MasukA piercing mechanical beep abruptly blasted through the room.I jumped so hard my elbow nearly knocked one of the rectangular mirrors clean off the white-painted vanity.God.I still wasn’t used to this house talking to itself.The sleek black panel near the door blinked once before the automated voice echoed calmly through the suite.“Door open.”I barely had half a second to react before the door slid apart.Pearl stepped inside, and her eyes widened. Mine widened harder.Heat rushed violently into my face as I realized I was still standing there in nothing but a towel. I squeaked something horribly humiliating under my breath and virtually grabbed for the robe slung over the edge of the bed.“Oh my God –”I nearly tripped into the coffee table between me and the bed, trying to shove my arms through the sleeves.“My apologies, ma'am,” Pearl bowed instantly, horrified. “No, no – it’s fine,” I blurted, tying the robe much tighter than necessary. “I thought there’d be more… warning.”
His phone had been buzzing nonstop for the last ten minutes. Calls. Messages. More calls. The sound threaded through the penthouse like a mosquito that refused to die.As he walked into the room, another ping lit up from the wooden shelf tucked against the wall, the one designed like a miniature library. Dark oak, floating panels, shelves crowded with hardcovers only one person in the house ever bothered opening.The screen flashed again.Dominic slid one arm into his jacket before grabbing the phone. His thumb hovered briefly over the notifications until one message caught his eye.~‘Her travel preparations with him are set for Sicily. Jsyk Oriana will be there.’He stared at the words briefly. Then deleted the message.By the time his other arm slid fully into the jacket sleeve, the sound behind him pulled his attention ninety degrees.Steam spilled into the room.Her hair had darkened from the shower, damp strands clinging to her shoulders and collarbones. A towel sat quite low ag
Dominic’s huff traveled to Marc’s ears.Before she could bend her knees, Marc caught her hands and pulled her up. “Find the bathroom before I kick you out.”Abby scoffed, rolling her eyes.Marc had already moved past her before she staggered away, finding the bathroom.The second girl was worse. Barely conscious as her head lollied. Marc’s jaw grounded as he crouched in front of her, grabbing her discarded dress from the floor.“At least this one ends with them walking out,” he muttered under his breath as he helped pull it over her shoulders.“Cavolo,” (Heck,) Dominic dragged. “Che due palle!” (What a pain in the ass!) “You're just a killjoy.”Marc shot him a look.Dominic smirked.The second girl had opened her eyes now.He guided her up more carefully, steadying her when she stumbled. “Door’s that way,” he jerked his head as he walked her all the way to the door, opening it himself.“You can't stay here,” Marcello told her as he threw some money into her purse. “Shaw’s outside. H
Her fingers tangled lazily in the brunette’s hair before slowing near her mouth. She brushed her thumb over the smeared red lipstick there, pupils widening at the sight of it.A crooked grin spread across her face.The alcohol and whatever else they’d taken earlier dragged heavily at their movements. Her eyes kept fluttering between giggles, lashes resting briefly against her cheeks before lifting again.Then their mouths collided again, careless and messy, laughter breaking between kisses.Dominic stood beside them, watching the scene unfold through a haze of smoke.The brunette reached for him first. Her hand slid around the back of his neck, pulling him forward. Their perfume mixed in the air. The brunette’s lips barely left his while the other girl pressed closer against his side, her mouth trailing heated kisses along the lines of his nipples.“Name,” Dominic muttered against the brunette’s mouth.“Abby.” She smiled lazily against his lips.The other girl laughed softly from be
Her eyes.They were the exact shade of blue. But somewhat faded, as if they had been worn down over time and left to function anyway. Her pupils blown wider than the light justified, rimmed faintly red at the corners.They didn’t settle anywhere for long, skimming past me, over me, around me – never quite landing unless she forced them to.I read her the same way anyone would fucking read their holy books. Didn’t matter how it ended. Only that I could. And right now, I could see through her psychotic giggling. They were perhaps coping mechanisms.She leaned into me and the scent of caramel tangled in ‘coke’ wafted into my nostrils. My jaw clenched.I’d smelt that before. Too many times.It smoothed everything out, the fear, thought, resistance.I sat still as my gaze dragged over. Her fingers were magical as they trace tingling trails from the back, into my jacket and down my chest. She rounded me, and went on all fours, flashing her folds, which were red, swollen and dripping. Imm
My gaze sharpened. “Domenico,” I returned evenly. “Dominic, if we’re being formal.” His tongue wet his lower lip while he tapped two fingers against the table. “Something tells me you didn’t walk in blind. Not reckless like the usual rich boys who manage their way in here. You never looked uncertain. That’s not beginner’s luck. That’s pattern recognition.” He poured himself a drink slowly, unhurried. Then gestured toward the glass in front of me. “But… I don’t like patterns I didn’t authorize in my house,” he added, quieter now. I leaned back, studying him the way he had studied me earlier. “Your operation is well-contained,” I murmured. “I must say, I envy how efficient and ‘clean’ they are. That kind only works when everyone involved knows exactly what not to ask or maybe they don't even know at all.” His face suddenly went morbid. Acting all surprised as if his businesses wasn't the face of Miami, and the city itself didn’t already run through his hands. But I let it pass wi
There was a brief, dangerous flicker of amusement in my chest.Kidnap at random, and you gamble with odds.Kidnap my woman?That’s a fucking career suicide.Bland’s head was already boxed and en route to Tomas Ibarra. Pompano’s body followed in a separate vehicle.Tomas fancied himself untouchable
Neither of them noticed how loud they were getting. Or maybe they did, and fear made them louder anyway.The man with the damaged eye shifted again, testing the restraints like he could still overpower them. The chair rocked an inch before slamming back down. The movement seemed to send pain throug
I blinked awake, groggy, as a heavy pulse slammed behind my eyes, squeezing my temples. Pain radiated outward in dull waves up my skull, down my neck, into my chest where every breath felt shallow and sore. For a moment, I couldn’t place where I was. The room hovered around me, and its cold shadow
“Marco!” my mom yelled. “You snake. You jerk. You think because my husband is dead –”“That’s enough, Eleonora,” he cut in, “this behavior is exactly why we’re here.”As two more men hurried in, one of them handed him a plastic file, and he continued to look me down.“Your mother,” he said with a d







