Total pages in book: 30
Estimated words: 27953 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 140(@200wpm)___ 112(@250wpm)___ 93(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27953 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 140(@200wpm)___ 112(@250wpm)___ 93(@300wpm)
“Was this your plan?” Matteo asks. I sit there, thinking that he's talking to the man behind the wheel. “I asked you a question, Mona O’Haire.” He spits out my last name as though it’s left a bad taste in his mouth.
“What?” is the only word I can get out. It’s in self-preservation, in fear of his deadly wrath. How is this the same man I met weeks ago? I hadn’t feared him at all. I’m so naïve.
“Don’t play stupid. It’s unfitting.”
“I’m not,” I rush to say, having no clue what he’s talking about.
“Then maybe you truly are.” I don’t react to his words, even if they do cut me.
I’m proficient at not giving people the reaction they expect. If they know what hurts you, they’ll use it against you. Growing up with a brother who terrorized me, I learned to play that game long ago.
The car falls silent again. I try to remember everything I might have heard about the Cattaneos. One memory comes rushing back.
I’ve been offered to him before. I remember my family discussing the offer. Matteo had turned it down. I suddenly realize what Matteo is thinking. When we pull through two giant black metal gates that close the second we've passed them, I snap from my thoughts.
We pull up a long driveway, stopping in front of a giant stone home. Well, the rumors of how wealthy the Cattaneos are no lie. This place is beyond impressive just from the outside.
Matteo steps out of the car. He extends his hand to me. I reluctantly take it. He pulls me out.
“Welcome home, little rabbit,” he says, but his words are ominous. “Don’t try to run again. You won’t enjoy your punishment.”
“I don’t think I’ll enjoy anything here at all,” I snap back before I can change my mind.
A wicked smirk plays on his lips. He leans down closer to me. It takes everything in me not to pull away.
“If I wanted you to, trust me, you would. Don’t forget, little rabbit. I have your scent.” His nose brushes along my jaw, down to my neck. “Your taste too.”
My stomach tightens. I'm uncertain whether it's due to fear or arousal. I’m pretty sure it's the latter.
5
MATTEO
What the fuck am I doing?
That one thought plays on a loop in my head. I'm unable to think clearly as a result.
“Follow,” I order one of my men as I enter the house, not letting go of Mona. “And stop looking at her!” I bark. Mona startles with a small jump. I bite my tongue to avoid soothing her. She’s a traitor. One of them. A vixen who was sent to be my undoing. I’m on to their game now.
I lead her up the stairs again, not thinking, and straight to the end of the hallway. I throw open one of the double doors, pulling her into my bedroom.
“Don’t try to leave this room.” I release my hold on her. She just stares at me with those wide, innocent eyes.
Ones I now know are not so innocent.
“Do you hear me?” She nods her head, only pissing me off more. I want to hear her speak. “Say it.”
“I hear you, Matteo.”
Oh fuck. That sounds too good. My dick jumps to life, thinking about her moaning those words.
“You’ll call me Cattaneo.”
“Yes, Cattaneo.”
I don’t care much for that either. I run my hand down my face. For a second, when she stepped out of the car, I heard a bit of fire in her. It lured me in. Now her tone is flat, with no emotion.
Knowing I’m only battling myself, I turn and leave the bedroom, closing the door behind me. “No one goes in or out.” Sal gives a curt nod. I should see about getting a camera installed in the hallway.
When I make it back to my office, Sergio is waiting. “So you found her.”
I grunt a response, heading over to my bar. I toss back one shot and then another. I’ll sip a decent scotch, but I’ve never been a big drinker. Watching my father slowly turn into someone I didn’t recognize kept me away from it and whorehouses. Now look at me. I don’t care. I shoot another shot.
“Hey.” Sergio's hand comes down on my shoulder. I grab it and turn quickly. He grits his teeth as I twist his arm around, but he doesn’t fight me. “Boss—”
I release my grip on him, knowing I'm an asshole. I go sit behind my desk, not sure what I should do next.
“You really think the O’Haires sent her?”
“What else?” It’s the only explanation as to why Mona O’Haire would have been in my club that night.
“And she was in on it?” His brows are pulled together. I can tell he is trying to put it all together. “They offered her to you once.”
I clench my fist, wondering who else she was offered to. A fucking Rossi. She is worth way more than that. Clearly, the little minx knows how to charm her way into bed. She easily slipped right into mine. Hell, now she has my whole damn bedroom.