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Sebastian stares back evenly, not intimidated at all. “I’m questioning your funds. And if you don’t have them, it’s time to fold.”
Nero scowls. “It’s OK,” I reach out to soothe him, but he slaps my hand away.
“What else?” he demands, looking to Sebastian. “What else will you take?”
“That depends, Mr. Barretti,” Sebastian says, lounging there with a dangerous smile on his face. “What else do you have to offer?”
Nero look around, as if he’s thinking fast. Then his gaze lands on me.
“Her.”
A gasp ripples through the crowd, but Sebastian’s face is unreadable. His gaze drifts over me, impassive. “For how much?” he asks, casually, like he’s talking about another designer watch, and not a living, breathing woman.
“A million,” Nero says immediately.
I pretend to gasp. “What are you doing?” I protest, like I haven’t planned every moment of this. Dreamed about it. Obsessed over it, late into the night.
“Shut the fuck up,” Nero growls at me.
“No!” My voice rises in distress. “You can’t do this!” I look around the room, at all the faces staring at me in scandalized excitement. At Sebastian Wolfe’s icy gaze.
And then I burst into tears and rush from the room.
Nero follows me, heading to the balcony that juts out over the cliffs. I pace, anxious, everything riding on these next few minutes.
“Looks like he’s buying it,” Nero murmurs quietly.
I give the smallest of nods. We’re close, I can tell, but Sebastian Wolfe is no fool. He hasn’t built a vast fortune with trust and optimism. If I’m going to close this deal, my performance needs to be flawless—even if nobody is around to see.Yet.
“How could you?” I cry, whirling on Nero. “I’m not your property to be auctioned off to the highest bidder!”
“You’re wrong about that.” Nero replies loudly.
“No.” I shake my head furiously. “I won’t go with him. You can’t make me!”
“Can’t I?”
Nero suddenly lunges at me, grabbing me by the throat and leaning me back over the balcony railings. “You’ll do whatever the fuck I say,” he growls threateningly, and I gasp in surprise. The waves are crashing against the rocks below me, and if I didn’t know Nero better—if I hadn’t planned this whole night—the look in his eyes would chill me to the core.
I’m still bent back, his fingers closed around my neck, when somebody clears their throat.
“I hate to interrupt,” Sebastian’s voice comes from the doorway. “But the game waits for no man.”
Nero releases his grip, and I gulp for air, stumbling upright. “Sure, let’s play,” he says quickly, acting jittery, like a man betting too much on a losing hand. “Come on, doll.”
He grabs my arm roughly, dragging me towards the door. I struggle, turning my gaze to Seb, pleading. “Please…” I murmur pitifully. “Please don’t do this.”
Sebastian pauses, looking from Nero to me and back again.
My heart skips a beat. If he was a good man, then this is where he would intervene. Take me away from this violent mafia king, reassure me that everything will be OK. That I’m safe. That he would never trade my body over a hand of cards.
But I already know, Sebastian Wolfe is no good man. He’s a monster. The reason Miles took his own life.
And sure enough, his gaze is cold, unmoved by my pleas. “Will she be a problem?” he asks Nero, like I’m not even standing here.
Like I’m nothing but currency to him.
“She’ll behave.” Nero scowls. “If she knows what’s good for her.”
