3

My eyes roamed over the room where Branka and I spent so much time together over the last four years. It wasn’t grand or super luxurious, but I loved my room nonetheless. Pink and white bedding over the mahogany canopy bed. The antique white dresser and the vanity were the only other furniture in my bedroom.

Frames with my parents’ pictures stood on the dresser. Our trips all over the world. It was where I got my taste for adventure and the will for justice.

Nostalgia hit me. One more night and I’d no longer lay my head down to sleep under my parents’ roof. One more night and I’d be thousands of miles away.

“I guess it’s part of growing up,” I mumbled under my breath softly.

I shook my head, then took off my dress, leaving me only in my white panties and bra. Discarding it into my hamper, I reached for my dress, hanging it on the rail of my canopy with my back to the door. It slipped off the hanger, falling silently to the floor.

Bending over, my ass in the air, my fingers curled around the soft material was exactly the position I was in when the door opened.

“What the… ?” A deep voice came from behind me.

For a moment, I stayed frozen, staring at the man upside down through my legs. Shiny black loafers. Tailored and expensive business suit. Stormy gray eyes that studied me.

Or maybe he studied my butt in the thong. I shot up, whirling around.

The moment I saw him upright, my step faltered back involuntarily. Hard face. Even harder eyes.

A shudder shot up my spine, and for a fraction of a moment, I forgot to breathe. The most gorgeous face I had ever seen. But it was not that which took hold of me. It was the darkness and ruthlessness in his gray gaze. A gaze the color of the skies right before a thunderstorm.

The angular jawline spoke of determination and stubbornness. The slight stubble on his face made him appear harsh and untouchable. Not that he needed it, because I’d be terrified if I found myself alone in a dark alley with him. The dark three-piece-suit hugged his broad, towering frame.

Lethal.

This man was lethal. I might have turned eighteen only today, but I’d stake my life on it. This man could end a human life without losing sleep.

His one hand was tucked into the pocket of his suit pants while the other hung casually down his body. My eyes flickered to that strong veiny hand. A single ring on it with some weird looking symbol. The letter ‘A’ with a skull.

We stared at each other, frozen, the seconds stretching into a lifetime. He was like a dark demon focused on his prey.

“What are you doing here?” I snapped out of my stupor, trying to appear brave. “Where is she?” he snapped back.

“How in the hell should I know?” I narrowed my eyes on him. He reeked of darkness and danger. You’d think I was smart enough to scream for help. “Who the hell is she?”

My father always said that sometimes I was too brave for my own good. But I wasn’t reckless.

At least not now. All I had to do was scream and my father would come after this guy. Although, if I was honest with myself, I wasn’t sure that Dad could kick his ass.

He cocked his eyebrow, as if he was surprised. When he didn’t answer, I continued, “And who are you?” My voice hitched just a tad bit higher, while my heart thundered against my ribs.

He slipped his other hand into his pocket as his gaze fell down my body, lazy and observant.

Just as slowly, his gaze traveled back up my barely decent state. “Watch your tone, little girl,” he drawled.

Be smart, Autumn. Be smart, Autumn.

“Or what, old man?” I sneered. Jesus, this wasn’t smart, yet my mouth refused to stop. “One peep and my dad will… Kick. Your. Ass.”

Maybe. But he didn’t need to know that.

He took a step forward, I took one back. Another step towards me and like we were made of the same poles on two magnets, I took one back.

“You really think so?” His tone was low, deep, almost threatening.

I pushed my shoulders back and realized my mistake right away. I revealed more of my barely covered body. But I couldn’t show weakness.

“I do,” I sneered. “Now get lost.”

His eyes narrowed, then traveled down my body again, leaving me feeling strangely breathless and my heart racing in my chest.

I attempted the same tactic and let my gaze fall down his body. It was a mistake because it became even more apparent how tall, muscular, and breathtaking he was. Not a good conclusion to come to while alone with a stranger in the room.

My eyes locked on his shiny, expensive, black shoes. Italian leather, if I had to guess. He still wasn’t moving. But now we stood so close together, I could smell his spicy, woodsy scent. Powerful, just like his presence.

“What’s your name?” His question caught me off guard, and I lifted my eyes back to his, meeting those dark stormy eyes.

