Page 20 of Blood on Ice

“This was a mistake.” He turned around and reached for the doorknob, but I was behind him before he could turn it. I held the door closed, my body heating as I pressed against his back.

“Move,” he demanded.

“I don’t think so. You need my help, or you wouldn’t have come here.”

“I didn’t know it was you.”

“That was obvious.”

“I made a mistake. I’ll handle this myself.”

“But I’d like to help.” I said the words right against his ear and was rewarded with a shudder.

“I can’t… Let me go.”

“No. That’s a terrible idea. Borrow the money you need from me and let your body have what it wants. You’d enjoy that so much more.”

“Dammit, Vito. Let me go.”

I liked my name on his lips. “Not until you tell me why you’re here.” If he was in trouble, I wanted to know about it. No one was going to hurt him. No matter what he had done, we’d work out a solution. I wasn’t supposed to get personal with clients, but my brother had gotten away with it, and I fucking would too.

I waited several seconds. When he stayed quiet, I said, “You need money.”

“Obviously.”

“I’ve got lots of money to give you.”

“I would never have come here if I’d known you… That your family… Please just leave me alone.”

I stroked the side of his face with the back of my hand. “Tell me why you need money.” He shivered and I pressed myself against him harder. “I’ll take care of you.”

“You don’t even know me.”

“I know I want you.”

“That’s…” He shook his head. “Not what I’m looking for.”

“So sit down and tell me what you are looking for.”

“No. I can’t get involved with you.”

I couldn’t help but smile. “I’m afraid you already are.”

“You’re stalking me. I didn’t ask for that.”

“No, but you came here today. You called my family for help. We don’t like when people stop by and then don’t do business with us.”

“Great, now you’re fucking threatening me.”

“Baby, you called the Marchesis to borrow money; what did you expect?”

“Let me go.”

I released him, but he didn’t open the door. I had him. He wanted to stay. He wanted to talk to me. He was desperate, and God help me, I was going to take advantage of it.

“Come sit down. Do you need something to eat or drink? The coffee is good, and the cannoli are fucking amazing.”

He shook his head as he sat. “I can’t eat anything right now.”

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