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“You’re a damn idiot then.”
“Hey,” she says, narrowing her eyes. “Watch it.”
“I’m your golden fucking ticket, Jeanie. I’m your jackpot. You want a way to get revenge on Malcolm for whatever he did? I’m your way. I can keep you safe, give you money, get you back on your feet. I can get you closer to that bastard than you ever could on your own. You can disappear if you want, become a drifter, whatever you have to do, or you can stay here and fight. It’s your decision.”
I stand and walk away to refill my glass again. I want that to sink in for a minute or so. I don’t know what this girl is thinking but I swear she’s losing her mind. The idea that she hates me so much she’d rather risk her life by running away is crazy to me and borderline insulting. I’ve done nothing but yank her ass from the fire, and now she’s acting like I want to cover her in kerosene and light the match myself.
And yet I’m still drawn to her. Inviting her to stay here is stupid. Casso will be pissed, and I still don’t know this girl’s story. She’s trouble, pure and simple, and yet I want trouble right now.
Trouble makes me feel alive.
Leaning against her, cleaning her cuts, touching her ribs, that’s the most present I’ve felt in a long time. This girl needs my help, and I need her to wake me up.
I want to take her and keep her. I want to dig into her secrets and peel her apart.
But most of all I want to feel her lips against mine one more time.
“I can’t,” she finally says. “How can I trust you? You’re a Bruno.”
“That’s right, and I’m your only option.” I turn and face her. “I could make it an order and not a request. You think you could leave here if I wanted to keep you?”
She shivers and her grip on the glass tightens. “You wouldn’t.”
“I’ve done worse.”
“Gavino.” A hint of fear now. Is that what I wanted, to scare the girl? I’m such a bastard, even I hate myself sometimes.
“I won’t force you to stay, but we can cut a deal. Tonight, you sleep in my place. Tomorrow, you sleep in the main house. You’ll have your own suite in Villa Bruno and the protection of my family. You’ll be my personal secretary and we’ll work on the Strafford deal together. And hopefully, you’ll get the revenge you want, and I’ll get to throw that shithead from my city. We can do it together if you’d stop being so damn stubborn.”
Her jaw works. She glares at me and throws back the whiskey and coughs once it’s down. I try not to laugh, but fuck, it’s adorable. She’s so fucking cute, so fucking sexy, and I’m making a mistake. Thinking with my dick and my gut instead of my head, but I want this.
For a first time in a long time, I want something.
“One night,” she says, holding up a single finger. “I’ll give it one night. If I change my mind in the morning, I’m out of here.”
“Works for me.”
“You sleep on the couch.”
I laugh and shake my head. “You sleep in the guest room. I sleep in my bed. Where do you think you are?”
She blushes again. “Okay, fine, that works.”
I hold out a hand, gesturing for her to follow. “I’ll show you to your room.”
