Her chin lifted in defiance. “You?”
Where had this stunning creature come from? The way her fiery gaze pierced me was stronger than any shot of whiskey. And her mouth?
Dio sacro, that mouth.
“Me most of all,” I rasped.
She tugged her hands, looking about wildly. A step down the hall alerted me that we weren’t alone.
“Please! I have to get the rest of the stupid dessert,” she snapped.
Mannaggia. Touching her was a bad idea. But look at me. I did it again. If I leaned in and kissed her, it would be astronomically stupid. There were so many reasons she was forbidden. She had to work here. She would regret it the instant it was over. She might even hate me. But…I skimmed my fingers over her shoulder.
“How sweet is it?” I coaxed.
“How the hell should I know?” she retorted. “I would assume pretty sweet since it’s dessert, but do you even care?”
Fuck it. I brushed my finger over her lip. “I can’t wait to take a taste.”
She jerked away, and I let her go.
Watching her scurry away made me groan. I had to forcefully keep myself back. I wanted to chase her.
I wanted to play.
And now that I found her, the game was only beginning.
***
It took another hour before I escaped. To add to my misery, Rae never made an appearance after dinner. The butler served the dessert and coffee. Franky’s cake was not why I endured the incessant pestering of my grandmother, who liked to talk about the families and blue blood aristocracy as if they mattered.
The don disappeared into his office, not bothering to join us.
Which was probably for the best. I might be the picture of good health, but I doubted even my perfect blood pressure could take it. The whole hour, I schemed and plotted.
But every time my mind focused on work, flashing hazel eyes hollowed by a haunted expression filled my mind. Was she getting enough sleep? Were they working her too hard? Was there…something else? I’d found Tony Capello and removed his fingers before he’d hurt her badly. She hadn’t seemed shocked by the brutality the other night, but maybe it terrorized her after the adrenaline wore off.
I had to know.
Instead of leaving, I snuck out back.
I had to see for myself that what my little thief was doing. The humid night air was a delicious change. Each breath drank in the heavy atmosphere. It was a different heat than the suffocating rooms of the brittle mansion. Even with the wet night wrapping around me, I felt free. Creeping through the yard, I nearly missed the wisp of black.
Blending in with the surroundings, the shadow moved with eager steps toward the main house.
Going to steal something, little one?
I grinned. The enticing southern belle didn’t know it yet, but I’d caught her. There was no chance of her slipping past me. Never again.
Following her with my eyes, I watched as Rae changed her course, going to the side patio. I forgot to breathe when she stepped from the shelter of the trees and shucked her sweatshirt.
If there’d been moonlight, her tanned skin would have glowed.
As it was, I could see well enough where the ink decorated her arms, stopping for just a few inches before a black bathing suit covered the rest of her chest. I took a shuddering gulp of air as my gaze trailed down the bare expanse of her tummy, past the slip of black covering the strip between her legs—and those legs. Long and lean, they were also decorated with images.
I cursed the lack of light that made the images a secret.
Rae lost no time slipping into the hot tub. I felt more than heard her sigh as she slid down, letting the piping hot water cover past her shoulders.
