He’s going to rip you apart and leave pieces of you in all the boroughs; pieces of your heart and soul.
He doesn’t say anything. He doesn’t need to. Instead, he leads me through the crowds and toward the same office I was in when I attended the meeting with my father.
Every step feels like the flames of hell are licking at my heels.
What have I gotten myself into and will I survive it?
When he opens the door to his office and ushers me inside, I’m relieved to see another man there sitting at the desk, looking cool and calm. I wish I was sure I looked the same, but I know it’s not possible. Constantino shakes me up in ways I don’t even understand.
The man gets up quickly, his eyes darting between us. Constantino lets out a sound which is like a huff and chuckle combined. “I should have known you’d still be here, brother.” I find myself arching an eyebrow. I know, vaguely, about the Agosti family. I know it consists of three brothers and one sister, who is the baby of the family. “Lily,” the way he purrs my name makes me feel like the damn nickname he’s adopted for me, “this is my youngest brother, Luca.” He turns to his brother slightly, “Luca this is Lily Scavo.”
Luca strides to me and extends his hand. When I place mine in his, he pulls my hand up, meeting it with a kiss. I can feel the way Constantino stills next to me, and I swear I hear a low growl. I must not be the only one because Luca grins at me.
“It’s lovely to meet you, Lily.” His eyes turn sad for a moment, and I brace myself for his platitudes. “I know it doesn’t mean much, but I am sorry for your loss. Words mean nothing in grief, but know it is a pain I understand and wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy.”
Something in me loosens with his words. I’ve hated every single empty word people have loaded me down with since my father’s murder. His, at least, are sincere and I realize they come from a place of understanding. It has me remembering about Cedro Agosti and his death last year.
“Thank you,” I offer Luca a small smile, “I’m sorry for your loss as well.” My eyes flick over to Constantino, wanting him to know I’m extending my condolences to him.
With a few whispered words to Constantino and a quick goodbye, Luca slips from the office and I’m very aware of being alone with the man who has slipped into my dreams and every single one of my fantasies since the moment I met him.
Constantino walks to his desk, rounding it and extending a hand to the chairs across from him. When we’re settled, his eyes study me and no matter how much I want to squirm, I hold firm. Sometimes being unaffected under pressure comes in handy; at least outwardly.
I decide the only thing to do is take the reins. “I’m here because, as I’m sure you know, my father’s business was not exactly,” I pause and change tactics, “well, I’m sure you’re aware considering you had business with him.” He arches an eyebrow, but I keep the train rolling, though nowhere near as smoothly as I had envisioned. “I am woefully unprepared to take over such an enterprise and the only person I knew I could ask for help would be you, Mr. Agosti.”
Satisfaction flashes in his turquoise depths, much easier to see here in the lighting of his office even though it’s still low and sultry, but nothing near the club which I know is at full swing outside these doors, while the sound of it is nowhere to be found.
Soundproofing for the win. Right? Unless, of course, he plans to murder me.
He leans back in his chair and assesses me, though, I have a feeling he already knows his answer. “There is only one way for me to be able to help you, Lily,” his voice is casual, but I can feel a thrumming of need underneath it.
“What do you mean?”
Something sinister curls on his lips and makes my belly twist. “It’s simple, really,” he speaks with authority, but it’s not patronizing, and I find my shoulders relaxing slightly. “The only way I’ll be able to help you is if you become my wife. Then your business dealings will become my own and I can fold them into the Agosti name while unburdening you from the responsibility.”
I straighten in my chair and find myself panting at his words. He can’t be serious. Right?
The way he’s looking at me, staring into my soul, and not wavering has me thinking he’s very fucking serious. I was not expecting this. Not at all.
Words fail me completely. I knew I was walking into the lion’s den. I did not realize the depth of which it put me at his mercy and set me in his sights.
Fuck.