by Bella J
Dramatic? Maybe.
But I knew Enzio, and the way Lorik straightened, not backing down made me think that the battle of the fucking Titans was about to commence.
“If I had any desire to talk to you, Mr. Stone, I would. But I don’t go around making conversation with Albanians.”
Fuck.
Lorik slanted his head to the side. “That’s a damn shame, because I’d love to converse with your Italian ass and toss in the words ‘fuck’ and ‘you.’”
The way Lorik carved a glare on Enzio’s face, and the way his jaw ticked with tension I was about one hundred and thirteen percent sure that he was about a second away of conversing with his fist against Enzio’s jaw—which would be a real bad thing. Real bad.
“Do we have a problem here, gentlemen?” Antonio’s voice broke the tension like a wrecking ball through a building as he stepped in next to me. I wasn’t sure whether I was relieved or more anxious about the fact that Antonio had decided to join our little gathering of guaranteed carnage.
Neither Lorik nor Enzio even attempted to respond. It’s like they both had instantly turned into giant concrete walls. Something told me that even though Lorik was outnumbered by an entire gang of ruthless Italians, he would not back down. Now this may seem as courageous and brave by some, but to me it was just plain fucking stupid…and suicidal.
“Lorik.” I took ahold of his elbow, but he didn’t move an inch. I placed my other hand on his arm and tried my best to urge him back. “Lorik, please.”
At first he didn’t budge, but then I felt him relax a little and he gave a tiny step back.
“Well I never thought I’d see the day that Detective Stone backed away from confrontation.”
Everyone looked simultaneously to the right and there stood this creepy looking guy with a beer in his hand, a smug grin showing off a gold filling between his two front teeth.
Enzio’s eyes widened as he looked at Lorik. “Detective?” Then he looked at me with knowing eyes. I ignored it and tightened my grip on Lorik’s elbow.
“Fuck off, Gio.” Antonio stepped forward. “Take your cheap ass beer and move the fuck along, you low-life piece of shit.”
Enzio didn’t say a word, but I noticed him nodding slightly at this Gio guy before the weirdo disappeared into the crowd.
“Dating a Detective now, hey, Karina?” Enzio sneered while he straightened the collar of his gray suit.
I was just about to correct him, to tell him that Lorik and I weren’t dating when Lorik loosened his elbow from my grip and placed it firmly around my waist pulling me tightly against his side. My breath hitched and I almost stumbled over my own damn feet.
“What happens between me and Karina is absolutely in no fucking way any of your business, Mancuso.” Lorik tightened his hold around my waist. I tried my best to ignore the heat that started to flare up where our bodies touched. It spread all the way up to my chest, and I felt my neck and cheeks flush almost instantly. Flusher.
Enzio narrowed his eyes as he glanced from me to Lorik, and then down to where Lorik’s hand rested on my hip. I don’t know if it was just the tension and angst that currently swirled all around us, but I’m pretty sure I saw Enzio’s nostrils flare, his lips moving like he was biting the inside of his cheek.
Was he jealous? Of course not. The thought was completely absurd since Enzio Mancuso was incapable of feeling anything for anyone. And for him to be jealous would mean that he had to feel something. Again, absurd.
Enzio looked back up at me and smiled maliciously. “I guess once you’ve experienced the thrill of breaking the rules, you’ll always crave that exhilaration, won’t you…little lamb?”
The moment those words came out of his mouth it felt like every drop of blood drained from my body. Shudders wracked through me as my legs grew weak. If it weren’t for Lorik gripping me so tightly against him I would have been flat on my ass on the floor.
Little lamb. Hearing those two words come out of his mouth was more painful than I ever could have imagined. And the way he said it, the amusement in his tone, was almost like he was out to remind me just how easy it was for him to trick me—to hurt me.
At that very moment I was so consumed with hate, and hurt, and disgust, that every ugly emotion this man had so expertly stirred inside me drove me to do the unthinkable. I loosened myself from Lorik’s grip and stepped right up to Enzio, keeping my eyes locked on his like I was somehow able to convey my hate for him just by looking him in the eye.
