by Penelope Sky
We sat in the back seat of his private car, watching the city lights pass through the window. My legs were crossed, and I could feel the weight of his come sitting inside me. Some of it had seeped into my thong, and I could feel it against my pussy lips every time I moved. The second he finished, he ordered for us to leave—and refused to let me clean up.
Aggressive, possessive, and territorial, he turned into a testosterone-driven man who exuded more masculinity than I’d ever seen. Like he turned into a wild animal that only understood carnal instincts. Or a caveman who only understood a few simple ideas like sex, food, and violence.
He looked out the window and didn’t touch me. His hand didn’t rest on mine like it usually would. His mind seemed to be elsewhere, probably thinking about all the aspects of his casino.
I was still nervous because I had no idea what I was getting myself into it. When Bosco told me I would always be safe at his side, I believed him. Even if someone wanted to take him out, they had very slim odds of success. But that didn’t defeat my anxiety. I brushed off my incident in the alleyway on the outside, but on the inside, it terrified me. The barrel of the gun had been pointed right between my eyes while the rope was bound around my wrists. It didn’t matter how hard I fought, there had been no escape. I’d always considered myself to be strong and quick, but when faced with four men, my skills were useless. It was the most humbling experience of my life—because I realized how weak I truly was. If Bosco hadn’t been there, I would have been trafficked until my family figured out how to rescue me.
My hand moved to his, and I held it, not for him, but for myself. Bosco was the only man who could have walked into that alleyway unarmed and made a demand. He was my superhero, and even though he wasn’t a good man, he was good to me.
He turned my way slightly, his dark gaze settling on me.
Something about his touch comforted me, reminding me of the power in his veins that circulated with his blood. I never wanted to be dependent on a man for anything, but I found myself thriving in his shadow, getting high off the invincibility he gave me. I didn’t realize how attracted I was to power until now.
“Beautiful?” His voice escaped as a masculine whisper, his tone washing over me like the incoming tide from the ocean. He must have detected the emotion in my heart because he kept looking at me, pressing for an answer to a question he never asked.
“It’s nothing…” I pulled my hand away and looked out the window.
He reached for it again and held my hand on my thigh. His thumb gently brushed over my knuckles as he turned his gaze out the window.
After another ten minutes, we pulled up to a tall building with no lights. From the outside, it looked abandoned. There were no cars anywhere. The buildings surrounding the area looked abandoned too. It seemed like the bad side of town, except there were no homeless people or thugs walking the sidewalk.
A large door on the side of the building opened suddenly, and the car drove inside until we were in an underground garage. We pulled through another door until we came to a private sector where there were no other cars. The car stopped in front of an elevator guarded by a dozen armed men.
Now my heart was racing.
Bosco seemed calm as usual.
One of the men carrying a rifle opened my door while the driver opened Bosco’s door.
I didn’t move for a second, uncomfortable by the enormous gun the man held in his hands. When he backed up, I stuck one leg out then pulled myself up. Bosco reached me and took my hand. He gave a slight nod to his men as he walked to the elevator.
The doors opened for him without pressing a button, and he pulled me inside. The elevator car was lined with red. The tile was red, and the walls were the same color. The buttons on the wall seemed to be made from solid gold. The elevator shifted before it began to rise.
Like we were attending a fancy party, he grabbed my arm and hooked it through his. His free hand moved into his pocket.
I gripped the inside of his arm, my other hand resting on his forearm. I was nervous in a way I’d never been before. Before I met Bosco, I was calm and free-spirited. I never worried about anything because there was nothing I couldn’t handle. Now the adrenaline had spiked, and it seemed like I was in perpetual danger.
The second the doors opened, we were greeted by loud music, cigar smoke, booze, and flashing lights from the girls dancing from the ceiling. The sound of constantly moving chips filled the background. The floor was covered with red carpet, and poker tables were spread out everywhere.
Bosco stepped inside, moving like he owned the place, which I guess he did. There was security everywhere, men dressed in all black who looked at Bosco as he passed. They kept their positions along the wall, following both of us with their eyes.
Every seat was taken by a man of the underworld. Topless women carried trays of drinks around, and some of the men looked up to stare at their racks, but most of them were too involved in the game to care.
As Bosco took me deeper into the casino, the music became louder. Men looked up to see him pass, and sometimes they looked at me too.
Bosco seemed indifferent to everyone in the room.
We reached a table positioned slightly farther away from the others. The lights were lower there, and there were two vacant seats at the table. A dealer was there along with two other men.
A man appeared out of nowhere and pulled out the chair. “Will you be joining, sir?”
“Yes.” Bosco took a card out of his pocket. “Two hundred.”
Two hundred what?
Bosco pulled out the chair beside his and took my hand to help me sit.
I lowered myself into the chair, doing my best to appear calm the way Bosco did. There was a lot going on, from the topless waitresses to the naked woman dancing in the cage just a few feet away.
The men at the table didn’t look at me, didn’t acknowledge my existence at all. They had women at their sides. One guy had two, actually. The women smothered the men with affection, like they were constantly working for their attention.
