Chapter One
Today had been a shitty day on top of a shitty week.
One of our warehouses just outside the city had been hit, product stolen. Fortunately, my men had taken out five of the six assholes who’d dared infiltrate our security. As required, they’d also managed to capture and cage one of the thieves, yet even the act of slitting his throat after a long interrogation had done nothing to improve my mood.
He’d told me shit even after taking my time snapping one bone after another.
Italian. Russian. Albanian. Hell, even the Mexicans were trying to encroach on our territory. Where once before there’d been enough business to go around, now everyone in the business was hoping for a stronger hold on New Orleans.
While the captive hadn’t disclosed any decent information, the act itself had all the earmarks of the Russo clan.
Without hesitation, I’d retaliated, completely destroying one of their warehouses. What had pissed me off even more was that I’d lost a good man, a highly trained soldier in the process. Now the tension was higher than normal, presenting the possibility of a war.
I was the man capable of preventing that from occurring. In fact, it was my duty, a command issued by my father the Don. He and I differed on tactics, but going against his decision would be considered an act of betrayal.
Regaining peace was important business, which was why dealing with a two-bit traitor did nothing but drive my mood further into the gutter.
Fucking monster.
I’d been called one myself over the years, something I’d never admitted to mainly because there’d been no need. I’d never shied away from the fact I was the devil in disguise. Wasn’t that exactly what my critics had stated in various magazine articles and statements tailor-made for the press?
Wearing expensive tailored suits certainly couldn’t hide the fact that I had voracious bloodlust, rarely tempered and often fueled by the stupidity of others.
Tonight was one of those occasions.
One of my men, a soldier I’d recently promoted from little more than an errand boy to a made man and he’d managed such an atrocity on his second night?
My fist found his face for the fifth time, bloodying my knuckles and splattering my crisp white shirt.
Something else to piss me off.
The sound of bones crunching did little to soothe the beast within.
“You fucked up, Randy.”
I raked my hand through my hair, shaking off the brutal punch. There would be others.
The man’s head lolled toward the floor, the slight blubbering sound he managed doing little more than keeping the raging fire ignited. I issued another savage punch, but any enjoyment in his punishment was long gone.
“Tell me something, Jarvis. What do I hate more than liars?”
“That’s an easy one, boss. Thieves.” His tight hold on the man didn’t stop his look of amusement. He knew how I was, the anger simmering until I had no self-control. How many times had he cautioned me against my blind rage turning into a massacre?
My Capo was correct. Not that there’d ever been any doubt. I wasn’t considered forgiving or even decent, but I was fair.
And when a crime involved the theft of my hard-earned product, any sale to kids, or the murder of women, I needed to draw the line.
Granted, his heist was a mere pittance of what the Russos had walked away with a few nights before. Unfortunately for him and given my nasty mood, he would face a harsher punishment.
Everything else was fair game in the war on illegal drugs, something the Prince family had excelled in for generations. However, one misstep like the idiocy from this shit-for-brains man could put an end to both the family’s reputation and our freedom. That couldn’t be allowed. Nor could a single offense be left unpunished.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Prince.”
Crime often attracted lowlifes such as Randy, thinking the sale of illegal drugs was a quick route to fame and fortune.
Assholes like this were nothing more than an annoyance. I didn’t give a shit he’d taken a dime bag for his own use, partying with his brother and the kid’s classmates. That was beside the point. He’d ignored the rules, acting as if his position afforded him special treatment. Maybe sending a warning to my men was long overdue.
My fist found his face again, easily and brutally. A tooth popped out and I sighed. Perhaps the long hours I’d put in lately were the reason for my eternally bad mood.
Randy’s strangled sob turned into a coughing fit, strings of blood oozing from his mouth.
“What exactly are you sorry about, Randy? Stealing my product without my consent, providing it to underage kids, or your traitorous acts being discovered?”
My hand ached, which meant it would soon begin to swell. A casual condition of my employment.
“Everything.”
I almost laughed at his admittance. I snatched him around the throat, yanking him free from Jarvis. The adrenaline was such I lifted him off the concrete floor, leaving his legs dangling. “Do you know what would have happened if the kids you sold the drugs to had overdosed? Do you?”
His face was turning a lovely shade of crimson, although in the dull warehouse lighting, his skin appeared the color of a fresh beet. I’d give him credit. He managed to nod.