That damn arrogant smirk of his remained on his wicked, cruel face and all I could think about was how much I fucking hated him.
“Why don’t you do the world a favor, Enzio, and go fuck yourself.” As if my words weren’t enough, I slapped the son of a bitch right across the face with an open palm.
Gasps erupted all around me as his face jerked to the side, but I didn’t give a shit. I didn’t care that I just bitch-slapped Enzio Mancuso. All I cared about was somehow letting him feel just a shred of the pain he had caused me so many years ago.
Enzio placed his palm over his cheek and glared back at me. There was no way I could miss the threat in the way he stared at me with eyes that now seemed pitch black.
For a moment I didn’t see it coming. I didn’t even notice him lift his right hand and aiming at my face.
“Karina!” Antonio grabbed my elbow and pulled me back.
Lorik lunged forward, grabbed Enzio’s arm, and twisted it around his back before slamming him face first against the wall.
By now the entire club had come to a standstill as they watched the chaos that just erupted.
Enzio’s idiot squad he brought with him all reached for their guns, but then Dante, who appeared out of fucking nowhere, and Antonio, both aimed two guns at them. Dear God, complete anarchy had just erupted in a matter of minutes. Weapons were loaded and aimed, and Lorik had Enzio’s face pushed against a wall.
The music stopped abruptly, and all I could hear was my heart rampantly beating inside my chest. Everyone was looking at them, but no one dared to make a move, to challenge our family or the Mancusos. This wasn’t the kind of war anyone wanted to be a part of.
Enzio struggled against the grip Lorik had on his arms, but Lorik just pressed harder against him. By now my heart was a millisecond away from exploding.
Lorik leaned closer to Enzio’s face. “You listen to me, you worthless cocksucker. You better stay the fuck away from Karina, or you’ll have me to deal with.”
“Are you threatening me?” Enzio spat out with his cheek glued to the wall.
“You bet your ugly Italian fucking ass I am. If you value those tiny little shriveled up balls of yours, you’ll pretend that this woman doesn’t even exist. And if I even suspect that you’re anywhere near her, I will cut out your testicles, shove them down your throat, and then piss on your goddamn forehead. You feel me?”
Oh Jesus Christ. What the hell was Lorik doing?
Dante grabbed Lorik by the shoulder and pulled him back. All I could do was stand to the side and watch as Lorik dragged himself into the middle of my mess. Why would he do that? Why would he defend me? Against Enzio Mancuso of all people. I had no idea if I found that unbelievably foolish, or extremely hot. By the way Lorik’s brown eyes turned into a dark, gloomy black as he continued to glare at Enzio, I’d say it was the latter. About ten minutes ago Lorik was a very attractive Detective. Now he was an incredibly sexy, hot as hell man that would cause my panties to hit the floor in record time. What was it about men getting all protective and turning into alpha males over a woman that had females swooning and dropping underwear like they were on fucking fire?
Enzio dusted off his jacket and straightened his collar while the rest of his entourage flocked around him. Funny how a man with a crew of minions around him still got face planted against a wall by one very determined man. And by the way that Enzio glowered at Lorik, and then turned his stare of death on me showed that he knew he was about three seconds away from getting his a
ss handed to him.
Good news—now Enzio knew to be more careful about just tossing his arrogant comments around. Bad news—Enzio wouldn’t let this go that easily. I’m about one hundred and sixteen percent sure that Enzio would want Lorik’s head on a fucking stick by this time next week.
Shit.
Enzio’s stare settled on me and it’s like I could feel it slither over my body. “A detective, Karina? That’s a new low, even for you.”
Lorik jerked forward, but Dante kept a tight hold on him. All I could do was look back at Enzio without saying a word. It was my own fault. I brought this all onto myself by falling for his lies years ago. Even though I’d like to, I couldn’t put all the blame on Enzio. Yes he was an asshole with no heart, but I had my own damn stupidity to blame, too. But right now I should be thankful that he hasn’t used my past against me—yet.
