Page 35 of Brutal Vows

“Respect goes both ways, Erma—” I stop when he squeezes my nape in warning. After closing my eyes and taking a steadying breath—which rubs my hard nipples against his chest—I meet his glare and answer with as little emotion as I can manage.

“I’m not your toy and I don’t play well with others. Sure, you’re bigger and stronger, but I won’t be your doormat. I’ll always fight back and protect myself.”

He takes a deep breath. Need pulses between my legs as a euphoric expression flashes across his features, but he grows serious when he opens his eyes and pierces my soul with his grey irises. My heart leaps into my throat when he pulls me tighter against him.

“You’ve got it all wrong,gattina. I’m not playing a game, and I said nothing I didn’t mean.”

He’s serious. The blood drains from my face even as delight bubbles in my chest.

I can’t handle my jumbled emotions with him holding me so tightly. He could satisfy the black hole in my chest far too easily.

I can’t betray my sister, so I dig my nails into his arms and push. He doesn’t budge, but I’ve made my wishes known. Despite my yearning to hide my face, I hold his stare and push again.

He relents this time.

I grab my coffee and drain the last drop, needing a reprieve no matter how short it may be. As the caffeine rushes through my veins, I cup the mug between both of my hands, letting the residual heat seep into my fingers, and step further away from my captor.

“Where are we going?” I ask.

The muscles in his jaw flex as he studies me. After a few moments of silence, he grunts and exits the room. With a last glance at the chair and chains combo on the far side of the room, I follow him to the kitchen, deposit the mug into the sink, and trail after him when he grabs my duffel, his bag, and a clothing bag off the couch on his way to the front door.

He doesn’t say a word as he stalks up the stairs and swings the bags into the trunk. The breeze cuts through my shirt, so I cross my arms over my chest to hide my peaked nipples and drop into the passenger seat when he opens the door and gestures inside.

When he leans over and buckles me in, I grit my teeth and uncross my arms. He quirks a brow but doesn’t further taunt me before closing the door.

I keep quiet despite, or maybe because of, my curiosity as he pulls out of the parking spot and turns onto the road. Dread grows in my chest as I realize he’s headed toward my apartment.

Logically, I knew the first place he’d check was my address, but the thought of him being so close to Livia fills me with unease.

And I’ll never admit it, but having him invade my sanctuary sends a thrill of uncertainty and excitement through me. Only my twin has ever set foot in my home.

He’ll crush me if he mocks my eccentricities, but maybe if he does, it won’t be so hard to resist him.

Deep within the recesses of my soul, I cackle at myself.

No matter how much I deny it, I’ve already fallen for him. The bastard snuck through my defenses with his verbal sparring, unrepentant touches, and caring gestures.

A bond has formed between our hearts. It may not be as intrinsic as my connection with my sister, but it’s there.

I’m on the path of loving the most brutal and terrifying consigliere in New York City, and there’s no way to slow my fall.

I’m fucked on so many levels.

Chapter 10

Ermanno Mancini

Loretta grows more fidgetythe closer we get to her building. I shouldn’t begrudge her for her reactions, but her flippant, mocking words wedged deep within my chest and wounded my pride.

She has no reason to believe me, but goddamn, her denial rankles.

Which only proves how stupidly head over heels I am for her.

Realizing my emotions may put the Russo family in danger, I tuck them deeper inside me and force myself to view the situation through a lens of logic.

She works at the clinic—as an anesthesiologist, of all things—the Dorian gang, who cleans up after the Russians, shot up eight months after Nico Russo’s bride’s kidnapping.

Whatever she’s hiding in her apartment won’t be hidden for very long. I’ll figure out why she’s so nervous.

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