Page 31 of Sinfully Savage Mafia

I took back control.

Only now do I feel like myself again.

And I finally got the release I needed.

“Don’t ever touch me again,” I say quietly. “And don’t fool yourself into thinking that I’m not a worthy opponent.” I step closer to where he’s bent over. I can’t be sure, but I think the psycho is laughing. I hope to God it’s tears of pain. I know I didn’t break anything, but I’m hoping I caused a world of hurt that will stay with him. “I always win, Villani. At the end of the game, it’s always me with the fucking trophy. Just remember that if you think you’re going to screw around with things that don’t belong to you.”

I turn my back on him, ready to yank open the door, and then I turn back around, tapping a finger on my cheek.

“Oh, shoot, you know what?” I say, not bothering to bite back a self-satisfied smile as a mask of anger shadows his features. “I didn’t ask permission to touch, now did I? Guess I broke the rules.”

“You have no idea,” he says, straightening up.

“IknowI didn’t come here to get fucked. I came here to do the fucking.”

Mission accomplished.

Well, almost.

“And if you don’t want me to break your wrist next time, and you’d like to keep your cock and balls, I’d suggest you stay far away from my family.”

The man moves fast. And his hand, the one I hurt, slams against the door as I reach for it. I almost wince at what that must have cost him. But I remind myself I don’t give a shit.

“Out of my way, Villani.”

“You think you’ve won, Heaven. But you might not like the prize.”

And then he steps out of the way and I leave, slamming the door behind me.

I’ve got a horrible feeling he just might be right.

CHAPTER5

MATTEO

The front door slams shut in my SoHo triplex that overlooks Greene Street. If I bothered to look out one of the floor-to-ceiling windows I’d see, like I do every day, all the exclusive stores such as Tiffany and the kind of apparel stores so impossibly on trend that people line up to get in to them.

But I don’t look outside. I’m too focused on other things right now to be bothered. I turn my hand, the pull in my wrist where Heaven strained it a sharp reminder of her intriguing claws.

It’s a mild sprain, one that will clear up in a matter of days. That’s not why I wrapped it. I wound the elastic bandage on my wrist for two reasons.

One, to remind myself I’m not infallible. I should have seen that base move coming. Two, it makes me seem…not weak, never that, but for the Mulligans, it adds a level of humanity, and will reinforce their belief they’re getting the better end of the deal.

Heaven couldn’t have given me a better gift if I’d orchestrated it myself.

I’m not exactly pleased it happened in the way it did. But it gives me a glimpse into her. The more I know, the easier it will be to manipulate her into what I need her to be.

Her attempt to injure me only heightens the game, increases my coming pleasure in crushing her and her family into dust, and sweetens my upcoming victories.

Pounding steps grow louder as they reach the large living room, then stop right near me. The smell of rich, bitter coffee tempts. “Plotting to take over the world?”

My youngest brother Roman throws himself into the leather chair opposite me with Italian-style drama. He manages, of course, to not spill a drop of what I’m surmising is a triple macchiato, his new favorite.

“Details are always worth pondering, Roman.”

“Especially if they’re pretty with long red hair.” He snickers and tosses a white bag onto the coffee table, and the scent of sugar and fried dough wafts up from the bag.

I stretch my fingers and close them into a fist. “The good things are worth it, and I won’t deny the packaging helps. But she’s a stepping stone to victory, that’s all.”

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