Disgusted, I tossed him against the wall, unnerved that I had to dole out punishment more frequently. He’d thought he was a tough guy, telling me as much several times in pleading for a promotion.
He’d promised me he could handle the pressure. In a sense, I’d allowed the theft by becoming too lenient over the last few months.
Not that anyone else would agree with me.
Other than the Russos. Additional training on security methods would soon follow.
“Please. I won’t do it again. I swear to God. They’re fine. I didn’t let them take much. Just a hit. Nothing more.”
Fuck me.
I pitched him against the hard concrete, silencing him with a single look, watching as he slid down the wall. “As I said, Randy. You fucked up and doing so won’t be without punishment.”
Tears slipped down both sides of his face. He was certain I had plans on putting a bullet in his brain and I should. However, as I’d learned over the years, warnings were an excellent incentive. Some would even say his small infraction warranted it.
However, I wasn’t like everyone else.
“I have some information you can use. Maybe. I think so.”
Sighing, I slowly lifted my head toward Jarvis, who promptly shook his head. He had no idea what the kid was talking about. When Randy wasn’t forthcoming, I crowded his space, making him sweat a little more. “Talk, Randy. My time is valuable.”
“The guy with my brother. He spouted off some shit. You know, when he was high.”
“What exactly did he spout off?”
“The Russos. Something big is going down.”
Solid confirmation that the Russos were behind the warehouse break-in.
That would make the most sense, regarding who’d disabled our security system and taken our product. It was a child’s game, which should be nothing but an irritant. Unfortunately, we’d been playing a game with the Russos for years, my father, the Don of the Prince Crime Syndicate coming closer to starting an all-out war.
In my opinion, it was time. Past fucking time.
That wouldn’t be good for either family or the city, but the last thing we could allow to occur was to appear weak to either the Italians or any other syndicate. That’s when the most blood was shed.
We were always at war over something, clashing over land, warehouses, or power within New Orleans. It was a feud that had lasted for generations, although lately both sides had chosen peace over bloodshed. That meant nothing in the world and warring status of crime syndicates.
There’d even been talk as recently as a few years ago about forming an alliance by marriage. I’d refused to allow Emmeline to get near the pricks.
So maybe tensions were still running a little high.
“Care to elaborate?” I asked. I was a man of few words and little patience. “Is this about the warehouse?”
He licked sweat and blood from his swollen lip. “I don’t think so, but I tried to ask. You know, to see what I could learn. The kid just said soon the Russos would own New Orleans.”
That came close to sounding like a declaration of war.
“Did this kid have a name?”
“Bobby. I don’t know his last name.”
I backhanded him again for added incentive.
“I swear to God. I never saw him before. My brother came to me and said he had a good buddy who wanted some blow. I just… It was my brother. You know?”
While I wasn’t the kind of man to believe in conspiracy theories, if what Randy had just said was true, the kid had sought him out on purpose. Possibly to issue a warning that would eventually get to me. Or possibly the kid was bragging. Either way, nurturing the ‘relationship’ could prove useful.
Exhaling, I pulled out a cloth from my jacket, wiping the blood from my hand, watching as he slowly crawled up from the floor. At least the fucker hadn’t had the nerve to beg for his life.
Yet.
Without hesitation, I whipped out my weapon, one single step and I had the hard, cold steel of the barrel placed against the center point of his eyes.
“You’re a disappointment, Randy. To yourself and to the organization who employs you, but today is your lucky day. I have other business to attend to. I’ll allow my associates to finish cleaning up the mess you created. You’re going to find this Bobby for me. And you’re going to bring him to me. If you do, this incident will be put behind us. Understood?”
I allowed the words to hang in the air and I applied pressure with the gun.
“Yes, sir. Oh, yes, sir.”
When he started to apologize again, all I had to do was cock my head to once again silence him.
As I backed away, I nodded to the two men standing in the shadows. They were part of my cleanup crew, men highly skilled in the removal of evidence. When they were finished, there wasn’t a forensics team in the entire state of Louisiana who would be able to dredge up a single scrap of DNA. Jarvis had called them in ahead of time, uncertain what to expect.
No one did when it came to decisions I made. Maybe I liked to keep my men guessing. Or maybe I wasn’t wired to chart things out when it came to handling traitors.
Repulsion pooled in my stomach like a venomous snake, keeping me on edge while never quite satisfying the fury lurking just below the surface.