“None of your business,” I snickered. “What’s yours?” Where did that come from?

“None of yours,” he deadpanned. “If I tell you, I’d have to kill you.” What. The. Hell?

“Get out!” I took a step forward, and pushed my palm against his chest, then realized I dropped the dress that covered my upper torso. I quickly folded my arms in front of my chest.

We still stood in the middle of my girly bedroom, his towering frame in a dark suit looking ridiculous among all my pink.

His eyes lowered to where my palm rested only seconds ago, then came back to my face. We looked at each other for a moment and I realized his hand was on my wrist, the rough pads of his fingertips brushing against my fluttering pulse.

“Careful, Autumn,” he drawled. “Or you’ll find yourself in the wrong bedroom.” It wasn’t until he was long gone that the realization sunk in.

He knew my name!

Ten minutes later, I smoothed the non-existent wrinkles of the light pink dress. It hugged my body too tightly, making it hard to breathe. I wasn’t used to wearing snug clothing and heels. Being careful not to get my strappy pink heels stuck in the dirt, I kept my gaze focused on the ground. The music and laughter vibrated all around me and a smile already formed on my lips.

“Autumn, come and say hello to our guest.” Maman’s voice traveled through the air. Taking a step over the gravel, I steadied my ankle.

“I’m coming,” I grumbled. “These damn shoes are getting stuck.” Another two steps, I looked up and froze.

A pair of dark gray eyes in a black three-piece-suit watched me, pinning me to my spot. The guy that barged into my bedroom stood next to my father. A smile lifted his lips and my eyes locked on them. Such sensual, well-proportioned lips. I wondered how he kissed.

Hard. Rough. Wet. Demanding.

“There you are.” My mother pressed a kiss on my cheek. “Joyeux anniversaire, ma chérie.” Happy birthday, my mother wished me in French.

“Merci, Maman,” I murmured, keeping my eyes on the stranger.

A set of arms wrapped around me and I swayed. “He made it,” Branka squealed in delight. “Who?” I muttered, flicking a frown her way, then returning it to the gorgeous stranger. Why

was he talking to my dad?

“My brother.” My head whipped her way and I followed her gaze. “Alessio.” I swallowed hard, remembering how I yelled at him barely ten minutes ago.

“Autumn, meet Mr. Alessio Russo.” My father’s tone held a note of caution. The one that told me he’d rather not have me talk to the man. If only he knew, I spent a few minutes alone with him. “Mr. Russo, my daughter Autumn.”

I tipped my head in greeting as a warm rush of adrenaline ran down my spine at the way he watched me and the recognition of his name. I met his heavy gaze, dark gray eyes shaded by thick, dark lashes that could fool you into thinking his eyes were darker than they really were.

“Miss Corbin.” His voice was indifferent but something amused and dangerous played in his gaze, challenging me.

I’d stake my life that all the rumors of Alessandro Russo’s ruthlessness were true.

I blinked, returning to the present.

It was ridiculous that even after four years, thinking about him had my heart racing in my chest. Fifteen years my senior, Branka’s brother, was way out of my league. Not that I wanted him in my league. He was a gentleman on the outside, but dangerous and ruthless underneath that expensive suit he loved to wear.

And he had connections to the mafia, for Pete’s sake.

I didn’t need that kind of trouble in my life. But those steel-like eyes! That mouth! That body! The chemistry I felt in that very moment when I had met him has never been replicated. It was barely a fleeting moment in his book. In mine, it was a life changing event in a mere second.

I’d never forgotten him. It’d be impossible to forget that face, that gaze that held me captive, and that jaw with a mouth that I was certain knew how to bring pleasure. One look at him and shudders rolled down my spine. The ruthless man with a gorgeous face was exactly what I didn’t need but my body seemed to want him.

The music pumped remix after remix, my skin glistened with sweat, the crowd became rowdier and rowdier when I heard my name, loud and clear, over the pounding music. My eyes roamed the room, but I didn’t see a single familiar face.

“Branka. Autumn.” Again, our names were called out.

Branka and I shared a glance, then both of our eyes traveled over the faces in the crowd.

Two men walked confidently through the crowded room, their eyes zeroed in on us. Branka took a step closer to me at the same time, I stepped closer to her.