Page 292 of Sinfully Savage Mafia

I stomp across the room, my jaw tight as the puppy jumps out of her arms. She gasps as I put my hands on her hips, my fingers digging into her flesh. The puppy stares up at us as if she knew to get the hell outta dodge, then trots into the kitchen.

Electricity crackles between us, my insides sizzling at her nearness. “I don’t normally give a damn about people’s feelings,” I growl, tightening my grip on her. “People serve a purpose to me. They’re a means to an end. Period.”

“Why are you telling me that?” she says, her teeth clenched. “Do you think I’m some kind of an idiot? I know how your world works. I know you only care about your money. And I know you made this grand gesture to get on my good side so I don’t mess up your event by telling everyone what you’ve done to me, my brother, and our lives. You’re using me. Manipulating me!” She struggles against my grip, her sinful body rubbing against me in the process. It makes my blood boil, except it’s desire, not anger, coursing through me.

My pulse throbs against my neck as we glare at each other, death wishes co-mingling with a hunger that proves we share the same inner conflict.

The longing infused with hatred.

The craving that battles the disdain.

Our lips are so close together that I can almost graze hers with my tongue.

The all-consuming lust blinds me, clouding my judgment and my objective.

“I’m doing what I need to preserve my organization,” I hiss. “You’re only alive right now because of what you can do for me. And you’ll go to the event as my date because I’m paying you to. But, like your brother, if you decide to fuck around, you’ll suffer the same fate as him. So don’t test me, Marchella.” I force out the words because I need to do something to show her I’m not some pathetic excuse for a leader. It’s the only way I can preserve my place, and I need to remember said place unless this whole plan goes up in smoke.

I can’t let myself be distracted by her gorgeousness, her smart mouth, or her fiery will.

All of those roads most definitely lead to hell.

Her eyes widen for a split second and she takes in a sharp breath.

Yeah, I surprised myself with that little speech, too.

It may fuel her hatred but it’ll keep me in control.

“You’re a fucking asshole,” she whispers.

“I know,” I snarl. “Always remember that. You’ll survive longer.”

CHAPTER12

MARCHELLA

His blue eyes glitter with the threat of danger, but instead of making my gut clench, his gaze makes me tingle in places that have no business being awakened by this sick lust coursing through me.

How can his egocentric words actually turn me on?

He has a bounty on my brother and complete control over me as a result.

He shot me, for fuck’s sake!

I want to punch him so badly. To land a right hook against his beautiful, stubbled jaw, shattering it like he did my life!

But most distressing is that despite everything he’s done and said, I still want to feel his lips on me, to have his devious tongue tussle with mine, to drink in his villainousness because for all of the hatred he generates, my pent-up desire trumps it all.

And the flickering embers in my belly roar to life as his eyes drink me in, telling me in no uncertain terms that he feels the exact same way.

Just like I always believed he did.

But screw him if he thinks I’m going to do anything about it.

“Ooh,” I say in a mock scared voice. “I’m so scared.” I shove my good shoulder against his thick, muscled chest and of course, it doesn’t do a damn thing. He stays rooted to his spot and presses his fingers deeper into my flesh.

My heart thumps, blood rushing between my ears as the overwhelming urge to kiss him grabs hold of me. The line between lust and disgust…my God, it’s almost invisible right about now.

“Don’t make me prove it to you,” he grunts. “Because I will, and you won’t want me to stop once I get started.”

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