Page 184 of Sinful Lies

Hurrying to my room, I grabbed my bags, slipped on my sneakers, and tried not to think too hard about what I was doing.

Just go, Jade.

The knocks came again, louder this time, and I rushed to the door, pulling it open.

But it wasn’t Mr. Jones.

With a gasp, I tried to shut the door, but his hand stopped it cold.

I pushed harder, leaning my whole weight into it, but it didn’t budge.

“Jesus,” I breathed as the door swung open effortlessly. “Are you the Hulk’s long-lost son or something?”

He stepped inside, closing the door behind him.

His gaze swept over me slowly, before it dropped to the suitcases on the floor.

A flicker of anger passed through his eyes, subtle but unmistakable, as his thumb brushed over his lips.

“You weren’t planning to leave without saying goodbye, were you, Miss Whitenhouse?”

The ice in his voice was enough to send a chill straight down my spine, and I instinctively stepped back.

If I’d thought Angelo was terrifying when he was angry, this was something else entirely.

He lookeddeadly, yet so beautiful my heart hurt.

He stepped closer, his hands loose at his sides.

“Goodbye, Lazzio.”

“Off to hell, or something?”

“Hell can’t be worse than staying here with you.”

Another step.

“What are you running from?”

“You,” I admitted, the word slipping out in a shaky breath before I could stop it.

His head tilted slightly. “Why?”

I shook my head and spun on my heel, aiming for the safety of my bedroom, a closet,anything. But before I could make it two steps, his arms wrapped around my waist, yanking me back against his chest.

“Let me go!”

My nails dug into his skin, my elbows jabbed into his ribs, and I even tried to stomp on his foot.

He didn’t flinch. He didn’t loosen his grip. And he sure as hell didn’t let me go.

“Keep going,” he whispered in my ear, his breath hot against my neck. “I told you I’d enjoy the fight.”

Stronzo!

I twisted in his arms, glaring up at him. “What do you want, Angelo?”

“You,” he breathed out. “You, and only you.”

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