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But as I held her, concerned by her limp body, she groaned, and her eyes fluttered open. And I found myself trapped in the rich depths, dazed with afterglow.

To my shock, her lips curved. The joy in her expression was unmistakable—and echoed in my own chest.

I tensed, wanting to reject it. But then she touched my cheek.

‘Grazie, Dante,’ she murmured. ‘That was amazing,’ she added in English. ‘Can we do it again, soon?’ Then a furrow appeared on her brow. ‘Although I think it’s super outrageous you ordered me to go on the pill, I’m feeling a lot more OK about it now. I’m not gonna lie.’

My heartbeat ramped up, but I had to grind my teeth to prevent the lightness in my chest showing on my face at her cheeky remark.

I should be furious with her right now.

My thoughts had drifted to her a thousand times today, distracting me, when I needed my full concentration on the violent business of reasserting my control over the Malvini Syndicate. I had never shied away from the responsibility of disciplining my men. The threat of violence was necessary to ensure every man knew disloyalty or corruption would not be tolerated. My ruthlessness was legendary, my strength a direct result of my ability to make these men realise that retribution would be swift and unforgiving if they crossed me… But today, I had found the process wearying. Because all I had really wanted to do was come back to my suite and see Eva again.

When I had not found her immediately, panic had consumed me. The fear she might have escaped, or worse, that one of the men—that I’d had beaten and then banished from Cala Verde for their conduct during my absence—had found a way back to the island to take their revenge.

It had even been a struggle to control my shock when she had seemed excited by my frantic search for her. Then laughed at my furious reaction… Because she had been there all along.

I had revealed myself. Shown her she was more than just a conquest, a trophy to be fucked, and that could not be tolerated. But instead of punishing her for that laugh, I had admired her bravery and found her amusement at my expense oddly intoxicating. Laughter had not been a part of my life for a very long time. Not since… I cut off the vague memory from my childhood on Isla Donna, of the scruffy mutt whose antics had once made me giggle.

The memory of the dog’s face, eager and loyal, and the grim vision of what had happened to him made something twist sharply in my abdomen. That day I had stopped being a child. That day I had sealed myself off from the need for affection, for humour, for kindness. And it had made me strong, invincible.

The gruesome memory helped to deaden the lightness in my chest now.

I deposited Eva on her feet in the bathroom, the feeling of invincibility returning as I reached into the shower to turn on the unit. Grasping her wrist, I dragged her under the flow of cool water with me.

But when she shrieked and wriggled free, forcing me to chase after her, I had to bite into my lip to stop myself from laughing again. I caught her and wrestled her back under the warming spray while she accused me of being a tyrant.

Our battle became playful, hot. Not a fight for control—but a game to inflame our senses. And my heart lightened despite my best efforts.

My cock thickened and before long I had found another condom, lifted her into my arms, the spray cascading over us, to impale her again.

She clung to me, riding my cock with enthusiasm, and the hot rush of pleasure blindsided us both within seconds.

I dried her languid body afterwards, then dug out another one of my T-shirts for her to wear before taking her back to my bed.

I banded my arms around her to drag her against me, so we could both drift into sleep. The nightmares which had once haunted me hovered close, until I breathed in her sultry scent and found my lips curving at the memory of the amusement sparkling in her eyes…

‘Welcome to my world, Dante.’

The little witch.

I let my fears go as I came to a comforting conclusion.

This obsession was nothing more than a passing indulgence, a thirst to be quenched, so why should I not drink until I’d had my fill? Eva wasn’t special, she was just a reward. One I deserved after months of being half a man—and one I would enjoy at Vito’s expense while he feared for her safety, until my thirst was quenched.

CHAPTER TWELVE

One week later

Evie

‘You have to let me call my sister, Dante…’ I pleaded when Dante lifted his head from the breakfast we were eating together on the terrace, his damp hair slicked back from his handsome face.

He frowned. ‘I have told you,’ he said with the harsh edge I recognised whenever I brought up this subject, ‘I will contact my brother at my convenience, not yours.’

‘But Mia will be worried about me…’ I began. ‘It’s been over a week and…’

He held up his hand. ‘Enough, Eva.’