Page 59 of Power & Punishment

“Do you think it was Caruso’s men?” I ask, crossing my arms. “Fuck, do you think he knows who I am?”

Leo shakes his head, grabbing a tie and snaking it around his collar. He expertly folds the fabric over until he gets a perfect knot within seconds. I’m not going to lie…it is kind of sexy.

“I don’t know, but I’m going over there to see if we can figure it out. You’re going to stay here until I get some answers.”

“Like hell I am,” I shout, stomping my foot. “I’m going with you.”

“It’s too dangerous,” Leo says, the playful crease of his lips nowhere to be found. “I won’t let you get hurt.”

It’s not like he hasn’t made similar comments before, but today it feels different.

“I’ll stay with you the entire time,” I offer. “But I have to meet Keith at the station later, so let’s make it snappy.”

Leo narrows his gaze and takes a step forward, engulfing me in his warmth once again. He reaches out and grips my chin, making a very unladylike and non-badass squeal slip from my lips. “I said you’re staying here. What don’t you get about that?”

I slap away his hand and step back, jutting out my finger. “What don’t you get about me not taking orders from you. And don’t play the blackmail card. I’m over it.”

His jaw tightens, but he keeps his distance. “Whoever did it might still be watching the place. It’s too risky.”

“Well, it’s a good thing I have you,” I answer, batting my eyelashes. “If you’re so confident I’m safe with you, then prove it.”

We stand there staring at each other. No one says anything until Leo finally lets out an exasperated breath.

“Fine,” he grunts. “You can come with me, but if you try to pull your disappearing bullshit, then I’ll personally hunt you down and tie you up to that chair in the corner,” he says, pointing to the infamous cuck chair.

I don’t know why excitement stirs inside me, but I smile and cock an eyebrow. “Promise?”

Leo lets out a low chuckle under his breath. “Careful what you suggest, Emilia. If I ever tie you up, I can promise I’m not letting go.”

18

LEO

Emilia Russo is a pain in the ass.

But unfortunately, she’s my pain in the ass. Which is why my irritation over her constant disobedience dissolves into thin air.

And it’s quickly replaced with anger, seeing her eyes sweep over her trashed studio apartment. The place was a shit hole to begin with, but seeing the pain she’s trying hard to hide is enough to make me want to buy the entire building just to remodel her place and put proper security in.

Then again, I wouldn’t have a good reason to sleep next to her again.

I wasn’t planning on putting her in my bed last night, but then I had her body curled in my arms and I didn’t want to let go.

She would be pissed if she knew that when I woke up in the morning, her head found its way to my chest. I spent entirely way too long counting each freckle dotted across her perfect nose.

I’ve never felt more peace than I did this morning waking up next to her. And that feeling alone makes me want to chain her to my bed.

“I guess I’ll be sleeping on Keith’s couch for the foreseeable future,” Mia groans.

“No,” I say, taking a step and feeling glass crunch under my shoe. “You’ll be staying with me. If you weren’t with me last night, who knows what would’ve happened.”

Mia curses under her breath, moving deeper into the space filled with her now broken things. “Please don’t say it like that.”

I smile, shaking my head.

“Do you really want to risk putting your friend in harm’s way?” I ask, kicking aside some of the stuffing leaking from the torn-apart couch. Judging by the state of Mia’s disheveled apartment, it looks like our suspect was looking for something, but I know better.

This is a message for me.