Enzio let out a maniacal laugh before walking off, allowing me to take a breath.
When Dante let go of Lorik, I walked up to him. Now, my initial intention wasn’t to lash out at him. But the minute I got close and stared into his eyes, I couldn’t help myself. I started poking my finger right in the middle of his chest as I stepped forward, forcing him to give a step back. “What the hell were you thinking? Do you have a goddamn death wish, Detective?”
“Are you kidding me?” Lorik shot back. “The fucker was basically begging me to kick his ass.”
“So what, you just go around kicking every arrogant prick’s ass that happens to come your way?”
He paused and narrowed his eyes. “Is that a trick question?”
“Oh my God! You are the most stubborn, hot-headed guy I have ever met.”
“Compared to who?”
“What?”
He rubbed his jaw with his hand. “You said I’m the most stubborn, hot headed—”
“I know what I said, goddammit.” Why am I so damn angry?
“So who are you comparing me to when you say that?”
“What does it fucking matter!” I bellow as I struggled against the anger swirling around inside me like a damn inferno.
“Karina?” Lorik kept his gaze locked on mine.
“What?”
He arched a brow. “Why are you acting so crazy right now?”
“I don’t fucking know!” And that was the God’s honest truth—I don’t know.
And then the corners of his mouth started to slowly creep up into a smug little grin. The darkness in his eyes disappeared, replaced with an impish glint as he stared at me. It was like he just realized that he knew something that I didn’t—which now also annoyed me.
“Can I get you a drink?” He was still smiling and all my focus was suddenly drawn to his full, alluring lips, my head full of thoughts about how they would taste, how they would feel pressed hard against mine.
Why the hell did I always have the urge to clench my thighs whenever I’m around this infuriating man?
I opened my mouth to answer, but then got interrupted by someone clearing his throat behind me.
Fuck.
I turned around knowing I probably had a lot of explaining to do. And that thought was confirmed when I was met with two pairs of confused, furious looking eyes.
“Antonio,” I start, but he held up his hand silencing me like a damn child.
“Get your stuff, we’re leaving,” he said with finality before turning around and heading out.
Dante glanced over my shoulder at Lorik before his gaze settled back on me. “A cop?”
I shook my head. “It’s not what you think, Dante.”
“What am I thinking, Karina, huh?”
“Enzio was being an asshole. Lorik was just—”
“Just what? Acting like the jealous boyfriend?”
“No!” He was being absurd.
“No? It sure fucking looked that way.”
The second Lorik stepped up behind me, I felt him—his warmth. It was like all my senses just tuned into him whenever he was close to me. My entire body reacted as every inch of my skin started to sizzle, hungry for his touch. All the while everything south of my navel pulsed with the need for him to touch me…to kiss me…to fuck me. But I did my best to suppress the feeling of electricity buzzing down my spine by having him so close. After what just happened, now wasn’t exactly the right time for me to be horny.
“Listen, man,” Lorik starts, but I spun around and held up my hand.
“Just…please. Leave it alone, okay? You’ve done enough.” I didn’t look at him. I didn’t even fucking breathe because I was too afraid my body would betray me by showing exactly how he affected me. His scent, his presence, those damn eyes—it all seemed to have teamed up in a bid to lure me in like a damn fish on a hook. It was embarrassing really, to have a man affect me like this so damn easily.
He didn’t say a word—thank God—so I turned around and stomped past Dante heading up the stairs to go get my stuff as per fucking instruction by my control-freak brother.
This night literally just got sucked into a big black hole of giant fuck-ups. I should have listened to my instincts and stayed at home. And I should definitely stay away from Detective Stone—far away.
Chapter 9
LORIK
Well that certainly went well. Not. Clearly this entire night did not go according to plan. My plan was to sit at the far end of the bar and quietly observe the Valentis, to try and find a new piece to the puzzle of what the fuck was happening in this town.
