“Yes,” I hissed.
Lorenzo inhaled, raking his eyes over me once again. “On what?”
“That’s confidential.”
“Your informant is dead, Sierra. Do I have to remind you of that?” He waited to see my reaction. He wasn’t going to get the satisfaction. “I’ll leave it alone for now. Did you drive to your location for the meeting?”
“Yes, of course,” I snapped, my skin tingling as well as crawling, the dichotomy throwing another surge of electricity dancing into every blood cell.
“Then why didn’t you have your keys or anything else with you?”
“Because I… I dropped everything as I was trying to get away.”
“Fascinating, but something doesn’t ring true here.” When I remained silent, he moved until he was standing in front of me.
“Okay, fine. I met Lucas in a bar several miles away. He insisted that I come with him. Are you happy now? Yes, I was stupid, but I had my gun with me.”
“A weapon.” He let me go, cursing under his breath. “Have you ever heard of the Movino cartel?”
I swallowed hard, trying to keep my composure. “Yes. Who hasn’t? I’m a reporter, for God’s sake. So what?”
“Then you know how dangerous they are.”
“Yes. Just as dangerous as you are and almost as ruthless.”
He seemed taken aback, a snarl curling on his upper lip. “While I may be a dangerous man, Sierra, my family and all the men in my organization have honor. That isn’t something I can say about the Movino clowns. They will kill indiscriminately for no reason other than sport. They enjoy slicing and dicing everyone who stands in their way. You have every right to be terrified, Sierra.”
“Fine. So I’m terrified. Is that what you want to hear?” I demanded.
“What I want, no. What I require is the truth from you. You asked for my help.”
I looked away, my legs quivering all over again.
“Allow me to continue. The man who is considered the leader is a vile creature, a man to be feared. He never personally handles his revenge, which is always savage; however, I do know several of his men likely to have completed the task. If you’re on the Movinos’ radar, you were right to come to me.” He walked around me in a complete circle, chuckling under his breath. “What did this killer look like, Sierra?”
“I don’t know. He was tall and blond. It was dark, for God’s sake. It just happened out of the blue. Lucas and I were talking then this guy approached from nowhere. He had a knife and I froze. It happened in a matter of seconds.” I was already shaking again, brought back into the ugliness. I was exasperated, my blood pressure rising.
He took a sip of his drink, his eyes now black as coal. “Did you notice anything about this man?”
“No. He was wearing dark clothes. Just some thug.” I thought about what I’d seen, the only light a single streetlamp at the end of the alley. A flash brought me back into the horror, seeing the man raising his arm. “A tattoo. He had a damn tattoo on his right arm.”
I could hear his breathing change and he walked closer. “What kind of a tattoo?”
“A dragon or something. I don’t know.”
He exhaled, the sound turned into a growl. “Well, Sierra, you were right. You made a serious mistake. The man you just described is none other than Axel Movino, aka the Serpent. Sunshine, you just signed your death warrant.”
I opened my mouth, but nothing would come out. Terror unlike anything I could imagine rushed through me like wildfire. I knew what the man was capable of. As I stumbled backward, Lorenzo caught me, pulling me against his chest. “What can I do?”
“I’m going to agree to help you, Sierra, because I’m the only man capable of doing so; however, that means you and I will enter into a deal.”
“A deal?” My mouth was dry, my throat closing in. As stars floated in front of my eyes, I knew exactly what he was going to say.
“I told you once before that I always make good on my promises. That remains true. I will keep you safe and protected, but you now belong to me. Forever. You will become mine to use and train, to fuck and to discipline until one day you beg me for more. And I’ll give you everything you desire, all the anguish and ecstasy as long as you obey me.”
“And if I don’t agree?” I dared to ask, shivering to my core.
He brushed his lips across my cheek, creating another wave of longing. When he whispered in my ear, his tone husky and unforgiving, I realized I’d challenged destiny and lost.
“Then there is no doubt that you’ll be dead within twenty-four hours.”
Only a strangled moan slipped past my lips because I knew he was right. I had no choice. There were no options.
“Now, the question is. Do you accept the terms of the deal?”
I thought about my life, all the visions I’d had for the future. They’d never included a dominating man, especially one like Lorenzo Francesco. But I did want to live. I tilted my head, staring him in the eyes, trying to find a tiny slice in his vicious armor. There would be no love in this twisted relationship, no sense of being allowed to be myself.
But I would remain alive.
So I made the decision to enter into a deal with the devil.
“Yes.”
“Then go back to your room, Sierra, and go to bed. Tomorrow, we will begin your training. Tomorrow, you will learn what it’s like to be owned.”
Lorenzo
I’d spent years around vile creatures, men who had no issue opening fire around innocent men and women simply to gun down an asshole who cut them off in traffic. I’d had bloodstains covering my face and hands more times than I could count, and the stench was something not easily forgotten.