Bosco sat beside me, and the chips were placed in front of him. An ashtray was placed beside him along with a lit cigar. Two men catered to his every need, positioning a glass of scotch next to the cigar.
Bosco turned to me. “What would you like to drink, Beautiful?”
I was a little stunned by all the attention he was getting, having a group of men wait on him like he was some kind of emperor. “I’ll have the same.”
“Scotch on the rocks,” he ordered.
The men left to fetch the drink.
Bosco turned toward me and pressed his lips to my ear. “Never order from the waitress. Only order from my men.” He pulled away and nodded to the dealer, who started to deal the cards for the game.
I didn’t get a chance to ask why.
The men brought my drink a moment later. “Cigar, miss?”
“Uh, no thanks,” I said quickly. “I don’t smoke.”
The round started, and the men exchanged their cards and examined their hands. Bosco took a drag from the cigar then let it sit in his mouth as he examined his hand.
I didn’t look at his cards, afraid I would give him away by accident.
More chips were piled into the center as the men raised their hands.
Bosco had never looked calmer, like this high-stakes game was how he spent his time relaxing.
The women kept pressing up against their men, practically sitting on their laps.
I sat in my chair and remained still, watching the game and feeling the tension rise.
Bosco let the smoke out of his mouth and nose before he set the cigar back in the ashtray.
I’d had no idea he smoked since I never smelled it on his breath. That was probably why he brushed his teeth every night before bed, to get the taste off his tongue. I wasn’t a fan of smoking, but I didn’t mention my opinion during a time like this.
When it was one of the other men’s turns to raise or fold, Bosco direct
ed his gaze on me. He gave a subtle tap to his thigh, commanding me to get closer to him.
I knew what he wanted, for me to smother him the way the other women did their men.
I wasn’t sure if that would distract him, but obviously, nothing was going to distract a man like him. I moved into his side and hooked my arm around his elbow. I pressed into him, feeling his muscular side against my body. My chin rested on his shoulder, and I ignored the smell of the smoke that filled the room. Most of the men were smoking, not just Bosco.
The man folded, leaving three men in the round.
Once Bosco had my affection, he kept playing. Another man folded, leaving Bosco and one other man. The chips were piled even higher in the center, and then the cards were laid down.
The man had four queens.
Bosco had a royal flush.
“Bosco wins the hand.” The dealer pushed the chips toward him. “Congratulations, sir.”
Bosco snapped his fingers, and one of his men organized the chips into a special case.
The other men were visibly irritated and their women rubbed their shoulders, but they didn’t leave the table.
“Another round, sir?” the dealer asked.
Bosco nodded. “Another.”
When Bosco was finished, we left the table, my arm hooked through his like he preferred.
“How much did you win?” I asked, unsure where he was guiding me. We passed more tables that were filled with terrifying-looking men. Some were dressed nicely the way Bosco was, but others had tattoos on their necks and faces. But they weren’t handsome the way Griffin was. They reeked of hostility.
“Five.”
“Five dollars?” I asked blankly.
He smirked as he stared ahead. “Five million.”
Oh shit. I just witnessed a high-stakes game without even realizing it.
Bosco kept walking, reaching a back set of elevators that were guarded by more security. They all had serious artillery, enough to handle any kind of attack. There was a man standing there dressed in a navy blue suit with a gray tie. He had the same dark hair as Bosco and the same gorgeous eyes. With a similar facial structure and build, he looked so much like Bosco, there was no doubt who he was.
Ronan Roth.
Ronan gave his brother a slight grin when he approached, a silent conversation passing between them. He hit the button on the elevator then shifted his gaze to me. “It’s lovely to meet you.” He extended his hand to shake mine. “I’m Ronan, Bosco’s brother.”
I shook his hand. “I know. You guys look so much alike.”
Ronan grinned. “But I’m more handsome, right?” He winked then turned to the elevator.
Now I knew they had similar personalities too.
Bosco wrapped his arm around my waist and escorted me into the elevator. “Carmen has high standards, so I wouldn’t bother, Ronan.”
We gathered in the elevator, and the doors shut.
Ronan stood with his hands in his pockets and leaned against the opposite wall. The elevator shifted and started to move down. “They can’t be that high. I mean, come on.” He nodded toward his brother.
Bosco stared him down with a cold expression.
Ronan smiled, like he enjoyed teasing his brother. “Seems like I hit a button.”
“That’s the difference between you and me,” Bosco said, his voice cold. “I don’t have buttons.”
Ronan dropped his grin, and the teasing stopped.
We moved farther down until we finally came to a stop. The trip was long, so it seemed like we went underground. “Where are we?”
“The office is below ground,” Bosco said. “Has a specific satellite feed for the servers.”
I had no idea what that meant.
The doors opened and revealed a short hallway before stone steps.
Bosco held me against him. “Shoes off.”
I slipped them off, knowing I didn’t want to walk down those steps in the sky-high heels, even with his strong arm around my waist.
Bosco went first, holding my hand and making sure I got down the narrow passageway in one piece. He took me through the doorway into a sleek office. The desk and furniture were black, and the couches were leather. There was a laptop on his desk, along with a private bar.
“How did you get all this furniture in here?” I asked.
