Page 9 of Wretched Choices

“Who I sleep with is not your concern, sweetheart.”

Before I can say anything else, the door opens. His attention turns to the person who entered the room.

“She’s telling the truth. She is a journalist. Isabel Roberts works for Hall Media. We couldn’t find what her position is there, so we couldn’t check if her sole purpose here is just following a lead on that story.”

Salvatore’s jaw clenches, his attention back on me. I can see anger in his eyes, but why? He lets go of my hands and takes a few steps back.

“Are you here alone?”

In my need to ignore the feeling of loss without his touch, I grip the edges of the table, holding myself in place. “No, I’m with a date. He doesn’t know I’m here for a story, and I would like to leave it like that.”

Ethan knows why I’m here, but Salvatore Catalano doesn’t need to know that.

Narrowing his eyes at me, he flicks his tongue over his teeth. “Dante here will escort you to the ballroom, where you will stay for the rest of the night. I will have men watching your every move tonight.” He takes a step toward me. “And if I see you snooping around one more time tonight or any other time, therewill be consequences.” One more step. “If I see something about tonight that includes me or the senator’s wife in the press, there will be consequences.” He takes one last step just before I have time to stand, caging me to the table. His face is just inches from mine. “You do not want to cross me, sweetheart, because if you do, you will see the other side of the coin.”

His threat hits deep down in my bones, and if I wasn’t backed against the table, I’m sure I would collapse. At the same time, though, his threat is dangerous, and I almost want to challenge him to seewhatis on the other side of his coin. But the rational part of my brain, the few remaining functional brain cells I have in this moment, is telling me to stay silent.

“Nothing to say? Good. Dante will take you to the ballroom now, and I don’t want to see you again.”

I swallow the retort, staying calm. Like I would want to see him again. If not because of his threat, then due to all the things I felt while in his vicinity.

“Do you understand?” he hisses.

“Yes, fine,” I spit. Then I add sweetly, “Sorry. You won’t see me again.” I try to slip out from under him, but he doesn’t budge. His blue eyes pin me with a penetrating look. The room is silent, and all there is are our mingled breaths. I can almost taste him. Almost.

The spell is broken when he seizes me by my arms and hands me to Dante, who leads me out of the office.

Away from Salvatore Catalano.

four

Salvatore

The moment she entered the room, I saw her on Ethan Caine’s arm. Hell, every man in the room looked at her. I knew she was trouble right away. Beautiful trouble, and a distraction for me and what I had planned tonight. She destroyed all those plans by snooping around.

Now, all I can think of is how to make her pay.

At first, I thought she had a wire or wanted to bug the office, but she was clean. I checked her myself.

I touched her.

I shouldn’t have. I went too far by pulling her dress down and exposing her lace-covered sex, cupping it.

Because now all that my brain can entertain is the way her skin felt. How it would be to put my fingers in that sweetness. How her sweet citrus and vanilla scent has robbed me of my sanity.

There was something about touching her while looking into her eyes.

It was a challenge to hide how hard I was from the moment I caught her.

I can’t take my eyes off her.

Isabel Roberts.

There is just something about her. Her beauty is exotic, different from the women I’m used to. There was so much passion in those eyes. Hurt, disappointment, fear too. But I was lost in her beauty and scent. Something about the way she smelled reminded me of my time in Italy as a kid. The times before my father started grooming me for this life. Before all the truth came to light.

Her story seemed plausible because I do sleep with the senator’s wife on occasion. Since the rumors are out, I need to end it once and for all. The senator has been on my payroll for years now. Even before I took over, he needed funds, and I needed someone to make things easier for me. Sleeping with his wife was just insurance for me. A tactical move made simpler when she came running to me. I guess she thought I’d be like one of the pool boys she uses. She provides me with the information I need, and keeping her close to me provides me with insights into who Senator Wilson really is.

I take a stroll around the ballroom, greeting and making small talk with people. But my eyes keep searching for a woman in an emerald-green dress, with brown hair, and a body I would do sinful things to if I let my desire control me. But I need her away from me, away from snooping around my business. If I met her a couple of years ago, I would have jumped at the opportunity to take her to my bed, but I’m not that man anymore.

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