"If you think I want to be your friend after what you did earlier, you are sadly mistaken."
"Considering we’ve already exchanged saliva, a handshake doesn’t seem that far-fetched."
She throws up her hands. “You’re gross."
"And you’re cute when you are angry."
"Eh?" She opens and shuts her mouth. "Who are you again?"
"Luca Sovrano, part of the Sovrano Seven."
"What are you, some kind of underground Mafia gang?"
"How’d you guess?"
"You’re joking, right?" She begins to laugh, but she must notice the look on my face, for her lips firm. "You’renotjoking."
"Not at all," I confirm.
"Oh for F's sake." She takes a step back, as if she’s just realized the predicament she’s in.Too late, baby. I’ve already set my sights on you, and I’m not letting go that easily.
"So, you’re part of a Mafia outfit?"
"Iamthe Mafia." I widen my stance. "And you’re trapped with me in this cell."
3
Jeanne
"No shit." A shiver of unease runs down my spine but I push it away. Yeah, so, he’s part of the Mafia. Big deal. We are in Italy, after all; it stands to reason that they’re everywhere. Except… "Hold on a second. If youarethe Mafia, as you claim, what are you doing on this side of the door?"
He folds his arms across his chest. "Clearly, my enemies have gotten to me. Which brings me to the question, who are you?"
I tilt my head. Do I want to tell him my name? Somehow, by not telling him who I am, I’ve managed to maintain some semblance of control over the proceedings. Once I tell him my name, I’ll be much more vulnerable to him. Not like my situation isn’t precarious already, trapped in here with him, but if I withhold my name, won’t it give me somewhat of an advantage over him, at least?
He surveys my features and seems to guess my line of thought, for he holds up his hands. "Look, I admit, we may have gotten off to a rocky start—"
"Is that what you call climbing all over me and molesting me?"
"Didn’t see you fight me off too hard, Angel."
Anger flushes my skin. My cheeks heat. "You took me by surprise, is all," I grumble. "Also, don’t call me Angel."
"You enjoyed that kiss, admit it. And you still haven’t told me your name."
"I did no such thing, and p.s., no way am I going to tell you my name." I tip up my chin, then clamber onto the bed. I flatten my back against the wall and as far away from him as possible.
"Look, I don’t need to force myself on you, okay? There are enough women lining up to sleep with me."
"Hmph, you really do have an inflated opinion about yourself, don’t you?"
"It’s all true." He raises a shoulder. "The problem is, I couldn’t stop myself, because we have an audience."
"Excuse me?" I blink as I try to follow what he’s trying to say. "I really don’t understand."
He blows out a breath. Then, to my relief, takes a step back. Not that it helps much, considering his bulk seems to take up most of the space in the room.
He drags his fingers through his hair then winces."Cazzo!"He swears in what I assume is the 'F' word in Italian. Somehow, it sounds better than the English version.Cazzo, I roll the word around my tongue.Cazzo.