Page 60 of Dangerous Games of Trust

The young guy, with hair as dark as the night, flashes me a charming smile as he extends his ink-covered arm, offering me one of the treats fresh from the tray. “Mushroom Arancini balls,” he says.

“Thanks.” I smile back, eagerly picking one up and relishing the satisfying crunch as I take a bite. It’s hot but delicious, and I greedily take another. “These are to die for.”

Enjoying my compliment, he lets out a chuckle that resonates in the room. “You must be Harley.” As he sets the tray down, he reaches out his hand for me to grasp.

“Sure am.”

“This is Antonio, an excellent new addition to our team,” Dani explains, all smiles toward him.

“Nice to meet you.” I smile again, blushing under his attention. Why is he looking at me like that?

“I’m sure I’ll be seeing a lot of you. Alessandro said you’re his missus, but he failed to mention how beautiful you are.”

I laugh. This guy is a little too charismatic. And now the look makes sense. He knows who I belong to. Or so Alessandro still thinks.

With a mischievous smile, Dani playfully taps his arm, making him laugh. “See, we love him already. Makes scrumptious food and dishes out compliments.”

“Better get back to it,” he says, his voice tinged with a touch of nervousness all of a sudden.

And I sense the reason for our new chef’s hasty exit before I even see him. I feel a hand on my hip, and suddenly a glass of champagne materializes in front of me. I close my eyes and take a deep breath, searching for some inner strength before turning to face Alessandro. “Since when am I your missus?”

A flicker of anger crosses his face, but he swiftly masks it with a forced smile. He’s in a good mood tonight, I can already tell.“Since we have a new man in the house, and I wanted to make sure he knew you were taken.”

“I’m going to go find Marco,” Dani says, looking the two of us over. I silently plead with her not to leave me alone with him, but she waves me off with a giggle. Yeah, she’s had too much to drink already.

Turning into the room, I glance out over the party, trying my best not to make eye contact with Alessandro, faking boredom as I sip at my champagne. From across the room, I spot Geovani engrossed in a deep conversation with another man in a suit. The swelling in his eye has reduced, and he’s resembling the handsome man he normally is.

Like he knows I’m watching him, his eyes rise to meet mine. I offer a half smile. I’m not sure what else to do. I hate how bad things are between us, but I can’t unsee what he did the other night, even though I know why he had to do it. He’s been distant ever since and cold toward me. Like he’s still punishing me for running. And maybe it’s for the best, in this house where there is already way too much testosterone. But I can’t say I don’t miss his cheeky winks and banter when I need someone to spar with. In life and in the gym. Hopefully when our sessions resume, things will return to some sort of normal between us.

He drops his line of sight back to the guy he’s talking to, and my heart sinks. He really is done with me. But I’m not done with him. I have questions, like how did he and Carlo know about my papa’s safety deposit box.

When I realize my drink is empty, I glance toward Alessandro and realize he’s been watching me. What was it we were talking about? That’s right. “You thought I was going to run off with the chef you hired?” I snap. “Interesting. Looked like you were more concerned in having some fun with the skanks practically sitting on your lap to be worried with who I talk to,” I retort with a hint of sass.

He forcefully grips my chin, making me meet his intense gaze. “I only have eyes for you, princess. You know that.” He stares back at me so deeply I feel a flutter go right through me. Jesus, why do I want to be controlled by this man so badly when I know I really don’t? But when his hands are on me, I turn to putty just waiting for him to mold me any way he pleases.

With a sudden burst of strength, I forcefully push him away from me. “Thought the power might be going to your head already.” I roll my eyes in disgust.

“Is that why you selected this delicious number,” his hand slides down my side feeling the velvety fabric, “instead of what I picked out for you?” He chuckles light-heartedly, and I wonder if he’s had some sort of personality transplant today because he’s acting mighty strange. He takes my hand in his tenderly. “Come and sit with us.”

“Why, to keep the groupies from dry-humping you?”

His expression turns a little more serious. “Yes. And because I need you close by.”

I sigh heavily, but reluctantly, I go with him. He drapes an arm over my shoulder and the other comes to my side, and again, I regret not wearing shoes. He’s so tall it makes me feel even smaller with his body surrounding me. “Is it safe to have all these people in your house?” I ask, concerned.

“Stop your stressing, Harley. And it’sourhouse.”

Abruptly, I come to a halt, my eyes wide with shock. What the fuck is going on here? “What happened to the overbearing, overprotective asshole who wouldn’t let me out of his sight?” I snap, not appreciating his total change. It’s confusing.

He tilts his head, really taking me in. “I’m the boss now. This town will do as I say and protect me and mine at all costs. That includes you. And that’s why every damn person in this room and this town knows who you belong to.” His possessive words send a shiver over my arms.

I stare back at him, not able to find anything to say back. But even if Enzo is dealt with—and I can’t believe he is—this couldn’t be over. Could it? I have been on edge for so long, I can’t believe it is. Not with everything I know about his papa.

He tugs on my hand, encouraging me to walk with him again. People watch us, and Alessandro loves every second of the attention. This is what he craves. But I want to fade into the shadows, hide out until all the people are gone.

When we make it to the living room, Maddox is in one of the armchairs smoking a cigarette; so much for quitting while he was healing. He nods in my direction, his lips turning up at the sides. “It’s medicinal, so doc says it’s okay.”

I shake my head. Great, so Alessandro has had a personality transplant, and Maddox is stoned. Things keep getting more thrilling by the second.

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