I’ll admit that seeing Karina again was just a tiny perk of my little unofficial stakeout. To end up watching her—and just her—for bulk of the evening was not part of the plan. And neither was talking to her, or almost kissing her in the middle of a damn nightclub filled with hundreds of people. But by God, the way she challenged me with that smart mouth of hers, and the way it felt having her so close to me, all I could think about was pushing my tongue so deep down her fucking throat that it would be impossible to even breathe.
And her scent? Dear Lord, that sweet smell of honey and vanilla made me crave to taste her. Fuck a nibble, and fuck just a sample of her full lips and sensual body, I wanted to completely devour her until there was nothing fucking left. All I could think about when I stared into her dark eyes was how badly I wanted to take everything she had to offer and make it mine by marking her, by fucking her until my name was engraved into her goddamn soul. And something tells me that, that was exactly what she wanted too—to be claimed. Until that jackass Enzio decided to show his ugly face.
Now what I really didn’t plan on doing was shoving Enzio Mancuso’s face into a damn wall. But the son of a bitch just pressed all the wrong damn buttons. And what really got to me was seeing the effect his assholery had on Karina. It was clear as fucking daylight that every word that came out of Enzio’s mouth rattled her, and for that reason alone I wanted to tear the fucker apart. But why would I feel the need to do that? Why did it bother me so much that Karina seemed to have a history with Enzio? Obviously something happened between them. It didn’t take a detective’s intuition to figure that one out. But whatever happened caused some pretty deep scars for Karina, that’s for sure.
Goddammit, now because I had to act all chivalrous I managed to get my ass right in the middle of this mess. A cop associated with a mafia princess might as well walk around with a big, red flashing sign over his head saying, “Here I am. Kick my ass, fuckers.”
And why the fuck had she just acted that way? Like I was the one that did something to piss her off?
“Fuck!” I almost knock a tray of shooters out of a waitress’s hands. “Shit, sorry.” I helped steady her and ignored the stare of death she shoots me.
Immediately my eyes found Karina as she grabbed her purse and headed back to the stairs. Antonio and Dante were already descending the stairs, and it’s painfully obvious that Antonio was extremely pissed off. And why wouldn’t he be? The first thing you learned in Mafia 101 was to never fraternize with the enemy, which in this case was Enzio Mancuso. And t
hen there was that shitty rule of not having any kind of relations with a cop—and after what just went down I’m pretty sure Antonio and Dante are under the impression that there’s something going on between me and Karina. Which there isn’t…is there?
My gaze was glued to Karina, to every move she made. I know I should let her leave, that I should back the hell off. But there’s this very insistent idiot inside me that keeps on pushing me, gnawing at my goddamn spine to pursue her until I’m buried balls deep inside her.
It’s like everything about her triggered this uncontrollable animalistic urge in me to spread her legs and feel her pleasure gushing down my thighs. I want to make her shudder and scream. I want her clawing at my back as my cock forces her to come violently, until all she can see is fucking stars.
I pushed my hand through my hair and took a deep breath, trying to convey the message to my cock that now was not the time to stand at fucking attention. There’s more important shit right now than creaming some Italian princess’s pussy.
Karina starts down the stairs, and my gaze flits to the exposed insides of her thighs as she takes each step. The closer she gets, the harder I get.
Seriously, I need to fucking focus. I need to forget about this woman and the raging lust she manages to stir in my pants whenever she’s near me. I need to ignore this crazy, intense sexual attraction I have for her.
She’s two feet away from me, and our eyes meet—her dark eyes telling me that everything I’m feeling right now is fucking mutual.
Fuck this shit. I can’t let her go. I need more of her.
I reached out and grabbed her wrist. It all happened so damn fast there was no time for her to fight the hold I had on her.
She yelps and I drag her behind me through the crowd, thinking that I fucking love the way her hand feels in mine. Finally we’re around the corner out of sight, and the second her back hits the wall her wild eyes lock onto mine. With my one hand planted firmly against the wall just above her shoulder, and my other hand gripping her elbow, I lean in bringing my lips mere inches from hers.
