Page 207 of Sinfully Savage Mafia

“You’re not going to kill me,” I whisper.

“You’re doing a good job of making me want to,” he seethes, his blue eyes darkening like a turbulent storm is about to ravage the otherwise calm pools. But he loosens his grip nonetheless, and the crashing waters begin to recede.

Thank fuck.

“I can offer you something, Sergio. But in return, I need your help,” I murmur in a choked voice.

“Why would I want to help you? You’re a lying, double-crossing, manipulative bitch.”

“And that’s all bad because why? Because I got one over on you? Beat you at your own game? Isn’t that what’s driving that pole further and further up your ass?”

“For someone who wants my help, you’re doing an awesome job of convincing me to tell you to fuck off.” He pulls his hand away from my throat and I drink in as much oxygen as possible before speaking again. I really need to work on my timing.

Note to self: Don’t incite the monster just before asking for his help!

“You’re right,” I say, coughing a little bit. “Okay, forget that I just insulted you. I really need you to hear this.”

“Listening,” he growls. “So make it good.”

I expel a sigh through my lips. “I know you want the nightclubs.”

“Yeah, I think I made it pretty clear the other night that I did.” He snorts, backing up from the bed and folding his arms over his chest.

“So much that you’d be willing to kidnap me in order to get your hands on our business?”

His lips twist into a grimace. “Don’t bullshit me again, Jaelyn. You know that’s not why you’re here.”

“Look,” I say, struggling to keep my voice even. “We’re losing time dancing around here. Okay? You are, I am, and so is Nate! So let’s just be honest with each other and see if we can work together to fix things. I’m scared for my brother. That’s the only reason why I am willing to come up with a trade.”

He narrows his eyes. “A trade?”

“Yes, your help for a share of the nightclubs.”

“Why the fuck should I help you or Nate when he tried to kill me and my guys the other night?”

I gasp. “What are you talking about?”

He grabs the duct tape from the plastic-covered dresser and walks over to me, shaking it over me. “If you’re fucking with me, Jaelyn…if you’re not being straight with me…I will wrap you up like a damn mummy in this tape!”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about!” I shout.

He grips the back of my hair, forcing my head upward. “When we were leaving the club the other night, we were ambushed by a van. Shooters opened fire on us. They got one of my guys.”

“I-I didn’t know,” I rasp, the pain from his tight grip shooting to the roots of my hair follicles. “But it couldn’t have been Nate. He wouldn’t have done that. I mean, I know I told him to—” I muse out loud, stopping before the rest of it slips out.

“Told him to what?” Sergio snarls, tugging my hair harder.

“Ouch!” I snap. “Let me go and I’ll tell you!”

He pauses for a second and then releases my head. It stings so badly but I can’t even rub the sore spot because my hands are cuffed together.

“He threatened me,” Sergio says. “In front of my guys. Disrespected me, and then to prove his point, he sent his crew after us to show us that he’s not intimidated by the families we’re aligned with. You heard all that, too, sweetheart, so don’t play it like he’s innocent. Maybe he didn’t tell you what he was planning, but he fucking did it. And that’s why you’re here, not because I’m hard up for your nightclubs.”

“Look, the only reason he acted that way was because of me. It was my idea to shut you guys out. We wanted to make you desperate!”

He waves his hands around him, a disbelieving chuckle tumbling from his lips. “Well, look around, Jaelyn. This whole thing screams desperation, yeah?”

“So you only took me because you thought Nate tried to kill you?”

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