7

"What punishment? We didn't discuss anything about punishment?" I frowned, furrowing my brows.

"We didn't? I could have sworn I told you that every time your plan failed, I'll punish you." Lorenzo teased as he played with my hair.

"Oh, hell no!" I snapped, slapping his hand away and pressing my back against the door. "That wasn't part of the deal!"

"Well, we never said it wasn't, so it isn't completely out of the question. And did you think I would just welcome you back to my home with open arms after your failed attempts to escape?"

"Yes! I thought so because you didn't mention anything about a punishment. What am I saying? I never even planned to fail in the first place." I threw my hands in the air.

"You see, it's really your fault. You were so confident in your ability and blinded by the thought of money that you didn't ask for the complete details of our agreement."

"You're such a slippery, slimy snake. You're twisting everything to your favour. I feel like smacking you in the face." I snarled, clenching my bag.

"It comes with the profession, feisty vixen," he laughed and shifted closer. I held my knees up, stopping him from coming into my personal space.

"Sorry, but I'm not accepting any punishment. If it wasn't said in the morning, then it wasn't said at all." I said firmly, crossing my arms over my chest.

"That's alright." He shrugged and pulled out his phone from his pocket.

"That's it? You're just agreeing?" I blinked and dropped my arms. "No threat? No choking? No pointing a gun at my head and threatening to kill me?"

"No." He replied and didn't even look at me.

'Liar! He's plotting something! He can't agree with me so easily. What's his angle? Will he punish me secretly? I hope he's not expecting that his silence will make me—'

"But..." Lorenzo drawled and stared at me from the corner of his eyes.

Ha-ah! I knew it!

"I think Clara will happily take your place."

"Don't you dare hurt her!" I glowered at him. "What happened to 'I don't hurt family'? I assumed that you were a man that stuck to your word but I thought wrong."

"I didn't lie when I said I don't hurt family, but there are ways I can punish her without hurting her. Trust me, it isn't nice." He said and slipped his phone into his pocket. "I'm sure you don't want your dear friend to go through what I have in mind, but then again, I won't fault you if you decide she should. You're in this sh*t because of her. It won't hurt for her to take this one for the team."

"Unlike you, I mean exactly what I say. When I say I'll protect my friend, I mean it that way, with no hidden implication or loophole." I retorted.

"So you'll take the punishment." He grinned, a mischievous glint in his eyes, and I dug my nails into my lap.

'Wow, I can't believe he's so excited about it. I won't be sure the thought of it gets him hard.' I thought, and my cheeks turned hot. 'I just had to make it weird. But why is he so happy about it anyway? What punishment does he have in my mind? What if it's that kind of punishment...? God! Stop!'

"Fine! I'll take the stupid punishment!" I huffed, shooing away my thoughts. "But no more adding anything to our deal, ok? Let me make it clear: one, I have one month for me and Clara to escape from you; if we do, you'll leave us alone and give us five million. Two, if I lose, you'll kill me, and three, for every escape plan that fails, you'll punish me. That's it. You're not adding anything again. Agreed?"

"Agreed." He nodded.

"And leaving us alone means leaving us alone completely. You will not send anyone from Tenebre or any other mafia group to come after us. You won't even hint it to them. Nothing will concern us and you. And also no adding anything else to the rules." I clarified, stating exactly what I wanted.

If he could just suddenly twist the rules to add punishment, who was to say he wouldn't try any backhanded means to hurt us when I won?

He pressed his lips together; annoyance flickered across his face, and I smirked. Ah, caught him.

"Fine!" He grumbled, and I grinned.

"So, what is my punishment?" I asked, and I ran my tongue over my lips. His eyes followed the simple movement, and his Adam's apple bobbed.

Heat zipped under my skin, pooling at my core at his intent gaze, and my pulse quickened.

'Shit! How could this man make me feel this way by simply looking at me?' I thought, resisting the urge to lick my lips again. Or touch him... Or kiss him.

God, I needed to stop thinking that.

"Your phone," Lorenzo said, snapping me out of my daze.

"Why do you want my phone?" I blinked.

"It's your punishment. I'll get taking your phone away permanently. Which isn't long since you'll be dead in the next few weeks." He replied and held out his hand.

"Really? That's the punishment? Seizing my phone?" I snorted. I dug the device out of my bag and handed it to him.

"You seem quite unbothered." He frowned.

"Of course. The stupid thing is already broken anyway; I doubt it will make any difference if I have it. I can't believe that was the punishment all along." I snickered. "I thought it would be something abominable or traumatising. To think I was worried over nothing."

"What would you have wanted me to do? Chain you up in my cellar and starve you for days, because I could."

"No, thanks. I'm fine with this one." I cringed. Maybe I should have kept my mouth shut this time and not given him any ideas.

"Is that too much for you? What about something more... physically?" He drawled, placing his hand on my thigh and bringing his mouth to my ear.

"Maybe I should have made you strip. Then I'll lay you across my lap and spank your pretty little a** till it's bright red. Would you prefer that?" He groaned seductively in my ears, stroking my skin through my jeans.

I held my breath, biting back the moan that wanted to escape my lips, and my heart pounded in my chest.

"But is it really a punishment if you'll enjoy it? I'm sure you'll be wet by the time I'm done." He lifted his head, and his lips curled to a devilish smirk.

"I'm right, aren't I? You want me to spank you for being a naughty brat and then touch you. You'll like that very much, won't you?"