"At least I wanted to know the truth, something you wouldn't understand."
Hissing, he shook his head. "While I understand your continued animosity toward me and the situation, you need to remember that I didn't cause this issue."
"Yes. I am painfully aware of that given you continue to remind me."
After a few seconds, he placed his hand on the back of my neck, squeezing gently. "I'm not a man who handles comforting anyone very well. That's not who I am, but this will all work out one way or the other."
"Tell me how, Lorenzo. Explain to me how anything is going to work out."
"I take care of my own."
I closed my eyes, fighting the building anger. Arguing with him wasn't going to do me any good. "That's right. You own me."
"Enough, Sierra."
His voice boomed throughout the room. I chewed on my lower lip, suppressing my nerves and my retaliatory remarks.
He patted my ass, making me jump. "Were you a good girl?"
"I... Yes. I'm wearing the damn plug. Okay?"
"I need to examine," he commented as if he was asking me to hand over an email I'd written or something equally as benign.
"You're serious."
"I am."
I cinched my eyes shut, angrier than ever that he'd put me in this kind of position. Damn him. Damn this entire situation. But I did as I was told, lowering my sweatpants and praying that one of his brawny security guards didn't walk in. I'd been humiliated enough by that sort of thing already.
"Bend over and spread your ass cheeks."
I hated the fact his husky voice sent another wave of chills sliding into every cell and muscle. Even my nipples were fully erect, aching as I bent over, the thin material of the tee shirt sliding across my hardened buds. I was shaking as I reached behind me, certain I was going to fall flat on my face. I kept my eyes shut, trying my best not to scream out obscenities as I obeyed him. A cool rush of air swept across my naked and exposed buttocks while heat rose from my neck to my jaw.
The moment Lorenzo merely touched the plug I couldn't hold back a moan.
"Relax, doll. I'm proud of you," he whispered in a rugged and dangerous tone as he twisted the plug a few times, tugging then pushing inside not once but twice.
Proud. The word didn't fit this scenario.
"We'll keep the smaller one in for a couple of days then move up in size."
Was he fucking kidding me? I'd die first.
"That's all I needed."
I jerked to a standing position, stumbling forward and yanking the pants back in place. I wasn't certain I could look him in the eyes ever again.
"Now, it's time for you to tell me everything that Lucas said to you," he stated as if the inspection had never happened. He moved toward the cabinet, humming. The fucker was actually humming some ridiculous tune.
I noticed his reflection, the man dressed impeccably in a dark suit. "Are you going somewhere?" I shot off the question with disdain in my voice.
"A business meeting."
"With whom?"
"Don't ask questions that you don't want the answers to, Sierra. My business is obviously something that frightens and disgusts you. There will be two of my best soldiers outside as security. They are well trained."
"Of course there will be. As I said, I'm just your prisoner."
He didn't bother answering, merely filling another wineglass before leaning against the kitchen island. "I'm not your enemy but the only way that I can help you is if you provide details of last night. And I won't remind you again that you came to me. A deal was struck and we aren't going to talk about the incident."
He was right. My error in judgment would haunt me for years to come. "What do you want to know?"
"Look at me," he commanded.
My grip on the wineglass increased but I did as I was told, giving him a hard stare. Why did he have to be so damn good-looking? Impeccable. Rugged.
Butterflies floated in my stomach from the sight of him in his freshly laundered suit and bold red tie. The crisp white shirt indicated whatever meeting he was attending required his dominance. He was so rugged, handsome in every aspect even though he was still rough around the edges. He was a true Italian, a man who knew his worth, grabbing every man's and woman's attention the moment he walked into a room. So strong. So virile.
So damn sexy.
"Details of the night as well as what your relationship was with Lucas, the names he spewed off as being involved with the Movinos."
"I didn't have a relationship with him. He called me out of the blue one night. I didn't know who he was at the time. It took several phone calls before he'd even agree to meet with me. I also think he was insinuating that there are other acts of dishonesty going on. He was too excited, too certain that the city would blow wide open."
"Why did he call you?"
"I don't know. I'd been trying to get into more criminal investigations, but mostly my work was benign at best. I had a couple pieces that didn't seem to go anywhere."