I knew what my body had felt when I was on my knees in front of him, even as waves of humiliation surged through me. "Yes," I told him honestly. "Or at least I was before tonight." I couldn't resist adding that little dig at his behavior, even though I didn't know why I would've expected anything more from him. From what I'd heard, he was a made man. Not born into this life. He'd had to work harder, fight harder, to get where he was. And as I knew well, mafia men took what they wanted with little thought to the consequences of their actions. Why would he be any exception?
I wasn't expecting him to own up to what he'd done, but again, he surprised me. "I told you, I couldn't get you out of my fucking head, Sera." He sounded angry, but I wasn't sure if it was at me or at himself.
It wasn't anywhere near an apology, but it was probably as close as I was going to get.
His tone had gentled again when he said, "I'm not always a gentleman, Sera. But I swear you'll be safe with me. No one will hurt you while I'm around to protect you." He waited a moment for me to take that in. "I know you stand up for yourself. It's gotten you this far, and I respect that about you even as it drives me completely insane. But you don't really want to go back to your father, do you? So he can marry you off to some stronzo who'll parade you around in front of his friends and beat you when you don't have dinner ready on time?"
I shook my head. "No," I admitted, finally bringing myself to look at him. "I really don't. But I also don't want to trade one prison for another. You can't just throw money at me and expect me to have sex with you."
"Why not? That's what you were here for the other night, were you not?"
Yes, that's exactly why I'd been there, but still... "That was different."
"Why?"
Why? "Because it was my choice to be here."
Reaching over, he took one of my hands in his and brought it over to his lap where he rested our joined hands on his thigh. "Alright," he said. "I'll give you the choice. So, here is my offer. If you agree to stay with me, I won't tell anyone that you're here. Not even my closest friends. I'll keep you safe. And, when things have run their course between us, I'll give you the money to go wherever you want and start a brand-new life. I'll help you change your name, buy you anything you need, and you can forget all about me and your father and everyone else in this world if you want."
Like any offer, this one sounded too good to be true. I had to ask, "And what exactly do I have to do in return? Will I be locked in this room for you to use whenever you want?"
His eyes narrowed in warning. "You won't be locked in this room unless you force me to do so. I'd like this to be an agreement between us, Sera. You'll be allowed to live your life, as long as you are careful. You can continue to work at the club if you'd like. You can have your friends. You can even stay wherever you're living like you've been doing because I can't always be here at night, and no one would think to look for you there. However"-his eyes clashed with mine-"on the other side of it, you will make yourself available to me whenever you're not working. I'll expect you to answer your phone when I call. I don't care where you are or what you're doing. And I'll give you a burner phone to use when you talk to me. And when I summon you here, or anywhere, you come without question. And you won't pursue the escort business. I do not share, Sera."
No, he was too possessive. I could tell that already. And it raised a lot of red flags. "And what will you do with me while I'm with you?"
"Whatever the fuck I want to," he said darkly. "But I promise you, it'll be pleasurable for you, too. If you allow it to be. I won't beat you or sell you out to other men. As a matter of fact, I have no qualms about cutting off the hands of any man who dares to touch you, with or without your permission."
I wasn't even shocked by that statement. Not because I didn't believe him, I did. But because even locked in my father's home, I overheard things. I knew how men like Enzo worked. "And for how long will I need to do this?" I thought this was a pertinent question. He still frightened me, but I could also see the honesty of what he said in his eyes. And if he truly meant what he was telling me, it didn't sound like the worst arrangement in the world. Especially if it would get me out of the reach of my father. Enzo would tire of me sooner or later, and then I would be free.
I thought I detected a pause, but then he said, "As long as it takes."
"For what? For you to rape me every night?"
Enzo cocked his head, then shoved his hand under my dress and cupped my pussy over my ruffled panties as I tried to push him away. "I can feel how wet you are, Sera. I saw you squirming for my touch even as you held yourself so fucking stiff while you watched me get off. I heard the sounds you made when you tasted my come. Don't try to pretend that you're not aching to have my cock inside of you."
He was right. There was no use lying about it while my legs were spreading apart of their own accord to give him more room to maneuver. But instead of giving me what I needed, he gave me a squeeze and pulled his hand away.
I clenched the bedspread and tried to slow my breathing. Fine. But just to knock him down a few pegs, I asked, "And what if, after, we..." I couldn't bring myself to say the words. "I decide I don't want to continue with this agreement."
I watched, fascinated, as the corners of his mouth turned up and creases formed along his cheeks, revealing strong white teeth and crinkles around the corners of his eyes. His smile took the breath from my lungs and made my heart pound.
"That won't happen," he told me.
I scowled at his oversized ego. "You seem pretty damn sure of yourself."
"I'm good at what I do. At everything I do. You won't regret allowing me to fuck you, Sera."
My eyes wandered over to the gun on the nightstand and I mentally counted how long it would take me to grab it and insert the clip, but I quickly discarded the idea. And not just because I knew I wouldn't be able to get to it before him, but because I felt strangely guilty for having the idea to begin with.
Tearing my eyes away from the weapon, I looked back over at Enzo to find him watching me, his expression completely blank even though he had to know what I'd just been thinking.
"So, what do you say?" he asked. "Do we have an agreement?"
My mind raced. I didn't want to agree with this. Making a deal with Enzo felt like I was turning over my body to the devil himself. But it wasn't like he was giving me a choice. It was either play along with him on his terms and have a little freedom or be locked in this room. Because let's be honest here, sending me back to my father wasn't really even on the table, no matter what he said. For whatever reason, Enzo wanted me for himself, and when it was done, I would be rid of my virginity, and I'd have money to start over wherever I wanted to go.
There was really only one answer I could give here. But first, because I was a practical girl, I had a question. "How much money are we talking about, exactly?"