When I walked from the building, I took several deep breaths of the late afternoon air as Jarvis flanked my side.
“What punishment would you like me to inflict?”
Sadly, I’d need to be careful. The asshole had run as soon as he’d seen me heading in his direction. I’d been forced to drag him into one of our warehouse spaces located conveniently close to a string of our family businesses, but far too close for the levels of interrogation that were sometimes necessary. The French Quarter was crowded with tourists, discovery a chance I couldn’t take.
At some point the police would become wise to the battle shared with the Russos. While we controlled a significant number of members of law enforcement, it wasn’t enough to keep an indictment from being issued.
I thought about his question, debating ending Randy’s miserable life. In some ways, it would make the world a better place. It was obvious he wasn’t a good role model for his kid brother, but was it fair to remove the only breadwinner in a family? At least that’s what he’d blabbed on about even before the promotion.
However, being fair had been challenging. With my teeth gritted, I spit out orders. “Take a finger. Wrap the wound and send him home.”
“Understood. Anything else?”
“Not today. I’m hoping to meet my father for a discussion on how to handle the Russos.” What troubled me was that I’d left a message with my father and had yet to hear back. That wasn’t like him. I was at the point of tracking him down through his second in command. “We’ll meet tomorrow morning and discuss the new shipment and laying down plans for additional security methods.”
“You got it. What do you make of what Randy just said?”
“I don’t know what to think at this point. Kids boast, but I want this Bobby tracked down. He could prove useful.”
“Yeah, they do, but you’re right. I smell something off about the interaction myself. I guess we’ll see if Randy comes through.”
“For his sake he damn well better.”
Jarvis chuckled, given he knew me so well.
While there was always music blaring from open bars and coming from street vendors, I wasn’t immune to the need of taking extra precautions. “By the way. Put a rag in his mouth. The last we need is attention drawn to the area.” I handed him the rag I’d used before.
Jarvis laughed. “Always careful.”
I had to be.
There were always sharks in the water eager to clean up the chum.
[divider]Chapter Two
New Orleans
Alexander
A vibrant city at any hour of the day.
Music blared, the scent of delicious, spicy food coming from every corner on every street. This was my hometown and there was no place I’d rather be, although the large crowds annoyed the hell out of me.
I’d been called away from a meeting regarding potential new real estate to handle Randy, which had prompted the bad mood to turn worse. At least while I was here, I could check on Emmeline and our booming business. Indulgence was our bread and butter.
At least on the legitimate side of the corporation.
An entire city block of buildings with the first floor catering to tourists and locals alike. We owned several specialty stores from a bakery and coffee shop to a winery and bookstore. But it was the restaurant and two clubs on the upper floors that made the most money and had boosted both our family’s notoriety and reputation.
My sister had her hands full running the bottom floor, but she adored being a leader in industry.
Thinking about her allowed a smile to cut through my shitty mood. As I headed away from the warehouse and toward the busy street, the rush of adrenaline continued to throb in my veins. Inflicting pain and eliminating lives were simply a part of the world created generations before.
I’d never flinched in being required to handle a situation, starting at a young age. It was my duty to ensure the employees remained in line and the clients were happy. What I reveled in was the violence allowed by being kings of the underworld, a seedier yet more profitable side of New Orleans.
My brothers often teased me, stating my appetite for violence was the only indulgence a cold-blooded man such as me understood. Over the years, I’d begun to think they were right. Drugs were off limits and had always been. Liquor was enjoyable, but I couldn’t remember the last time I’d gotten drunk. And women? Well…
It wasn’t that I didn’t enjoy the company of a beautiful woman, savoring the softness and passion they allotted me. I could simply turn off the need like a faucet when necessary.
Very little in my life excited me, violence less and less.
Yet I was mafia, prince in both name and position, heir to a powerful throne and I’d accepted the responsibility when I was nine years old. Nine. That’s when I’d lost my childhood, on my way to becoming a man.
I pushed through the throngs of people, savoring the continued feeling of control. That’s what I craved. Dominance and power in all things and with all people. We had our share of enemies, but few had dared try to infiltrate our company or act in a way as to suggest the need for retaliation.
At least until now.
Some would consider us blessed.
By black magic, according to all sources.
The thought always made me laugh. We might as well be vampires according to certain members of the press. With our French Creole background and disturbing history, our family had not only come to accept but use the notoriety to our benefit.
