Page 18 of Hook

The interior of Vincenzo’s is exactly what I’d expect from Piero. The marble floors are intricately designed and filled with stunning detail that one can only appreciate in person, but must have cost an arm and a leg. Large glass chandeliers hang from above, illuminating each piece of expensive and original artwork with a soft glow that further heightens their beauty.

My attention shifts away from the decor and I scan the room for Gwendolyne. The treasure who has captivated my mind ever since we met two weeks ago. I haven’t been able to stop replaying the kisses we’ve shared or the way she came apart so beautifully on my face in her hotel room.

As I enter the main dining hall, I scan the room and instantly my eyes snag on her. I move toward the bar, unable to tear my gaze away. I want her in a way I’ve never wanted a woman. She’s pure and angelic and everything I’m not.

Gwendolyne Tesoro has the ability to shock me each time I see her with her beauty. She’s dressed elegantly in a light pink dress that hugs her curves. Her cheeks are flushed and her emerald green eyes sparkle like gems. She looks angelic with the light from the chandeliers glinting off her luminous skin, casting a warm glow around her. And I’m as sure as I was when I first met her. She’s a rare and precious gem worth stealing.

I can tell she’s nervous; she’s twisting a napkin between her fingers and tapping her foot nervously on the floor beneath the table.

I can’t stem the dark need to devour her whole and spit her out, devoid of all the light she emanates now. My cock is hard, as the memories of our meetings flash through my mind. Particularly her spread on her hotel bed with her thighs wide apart while I devoured her pretty cunt.

I sit at the bar, watching her from afar and scanning the room, making sure Piero isn’t here. My eyes snag on his second-in-command, Tino, disappearing into the back room.

Fuck.

He is a complication I didn’t need, but if he stays out back he shouldn’t cause any problems. All I need is one moment when she’s alone and unprotected to steal her away before anyone has time to realize what’s happened.

As always, her bodyguard isn’t doing his job. He’s chatting up two women at the bar while Gwen sits alone. And despite the fact that her security has doubled since the night at the hotel, the second bodyguard isn’t here. Perhaps she didn’t want him here with Piero meeting her, as it would arouse his suspicion.

After a few minutes, her eyes snap in my direction and all the blood in my body rushes south. They meet mine, the emerald green even more intense when her gaze is directed at me. I swallow hard, clenching my fists by my side.

Her eyes flash with desire and recognition for a moment, but that’s quickly replaced with annoyance. She glances away from me in an attempt to hide the blush creeping up her neck and into her cheeks.

I bet she’s soaking wet at the sight of me. It’s surprising she hasn’t stood and approched me, but she thinks she’s meeting Piero here. Which means she wouldn’t want him running into the man who licked her to climax only three nights ago.

Shaking my head, I clear the dirty thoughts from my mind. I need to focus. Not only does this form part of my revenge plan, if she were to marry Piero it would link the Los Angeles and San Diego Italian outfits, making life difficult for me. Jovani, her father, is my rival in the city and his power would increase exponentially.

How am I going to get her alone?

I can’t take my eyes off of her, even as she looks again to find me staring at her still. And I see desire and fear in her expression. She knows that I’m not like Piero, that I’m a different breed of danger altogether. She’s right to be scared after our previous encounters, because I’m going to steal her tonight and she’s never going to escape.

The thought of dragging her away from here and taking her back to my home makes my veins hum with excitement. There’s a sense of anticipation in her eyes as she watches me back, and I wonder what my little princess is thinking. I wonder how dirty her mind can be. I wink at her, and that forces her eyes away as she blushes a darker red and focuses on her drink.

Tino returns from the back and I notice his eyes zero in on Gwen, his brow furrowing.

Shit.

I think my plan is about to get foiled. If he reveals to her that Piero is out of town and there’s no way he can be meeting her here, as the doctored voicemail requested, her suspicion will land on me.

Tino speaks to her and takes a seat. I need to get out of sight. When Gwendolyne realizes there’s a plot afoot to draw her here she’ll point fingers at the man who has been stalking her the past couple of weeks; me.

I walk toward the bathroom at speed, keeping my eyes on her as I take a path on the outside of the restaurant. Her eyes move to where I’d been standing and I realize that she’s talking about me.

“How’s it going, boss?” Smyth asks in my ear as I walk into the men’s restroom.

“Not so well. Tino has spotted Gwen and is with her now.”

“Fuck,” he says through the earpiece. “What are you going to do?”

“She’s been here awhile. The likelihood is she’ll use the bathroom before she leaves.”

“And if she doesn’t?”

I clench my jaw, as I don’t want to think of that eventuality. Piero is out of town until tomorrow, which means if she leaves, I have no choice but to try to get to her at The Ritz, where she’s staying. It won’t be easy, as she’s got more security with her. “I’ll think about it if we come to it.”

Smyth clears his throat. “Yes, sir. Let me know if you need anything.”

All I can do now is wait and see if Gwendolyne comes to the restroom. “Keep an eye out for her leaving the premises.”

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