Page 25 of Reckless Games

I set her down and placed an assuring hand on her back, guiding her towards the waiting car—a sleek, black Bentley. She followed without saying a word, but the confusion in her eyes was still there. As soon as Giovanni began to drive, her questions spilled out.

“Where are we? Did we just get off a jet?” She looked back, her gaze following the jet that was gradually becoming a smaller speck in the distance.

“We did. Relax, Angel. We are in Sicily,” I said, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Her eyes widened in shock, and she tilted her head, her jaw dropping.

“Sicily? We are in Sicily?”

“Yes. My hometown, Sicily.”

“But…isn’t it…” She shook her head, clearly struggling to process our location. “Isn’t Sicily dangerous?” Her concern was endearing; her worry made me want to scoff at whatever she had probably heard.

“Dangerous? How?” I raised an eyebrow, amused by her naivety.

“Because of the Sicilian Mafia, of course! Haven’t you heard? They are dangerous. They rule the whole place, even more than half of Italy. You really don’t know? I’ve heard there are parts of Sicily that are forbidden for normal civilians. What if we get into trouble for stepping on those?” Her earnestness was almost charming. She had done her homework on the Sicilian Mafia, and I found myself almost proud of her knowledge.

I shared a knowing look with Giovanni in the rearview mirror, who smirked, his eyes dancing with amusement.

“Hm, you are right,” I said, folding my arms and shaking my head. “The Sicilian Mafiaisdangerous. Very dangerous. But don’t worry. I’m sure the Sicilian Don wouldn’t have a problem with you being on his territory.”

“Why?” Her eyes lit up with a glimmer of hope. “Do you know him? Is he a friend?” She crossed her arms skeptically. “How can you guarantee that?”

“Well, you’ve been sitting in his car for quite some time now, questioning him about irrelevant things, and he’s been patiently answering you. He hasn’t kicked you out of the car, has he? Isn’t that enough to make you believe you’re safe with him on his territory? Besides, you weren’t that scared when you were living in his mansion in Italy. In fact, I believe he quite enjoys your company.” Angela’s eyebrows shot up, disappearing in her hairline, her mouth falling open as it finally dawned on her.

“You…you are the Don of the Sicilian Mafia?” She seemed to be questioning herself more than me. I smirked,leaning in closer to let my breath caress her skin, catching her off guard.

“Come on now, Angel.” I tilted my head and trailed my nose along her neck. “You weren’t that scared when you saw me shooting all those people at the club. In fact,” I kissed a spot on her neck ever so softly, “if I remember your expressions correctly, I’d say you were rather turned on.” She shuddered, her breathing growing heavier. I did not pull back; instead, I inched closer to her ear. “Tell me, Angel, does it turn you on when I kill people?” She had no answer; her silence spoke volumes. Satisfied with the teasing, I finally moved back just as Giovanni announced our arrival, breaking the tension.

“We are here,” he said respectfully before quickly getting out of the car to give us privacy. I looked at Angela, whose face was still flushed. The day was just beginning, and I could not wait to see how she would react to everything that lay ahead.

“I can’t be here with you. I have to go back,” she announced suddenly, her voice trembling with uncertainty. The very thought of her wanting to leave filled me with a rising annoyance. She could not get away from me. Who would tell her that?

“Why?”

“Because...” she hesitated, searching for words. “Because you’re in the Mafia. The head of the Sicilian Mafia!”

“And I wasn’t when you were living with me back at the mansion? Or when I kissed you? And you kissed me back? Or when you moaned my name, when I sucked on your milky skin?”

“But that was different!” She defended. “I didn’t know then that you were the Sicilian Don. I understood you were dangerous, but I never expected you to be the literal head of one of the most lethal, illegal organizations.” So she knew I operated illegally. That would save me some time explaining things. Cool.

I grabbed her arm and jerked her forward, pulling her onto my lap. She yelped at the sudden movement. Grasping her chin, I tilted her face up to look at me. “Look at me and listen carefully, Angel. Iamthe most lethal and dangerous person you’ll ever know, no doubt.” I moved closer, my lips just skimming hers, asserting my dominance. She needed to understand there was no way she could run from me. “But one thing you need to understand clearly is that there is no difference between then and now. Nothing has changed.” I inched closer, my voice dropping to a whisper, “because you were mine then, and you are mine now. Get that in your pretty little head, Angel.”

“But my work... my car...” Her worries about trivial things were almost cute.

“Since you like your car so much, I’ll have it brought here. And you don’t need to work since you’re with me. Name anything you want, and you’ll have it. But if you want to keep busy, I can arrange for a few cafes to reach out to you if you’d like.”

“But…Emily. What about her?” She was not going to make this easy, was she?

“I’ll have her fly here on weekends. Is that going to be all?” When she finally ran out of excuses, she fell silent. “Good. Let’s show you your new home.”

I gently lifted her off my lap and helped her out of the car. The grand estate before us was sprawling, a blend of old-world charm and modern luxury. Giovanni opened the door, and I guided her inside, my hand firmly at her lower back, ensuring she knew she was safe—and that she was staying.

The entryway was impressive, with high ceilings and elegant decor. I watched her eyes widen in awe as she took in hernew surroundings. I led her through the hallways, pointing out various rooms and features, all while keeping her close.

“This is where you’ll be staying,” I said, opening the door to a beautifully furnished suite. If it were up to me, she would already be in my room. But everything good comes with time. So no, I couldn't have her in my room.Yet. “Make yourself at home, Angel.”

She looked around, her earlier resistance softening as she absorbed the reality of her new life. I stepped closer, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “You’re mine, Angel. Always have been, always will be. Welcome to your new life.” Her eyes met mine with apprehension in their depths. I knew it would take time for her to fully adjust, but I was prepared to wait. After all, she was worth it.

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