As evidenced by the gothic appearance of our French Quarter shops and themed galas at Club Indulgence and for our appearance in the Mardi Gras. My sister’s insistence. Not anything I participated in. She’d reminded us that we were in business to make money and that marketing took all forms.
My sister was correct. However, I was more interested in the darker, seedier side of the corporation, remaining in the shadows. Maybe it was the darkness I preferred where my sister was the shining light in the family.
I turned the corner and a noise captured my attention fully and completely. A laugh.
Not just any laugh, but a woman’s laugh so sultry and evocative that my body instantly reacted, a deep longing coming out of nowhere. I was momentarily taken aback just before I collided with someone, sending the person tumbling forward.
And straight into my arms.
My hands gripped her forearms instantly, but she was still swaying, the phone she’d had in her hand slipping to the sidewalk. The brutal crack made her cringe, her pert nose turning up out of frustration.
“Shit. Shit. Shit. Goddamn it. Fucking hell.”
A sly smile curled on the corner of my mouth hearing her exclamation and the scent of her perfume captured more than just my attention. I’d never felt such instant, immediate arousal. She wasn’t just beautiful. She was breathtaking in a way that captivated all five senses.
For a moment I was caught dead in my tracks, as if the entire world around me had stopped turning on its axis. I wasn’t known for freezing under any circumstances, but here I was, caught in a time warp where I hoped we could remain for as long as possible.
A slight smirk had already crossed her face as the frustration lingered, much like her citrusy perfume had already stained my skin.
Almost immediately after the words flew from her mouth, she realized she’d cursed like a sailor, her porcelain skin drifting into a beautiful blush crossing her cheeks. “I’m sorry. That was…” She laughed again, more nervously than before.
“Adorable.”
She finally lifted her head, studying my eyes. With the waning sun providing a golden halo behind her, I was fixated on the color of her eyes. Luminous green the color of emeralds, her irises rimmed in gold. Holy fuck. She was without a doubt the most beautiful woman I’d ever laid eyes on, but I was captivated by the soulful look she offered.
Still flustered, she didn’t immediately realize I continued to hold her or that her body was still swaying in my arms. Arms that were meant to pull her against me just before I thrust my cock into her sweet pussy.
The light in her eyes shifted as she took a few seconds to lower her gaze from my face to my lips, which I found fascinating. They moved lower still to my chest and in a daring move those lovely eyes dropped to the thick bulge between my legs. Where her actions had been slow and easy before, she snapped her eyes back to my face quickly, her blush deepening to a perfect crimson.
Only then did she decide to pull away. Before she had a chance, I crouched down, reaching for her phone. “I’m sorry. It would appear I owe you a new cellphone.”
“Nonsense. I wasn’t paying attention to where I was going.”
I kept a firm hold on the iPhone as I handed it to her, forcing our fingers to touch. Even I wasn’t prepared for the sharp, penetrating jolt of electricity.
“Well, then we’ll agree to disagree.”
“Nice try, but I’m always right.” She dared drag just the tip of her tongue across her bottom lip. She had no idea she’d just awakened a hungry beast.
The beauty sensed the instant connection as well, jerking her hand free, her rosy lips pursing together. As if crowding her space, she took a step away, obviously in an attempt to collect herself.
“Do you do that often?” I asked, a part of me wanting to keep the conversation going.
“Do what?” Her nose wrinkled again as she glared at the huge crack running diagonally across the screen. “Oh, well. The call can wait.”
“Assume you’re right, even with a stranger.”
My statement caught her off guard, but I was rewarded with a laugh again. “Yes, because I am.”
“Very certain in your abilities.”
“When you know your strengths, you flaunt them. Isn’t that what you always do?” Her eyes drifted again, this time lingering on my fisted hand.
With a quick glance I confirmed blood had stained my skin, my knuckles slightly swollen. She didn’t miss a beat, giving me a look that would stop traffic. “Did I interrupt something highly dark and dangerous?” There was something far too inviting about her question.
“Much like your phone call. Nothing that can’t wait.” Was I somehow in the process of asking her to share a cup of coffee with me or perhaps a drink? I couldn’t remember the last time I’d flirted with a woman.
What caught me as much off guard as her eyes or her wicked tongue was the fact I wasn’t usually attracted to women like her. My father would call her buttoned up, her outfit a conservative gray suit that, while well-tailored, barely acknowledged what I suspected was a voluptuous figure. Even her blouse didn’t provide enough definition of her lush curves, but I sensed they were there.
