Page 68 of Bought By Santa

“Thank you,” I reply, my hand resting possessively over Carolina’s thigh. I can feel the warmth of her through the layers.

“Welcome to the family,” Jack adds, though his gaze lingers a bit too long for my liking. I squeeze Carolina’s leg, a silent reminder that she belongs to me.

“Thank you,” Carolina says softly. There’s vulnerability there, and it strikes a chord deep within me.

As the meeting dissolves, I hold her close, reveling in her presence. Carolina—the woman who unknowingly walked into a mafia den but so far, she’s taken it in stride.

“Come,” I murmur, standing with her still in my arms. “We have much to discuss.”

Chapter 23

The Santa

“Can we stay here?” she asks, tilting her head up to look at me.

I blink, not sure if I heard her right. “You… you want to stay in here?” I ask, dumbfounded.

Blood stains the floor, a mosaic of violence that’s become as familiar to me as the tailored suits on my back. The room reeks of iron—the aftermath of asserting dominance within the Knight empire. I watch Carolina survey the scene, her gaze unwavering.She doesn’t shy away from the gore; instead, she moves closer to me.

“I… that…” Pausing, she swallows thickly. “… are you hurt?” Her voice is steady, cutting through the silence.

I look down at my hands, smeared with blood—not mine. “I’m fine,” I assure her, my tone leaving no space for further inquiry. But in this moment, something shifts inside me. Her concern, so raw and genuine, cracks the armor I’ve worn since I was thirteen.

“Sit with me,” I command more softly than I intend, gesturing to the chairs that aren’t splattered with reminders of today’s necessity.

As we sit, I begin to unravel the threads of our existence here. “The men who just left… they’re the pillars of our organization here in New York. Each one sworn to me, bound by blood or loyalty.” My eyes flicker to hers, ensuring she understands the gravity.

“Keep talking,” Carolina says, fingering the bow on her midnight blue robe without breaking eye contact.

“I—” My throat is dry, and all I want to do is to rip her clothes off. She looks entirely too sexy, and I both loathe and love that everyone saw her looking so sinful.

Carolina stands, pulling at the bow, shrugging the robe off to reveal the black lace underneath it—her nightgown, stopping just above her mid-thigh. The lace hugs her body, showcasing every curve with seductive precision.

Her long, blonde hair is ruffled, probably from sleep. She isn’t wearing any traces of makeup, which, to me, that just makes her even more flawless as she stands in front of me. Her tongue darts out, and my cock hardens as I watch her lick her lips.

“Hellcat,” I rasp, but she shakes her head.

“I said, keep talking, Nick.”

“What do you want to know?”

Tilting her head to the side, she taps her long, slender index finger against her cheek. “Who were those men? I mean, I’ve seen your dad…” She shudders as she mentions him. “… Jack, and Marco before. But the others?”

I explain the other three to her. “Dominic, the one with the eyepatch, is the leader of the East Side operations. He mostly deals in weapons and drugs. Lee, the one with the pink tie, is… well, he built his business by whoring himself out. He gathered secrets, and once he had enough to force his way to the top, that’s exactly what he did.”

“Wow.”

“Sergei is complicated,” I say, continuing my explanation. “We should be natural born enemies, but he’s come to earn my respect. I know he’s loyal.”

She nods slowly, and there’s a shrewdness in her eyes, as though she’s mentally creating files for each man, cataloging the info I’m giving her. “And you trust each of these men?”

“I do,” I confirm.

“Should I?”

I can honestly say I never considered her asking that. “Do you want to?” I ask, unsure what I can say.

She hums softly. “I don’t know. But if you trust them, it seems I should as well.”

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