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Soren stood. “I’m not telling you what to do, Miceli, but you should run all of this by Stephanie first. After today, she might not want to be a pawn in this vicious game all of you have been playing.”
He had a point. Stephanie had already been through enough. When I told her the truth about her father, it could be the last piece that tore her apart. Of all the things I suspected about her father, being an agent wasn’t one of them. The man made millions working with the Syndicate. I half suspected he enjoyed his job more than he did being a part of the FBI. The ripple of consequences from his actions would be long lasting and would touch everyone within the Syndicate of Families for years to come.
I couldn’t concentrate on that part. I had Stephanie and her brother along with my Rocca to consider and protect. “I’ll talk with her. In the meantime, get the information from your friend. If it comes down to it, we’ll do an organic reveal of the Valentino family then yank the other players off the board one by one from the shadows.”
“I’ll be in touch.” Soren left, shutting the door behind him on the way out.
I eased back into my chair, closing my eyes. It was barely after six, and I was exhausted. The day’s events were stressful. The mind numbing fear I experienced with Benny’s frantic, though steady call after he’d cleared the scene, could only be compared to when I lost my Rosalina. The safest thing for me to do was hand Stephanie and her brother over to the FBI and let them deal with the rest. Yet, the idea of never seeing her again ripped apart what was left of my heart and soul.
What was I going to do with her? Did I keep her, claim her as mine? Or did I let her go and hope, when the dust settled, and I became the head family for the whole of the Syndicate of Families, she’d be able to lead a normal life? Indecision warred with lust and yearning. In a perverse way, I wanted to keep her and show her off as a reminder of what happens whenIl Malocchinocollected on his debts. Put the fear of retribution and death back into those who’d gotten careless around me. I had gone soft over the years and, with the murder of my wife, retreated into the shadows, a broke shell of the man I once was.
“Miceli?” Stephanie stepped into the office. I hadn’t even heard her open the door. Her hair was adorably tussled, her cheeks still blotchy from crying. As she leaned against the frame, she fiddled with the hem of her overly long shirt, almost as if she wasn’t sure if she should stand there in my doorway. When she tucked her bottom lip between her lips, her heavy-lidded gaze locked with mine, I had a feeling whatever happened between us, this would change the whole dynamic of our relationship.
I only had one question for myself.
Did I want it too?
“Yes?”
“I...” She frowned, drawing those delicate brows of hers together, as if she warred with herself, not sure why she’d come to me or if she should have.
“Come inside,” I said, deciding for her. “Close and lock the door behind you.”
“Okay.” Fuck. The innocence in her simple answer had my dick pressed against the front of my slacks while I sat there. I held myself still, waiting, as she crossed the room. “You were gone when I woke up.”
“I had an important meeting.” I held open my arms, uncertain if she’d take the offer or refuse. When her lithe, petite form slid onto my lap, a shudder worked through me. “How are you feeling now?” Tipping up her chin, I could see some shadows from her traumatic experience lurked within her eyes. I wanted to erase those. Replace them with better memories.
“Sore. Not like before though,” she murmured before licking her bottom lip. Her tongue grazed the tip of my thumb, lashing me with heated pleasure. Did she even realize what she’d done? Did she care? Was the better question.
“Stephanie,” I whispered, palming her cheek. “What are you doing? What do you want from me?”
“I don’t know.” She swallowed hard. “You’d think I’d never done this before.”
“Seduce a man almost twice your age?” I teased, running my thumb across her bottom lip. “I would hope you haven’t. I might become possessive of you.”
She stared at me, a mix of curiosity and disbelief filled her eyes. “Why? I lied to you.”
“You were protecting yourself. You walked right into the lion’s den, like a little sheep, looking for sanctuary.” I wrapped my arms around her, holding her to me so she couldn’t leave. “While I don’t appreciate being kept in the dark, you also had no way of knowing. If you told me the truth, I would still be your ally. The things I have learned today might have made you consider different arrangements.”
She frowned. “What did you learn?”
“Are you sure you want to have this conversation now, or would you rather seduce me?” I was more than fond of the seducing choice. She fit perfectly into my lap. Her hip nestled against me, and I was sure she could feel the hardness of my cock pressing against the zipper of my pants. “The door is locked, you know. We won’t be interrupted.” This time.
She exhaled roughly. “I want both.”
I expected as much. She deserved to know what her father had done and why his life had been taken. Why her mother’s life had been forfeited along with her brother. She straddled my lap, the thin barrier of her panties met the crotch of my slacks, surprising me even more. The idea of her leaving the cottage like this, walking the short distance with my men outside, watching over her and us, had me growling with displeasure.
The notion a slight breeze might have exposed what was mine, had me wanting to take her over my knee and—Not now. Not yet. She is still too fragile. Too afraid. Later, when she is blissful, ready, begging, then you can have your filthy way with her. Corrupt her from the inside out. Bend her to your darkest will.The thought had my cock growing painfully hard.
Palming her ass, I pulled her closer. “Are you sure?” I groaned, brushing her nose with mine. “One taste of you and you’ll never be rid of me.” Grinding her down on me, her gasp of surprise went straight to my groin.
“Yes.” Her beautiful grey eyes drifted close as she wrapped her arms around my neck. This close to her, I could smell the soft floral accents of her body soap. See the small freckles I hadn’t noticed until now tracking across the bridge of her nose. Discovered the darkest of blue flecks in the irises of her beautiful eyes.
God, she was gorgeous.
“Kiss me like you mean it, Stephanie.” I worried if I was the aggressor, I’d scare her with the wickedness crawling through my veins. She was young. Impressionable. Fuck, why were my hands trembling with the first clash of our lips? Why did I want to take my time with her—explore every inch of her without interruption? How did she turn me inside out so easily?
The minute her tongue caressed mine tentatively, all thought fled my mind as my body flooded with arousal and adrenaline. I clung to her, kneading her ass while dragging her across my crotch. Emboldened, she flicked open the buttons of my shirt, exposing my chest to her perusal.
