Our heated gazes are locked on each other. I can feel his rigid erection pressing against my thigh and when my eyes fall to his lips, they curve into a smirk, so devilish it’s almost sinful.
“You see, bella, I can make you ache. I can make you crave it. And you know why?” He leans in further, his lips nipping at the lobe of my ear. “Because you like the dark, you like it rough. Your pupils are dilated, and your pussy, that sweet little cunt, it’s hot and wet for me right now. Isn’t it?”
As much as I want to deny it, as much as I want to shake my head and disagree, I can’t. Because I am needy, but not for him. The way he’s pinned me, the scent of his spicy cologne, they all remind me of Franco. “I’m only turned on because you remind me of him.” Once the words fall from my lips, I find myself being flung onto the bed. Before I have time to find my bearings, he’s on top of me. His body pressing me into the mattress as he bucks his hips into my ass, grinding his cock against me.
19
Franco
The grounds are dimly lit. Getting onto his property wasn’t an easy feat and as I walk up to the basement door, I shudder to think what’s happening inside. With Matteo’s computer wizardry, he managed to override the alarm system.
The ten men, armed with guns, took out the outer perimeter of guards Russo had along the walls. Getting in wasn’t challenging. The problematic part is coming up. Entering the house will be interesting because I know the layout. We’ve all seen the blueprints, but as I push the door of the pantry open, I’m met with silence.