A vision had already formed that would haunt me for the remainder of the day.
With her hair twisted in a tight bun, I longed to rip whatever was keeping her long strands from allowing me to tangle my fingers in them. I’d never been so overcome with a need to peel away a woman’s clothing alongside the layers of her complexity.
“Unfortunately, while my girlfriend will manage on her own without finishing her tale of woe with a very bad date with a horribly distasteful man, my job won’t. Thank you for the offer of replacing my phone. I have it under warranty in case of little mishaps like this.” She backed away, her smile indicating she remained interested, yet she was putting a wall between us.
Not that I blamed her. If and when she learned my identity, she’d be very happy she hadn’t fallen for my lame attempt at flirtation.
I shoved my hands in my pockets, uncertain what to say, still shocked she had managed to knock me off balance.
She turned around then thought better of it, spinning once again and offering a wider smile.
“But maybe it’s a good idea if you watch where you’re going the next time.”
As she rewarded me with another laugh, my balls tightened.
If the incident had happened on any other day, I would have followed my instincts, either grilling her about her very existence or following her. But this wasn’t an ordinary day.
Sighing, I finally managed to tear my eyes away from her, but only when I was about to lose sight. After a shake of my head, I continued walking. Barely two minutes later my phone rang.
Seeing my brother’s number flash across the screen wasn’t unusual, but my instinct immediately told me something was wrong.
“Sinclair. What’s wrong?”
“It’s Pops,” he said far too quietly. “He’s been shot and Alex, it doesn’t appear he’s going to make it.”
[divider]
Catherine Devereaux
Another later night.
Another game of verbal volleyball with a criminal proud of his long list of accomplishments.
Unfortunately for him, they were all illegal, including nearly beating a man to death.
What had pissed me off more than anything was him touting just how many ‘important’ friends he had, even daring to threaten me in open court.
Which the judge had all but ignored.
Men were often dumber than a box of rocks. Perhaps he’d believed a chick in a skirt couldn’t hold a candle to his special ‘friends.’
At least I’d been given the satisfaction of shock settling on his face after the verdict had been read.
While the case I’d spent grueling hours prosecuting had become another win, I’d been left with a sickening feeling the bad guys were starting to win more than lose. Even with the career criminal’s conviction, minutes before I’d left the office, I’d been advised that the appeal had already been set in motion.
So much for the good guys.
Evidently, the pipsqueak hadn’t been lying to me. He had friends in high places.
Grimacing, I headed to my car, fighting with my purse in search of my keys. Laughter drew my attention and while still digging, I glanced down the street, wishful thinking marring my self-defeatist attitude for a few beautiful seconds.
Music was the soul of New Orleans, the nightlife unlike any other city. There wasn’t a day of the week or even a time of any day where various bars and private clubs weren’t blasting festive music from high-dollar speakers trickling out to the streets. A blatant invitation to join in a moment of pure sin.
Something I’d ignored for as long as I could remember. Why? Because I’d been working to build my reputation, climbing the big, beautiful brass ladder that lately had seemed tarnished. Or was that a brass ring? What did it honestly matter at this point?
It was only Tuesday and I was already exhausted. With another case to prepare for, the work needed could mean an all-nighter.
My, wasn’t I devoted?
I forced myself to turn away, realizing just how dark it was on the street near the office at this time of night. Everyone but the janitor had left for the evening. Not me. I was the workaholic.
Laughing, I finally located my keys, promising myself that before cracking open my briefcase, I’d indulge in at least one glass of wine. Maybe I’d even dare allow myself a little fantasy or two just for kicks and giggles, especially since the closest I’d come to sex in the last year had been an accidental run-in with a very handsome man.
A quiet shudder rolled down my back, a sizzling image of the mystery man’s rugged face sliding into the forefront of my mind. With a quick look both ways for oncoming vehicles, I crossed the street, hitting the key fob as soon as I did. The flash of my headlights was a warm welcome on the dark night.
A strange feeling of being watched rolled over me, tensing my muscles. Stopping short, I glanced from side to side, chastising myself. I’d had the strangest feelings as of late, as if I was being watched from afar. In my line of work, threats were inevitable, but most were nothing more than someone I’d prosecuted shooting off his or her mouth.
Usually his.
