Page 26 of Temptation
“They are to be released into the forest alive.”
The men nod their understanding, and Lorenzo turns to me.
“Anything you ask, Greta, it is yours.”
He takes a step closer to me, and his hot breath brushes my cheeks.
“But hear this. If any man hurts you again, whether you decide to stay with me or not, I will hunt them down and I will mete out justice. I’m a bad man, Greta, and I’ve done bad things. But for you, I’d raise hell.”
He turns on his heel and starts down the path, leaving me breathless and hot and so fucking confused.
12
GRETA
Like a fool I follow Lorenzo into the house and straight to the Sycamore suite. Sun streams through the window and glints against the metal of the cage, reminding me of the trick Lorenzo played on me to make me his captive.
But that was only for one night. The rest of the time I’ve stayed of my own free will.
He shuts the door behind me, and as soon as it’s closed, I turn on him.
“Tell me everything.”
Lorenzo eyes me warily. “Sit.”
He indicates the armchair in the corner of the room from where he likes to watch, and I sink into the plush velvet.
He pulls up one of the wooden chairs from the table and sits in front of me.
“What do you want to know, coniglietto?”
My mind whirls with all the questions.
“What does that mean?”
Coniglietto?” A smile plays at his lips. “Little rabbit. Because when you came to me you were like a lost bunny, innocent and soft, that needed protecting from the wolves.”
“Youarethe wolf,” I mutter.
Lorenzo cocks his head to one side. “Yes, I am, little coniglietto. I told you to be wary.”
He did. He warned me what I was getting into, but my stupid longing to shed my naiveté clouded my judgement. I thought he was a wealthy deviant hiding out in the woods, not mafia.
“Tell me about your family. What does it mean to be in the mafia, and why are you in the mountains?”
He holds his hand up. “One thing at a time, Greta.
“The Berone family came to America three generations ago. My great grandmother was so upset to leave the mountains of her homeland, and my great grandfather loved her so much that he came here to North Carolina to keep her happy. But he also saw an opportunity. These mountain passes border four states. They are unguarded routes for goods to travel through.”
My mind whirs at the information. It doesn’t sound so sinister. So far at least.
“What kind of goods?”
Lorenzo chuckles. “I can’t tell you all, coniglietto. That our business is in logistics is all you need to know. That’s all our women need to know.”
He purrs the words, and a thrill tingles all the way up the back of my spine. I like being called his woman.
“Your brothers?” I ask.