“It was built in here.” Bosco poured three glasses of scotch and set them on the table. He opened a drawer and pulled out a stack of paper before he tossed it onto the table. “Here’s the contract.” He pulled a pen out of his pocket and set it on top. “Let’s do this.” He sat on the leather couch and stared at me, waiting for me to join him.
I took the seat beside him and crossed my legs.
Bosco didn’t touch me, turning serious like this was a business meeting.
Ronan sat across from us, grabbed the contract, and then crossed his legs. Like his brother, he wore a flashy watch on his wrist. He had corded veins like Bosco, the same chiseled jawline too. They were both equally beautiful, but Bosco was a little more unfriendly on his exterior. Ronan flipped through the pages. “It basically says you’re required to live with him for the next three months. Well…the next two and a half months since two weeks have already passed. He has full authority in your ownership, making all decisions. When the time period comes to an end, all rights are restored to you, and Bosco must respect every decision you make.” He closed the contract and placed it in front of me. “A little excessive, but not surprising.”
I could tell his brother was a lot different, far more playful and less intense. “I’m not a fan of the ownership part.”
“It’s what we agreed on,” Bosco said coldly. “If you want me to fulfill my end of the bargain, you fulfill yours.”
I turned my stare on him. “You already have me, Bosco. You don’t need to rule me with an iron fist.”
Ronan grinned. “Well said, sweetheart.”
“Don’t call her that.” Bosco’s threat shattered the calm in the world. He directed his angry gaze on his brother. “You address her as Carmen and nothing else.”
Ronan turned to me and grinned. “In case you haven’t noticed, he likes you a lot.”
Bosco gave him a deeper look of hostility. “Ronan.”
He raised his hands in the air in the form of surrender. “Just stating the obvious, Boss.”
“Boss?” I asked.
“It’s short for Bosco,” Ronan explained. “I’m not referring to him as a boss. Nor will I ever.”
There was obviously an element of competitiveness between them. I could feel it in the room, the way their levels of testosterone continued to rise. I grabbed the contract and flipped through it. “I agree. It is excessive.”
Ronan grinned. “I like her.”
Bosco ignored him.
“You can’t tell me where to go.” I grabbed the pen and scratched that line out. “I can do whatever I want. I’m not running home for curfew like a child. I have a life.”
Ronan nodded in approval. “It’s nice seeing someone stand up to him.”
“I’m not standing up to him. Just making my demands.” I set the contract down and signed the bottom. “My brother is getting married next weekend, so I’ll be gone during that time.”
Bosco’s head snapped in my direction. “What did you say?” Venom was heavy in his voice, like I’d just threatened him.
“My brother is getting married next weekend.” I held his gaze without backing down.
“Where?” he asked, clearly annoyed I hadn’t mentioned this before.
“My brother’s house. He lives in Tuscany, a few miles from my parents,” I answered.
Ronan’s eyebrows rose off his face, and he could barely contain his smile, knowing his brother was going to go ballistic.
Bosco didn’t contain his rage, not even in front of his brother. “And why would you need to stay there?”
“Because we’ll celebrate the night before, the night of, and then have breakfast toget
her the next morning. That’s what we’ve done for every other wedding in the family. It’s a whole weekend thing.” That shouldn’t be surprising, considering we were an Italian family who loved any excuse to drink and celebrate.
“No.” Bosco was too angry to say anything else. “You can come back and sleep with me every night. You can drive there in the morning.”
I didn’t mind sleeping with him, but I didn’t like being told what to do. At all. “Asshole, my brother is getting married, and I’m spending time with my family. I don’t give a damn if you don’t like it. Get over yourself.” I rolled my eyes then gave him the cold shoulder.
“Damn…” Ronan was enjoying every second of this. “That was hot.”
I wasn’t putting on a production for his brother’s sake. I was standing up for myself because I refused to let Bosco take this away from me. “I’m really close to my family, and I’m looking forward to this. It’s nonnegotiable.”
Bosco rested his fingertips against his lips, considering my words with a hard gaze. “Then we add three days to the contract. That’s the best compromise you’re getting from me.”
Ronan shifted his eyes back and forth as he listened to us.
That seemed fair. “Fine.”
Ronan made the note on the contract. “He’s treating your time like money…every little thing counts.”
“Shut up, Ronan,” Bosco ordered. “You’re here to witness this, not give your two cents.”
“Fine,” Ronan said. “I’ll just give you my two cents when she’s not around.”
Bosco didn’t argue with that. “Anything else you want to tell me?” He turned his eyes back to me.
“No.” I didn’t have any other plans during our relationship.
Bosco grabbed the pen then added his signature. “Then we’re finished here.”
“You want a copy?” Ronan asked me.
“No.” I didn’t want to remember the moment I signed my soul over to the devil.
Ronan carried it to Bosco’s desk and put it in a drawer. “I’ll make sure my brother keeps his word. He’s a stickler for rules, so there shouldn’t be an issue. But if there is, I’ll be on your side.” He stood in front of the desk with his hands in his pockets. He looked at his brother. “I’ll leave you two alone.” He turned to the doorway to walk out.
