Page 2 of Empire of Seduction

“If you say so. I’m headed outside. Call me if you need me.”

“Sounds good.”

Movement near the hallway caught my eye. A few men were striding into the tasting room, each dressed in an expensive overcoat, black leather gloves on his hands. They looked around suspiciously. Were these Secret Service agents?

Just then they stepped aside, parting, and a tall handsome man appeared.

Wait a fucking minute.

I knew this man. Had kissed every inch of this man’s body. Had let him kiss every inch of me in return.

My stomach dropped to my toes. What the hell? Vito washere. Why?

This made no sense. Why would my random casino hookup come to my winery? I hadn’t told him my last name or that I worked here. Was he stalking me? It wouldn’t be the first time, unfortunately. A few former hookups had tracked me down, eager for another round and trying to break my firm no-repeats rule.

Not cool, Vito.I stepped forward, ready for battle.

“What are you doing here?” Mikey and I both asked at the same time.

Then we looked over at each other, surprised. “Wait, how do you know him?” Mikey whispered.

“How doyouknow him?” I shot back.

We both regarded our visitor once more. Sharp blue eyes bored into my soul from across the room. I thought for a second that Vito looked surprised, but I couldn’t be sure. His face remained an inscrutable mask of indifference.

“How did you find me?” I called out as I took a step forward.

I received no answer. Instead, Vito slowly turned his attention to my brother. “Signore Fiorentino. You have been avoiding my calls.”

Hold on now.Vito had been trying to call Mikey?

What the fuck was happening?

Brain spinning, I held up my palms. “Wait a minute. How do you two know each other?”

“Go outside, Mags,” my brother said quietly. “Let me handle this.”

“No way.” I didn’t know if Vito had followed me here or why he was calling my brother, but I was going to find out.

Vito’s long legs started toward us. His brown hair was tamed with product at the moment, but I remembered how thick and lush it felt on my fingertips. How I’d grabbed a fistful of it as he ate me out with abandon. God, that man’s mouth . . . and coupled with his enthusiasm? Off the fucking charts.

The night we met he was wearing jeans and a sweater, nothing fancy. Now he wore a very impressive dark blue suit under his long black overcoat, as well as leather gloves. The outfit, along with his cool exterior, gave off a “don’t fuck with me” vibe and I liked it.Reallyliked it.

But I didn’t want to have this conversation in front of the employees. Or worse, in front of my brother.

I darted forward and caught Vito halfway across the room. “Hey.” I stopped directly in his path. Halting, he stared down at me. Softly, I said, “Look, I’m not sure what you’re doing here, but maybe we could go speak privately in one of the other rooms.”

“Ciao, Maggie.” His voice was so very deep, laced with the lyrical quality of the Italian cadence. I remembered him whispering all sorts of Italian words in my ear the other night. I didn’t understand most of it, but who cared? It was hot as hell.

“Ciao, yourself.” I took his arm. “Come with me.”

He didn’t budge, even when I tugged. “I am not here to see you.”

“I don’t understand.” I peeked behind him and caught the men in his group watching us carefully. They seemedwary, attentive. Borderline scary. “What do you want with my brother?”

“Maggie.” My brother was right behind me, his expression pleading. “Give us a minute, please.”

No way was I leaving, not until I had answers. “Let’s go to the office. Right now. Both of you.”

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