I laughed off the feeling, quickening my steps.
Suddenly, I felt cold, hard steel pressed against the back of my neck.
My breath caught and instantly, I bristled.
“Don’t move.”
“What do you want?” My question was a hiss, not a good idea but I couldn’t help it.
“Give me your keys. Hurry.”
The man’s deep voice was just behind my ear. The sound was flustered. Whatever he was in the middle of wasn’t about me. He yanked on my arm, pulling me further away from the overhead streetlight. As if he was being followed.
“Keys. Now!” His voice was more insistent.
A set of determined footsteps racing toward us caught both my attention and the perpetrator, the gun suddenly pulling free from my skin. That’s when I did exactly as I’d been trained to do in self-defense classes.
I stomped on the man’s foot first, elbowing his stomach and managing to break free. Unable to stop myself, I turned around and issued two brutal punches to his face.
He went down with a hard thud, the gun knocked from his hand.
This wasn’t about trying to be a hero but getting to safety. I rushed forward but heard a sound that caught my full attention. A huge man jumped in front of me, blocking my view of the gunman.
“You should know better than to attack a woman.”
I froze from the sound of the second man’s husky voice, the darkness within offering a promise of pure sin.
But in this case, violence as well.
The sound of savage thuds permeated the night air and I jerked backward, spinning to see who’d come to my rescue, but the savior’s quick actions and the shadows prevented me from seeing his face.
It was all over in less than a minute, a quiet, eerie calm settling over the area even as music played in the background. There were no crowds gathered, no one paying any attention.
Out of the corner of my eye I noticed two other men loitering in the shadows. As soon as the fight was done, they moved closer.
“Get him out of here,” the man who’d protected me was snarling. He reached down, scooping up the attacker’s weapon.
“What do you want me to do with him, boss?” one of the others asked.
All three were dressed as if they were going out for the evening, their slick suits a representation of money I didn’t have. Their attire was likely hand crafted in Italy. The other two were blocking my savior, but something was already nagging the back of my mind.
He took a deep breath, rising to his full height. Taller than the other two, I was easily able to see the side of his face under the streetlight.
The man I’d literally run into a few days before.
“Put him on ice. I’ll deal with him later.”
On ice. I wasn’t naïve enough not to know the expression. Whoever he was had no intention of calling the police. I wasn’t certain if I should demand that happen.
Without asking any additional questions, his two companions grabbed the assailant under the arms, dragging him down the sidewalk until they disappeared out of sight.
“Thank you,” I said, uncertain what if anything I should say at this point. “I think whoever he was learned his lesson.”
“I should hope so. But I’m going to ensure that he does.”
His voice was entirely different than I remembered. Smooth, velvety, completely masculine, and full of the very darkness exposed by his actions. “We should call the police.”
When he turned to face me, I was even more taken aback than I’d been on the bright sunny day. He was gorgeous in every sense of the word, his dark suit and shirt accentuating his powerful build and broad shoulders.
“Unfortunately, sweet angel, I’ve learned the police are not always particularly helpful in removing the kind of scum who prey on women.”
There was an edge to his voice and his words that sent a shiver down my spine. “That’s not always true. They do their best.”
My words seemed ridiculous. How often had I complained about what police officers and detectives didn’t do correctly? Often resulting in perfectly good cases being tossed out on a technicality.
He took a step forward and the intense look on his face created an image of a predator. When he slowly lowered his gaze, it wasn’t as if he was undressing me with his eyes.
The powerful savior was ensuring I hadn’t been hurt.
Suddenly, he was crowding my space, yet I wasn’t uncomfortable. Quite the opposite. I felt a strong pull to him, more so than I had before.
“Did he hurt you?” he asked, the timbre of his voice even huskier than before.
Intension vibrations tickled every nerve ending.
“No. I think he was running from someone, trying to find a way of escaping.”
When he laughed, while the sound was subtle, the vibrations would last for a very long time. “He was. You should know better than to fight back.”
“Maybe you’re right, but I wasn’t brought up to become a victim or to allow a bad man to try and control me.”
My statement seemed to amuse him, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly. He reached out, curling his fingers and I found myself leaning in. The light brush of his knuckles left me paralyzed with a sinful moment of desire.
“Then sadly, I’ll need to walk away.”
After another sweeping look, he took a step backward. “Because not only am I a very bad man, but I would enjoy nothing more than controlling you.”
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