I sit on the bed, my smile wide. “For a girl who spread her legs behind a park bathroom, you sound awfully judgmental of whores.”
Her face contorts with pain for a moment, and she pulls the disappearing act again, her hair veiling her face.
“You know what, fine,” she says. “I’m a slut. Do what you’re going to do and let me go home. In less than a month, this will be my life anyway, so why not get a jump on things?”
“Oh, don’t be so dramatic.”
She keeps quiet, and I can’t tell what she’s feeling with her hiding herself so effectively. It could be anger or defeat. I think we’re past fear.
I hoist myself to the middle of the bed with her and take her chin in my hand. I lift her head to look at me. Her face is blank. That must mean defeat.
“Perhaps I could’ve gone about this differently.” I wave around us. “But in my defense, I thought you’d be into this.”
A few seconds go by, and when no smart remark comes from her, I continue. “If you give me a chance, I know I can show you a good time. Andifyou agree to that, I’ll tell Paolo you were a pornstar in bed.”
She closes her eyes, and I don’t know if her sigh is relief or if she’s considering the offer.
“Or I guess pornstar wouldn’t be a good descriptor since you’re avirginand all.”
Her eyes pop open and go wide. My amusement wanes.
“What?” I ask.
“Paolo told you?”
I stare at her, confused for a moment, until it registers what she must be nervous about. I chuckle. “Oh, don’t worry, I’m keeping your secret. It was hard not to die of laughter when he told me you were a virgin, but I didn’t say otherwise. Besides,” I take a strand of her hair and slide it between my fingertips. “I like him not knowing what a dirty girl you are. Or was he just lying to me? Have you fucked him?”
She shakes her head, and I give a single nod.
“Good.” I clear the lust from my throat. “So, about our deal…”
6
ALEX
“So, about our deal…”
I swallow. Settimo gives me a minute to think about my response, never finishing his sentence. We both know what I’ll say.
Yes. Of course, yes. Because while Settimo is inherently merciless, ruthless, arrogant, and stubborn, I’m less afraid of him than I am of Paolo.
I glance at Settimo, a smug smile on his face. When he first walked in here, I almost expected him to be a different man. Like before he was wearing a disguise and now he’s naked, but no, he’s the same man I met before. Cocky. Amused. Playful. And then there’s the alcohol on his breath and the emptiness in his expression when the superficial emotions glitch.
He’s dangerous. Intellectually, I know that. But I can’t summon the same level of care I would if he was another man. Another mobster. He didn’t strike me as cruel when we met, and you know what they say about first impressions.
“Fine.” My tone is flat, but my heart stutters. Spiders crawl up my spine. Fiery hot liquid flows into my veins, and I can feel my face heat.
He did this to me before, at the park. Only this time, he’s heating my body with a suggestion instead of a look.
“Fine?” He echoes, his eyebrows raising. “You sure?”
I nod.
“Because if you wanna back out, now is your—”
“Settimo.”
He closes his mouth.