Eva

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When the patio lights up, Carmine dashes to the side, into his own bedroom – I presume. I let out the breath I’ve been holding, a bit proud that I had the guts to defy him until a knock has me jumping in my spot. Scooting to the right, I stand motionless in front of the connecting door, and when Carmine thumps again, I startle for a second time and grumble in frustration. I need him to just leave me alone because I don’t know how to deal with him until I can return his watch.

While I’m cursing him out inwardly, the other door is suddenly smashed open and Roman enters. His swagger makes me think he might be drunk, and I pray to a God I don’t even believe in that Carmine remains quiet as dread flares inside me.

Roman signals at me dismissively. “You have to be at the main party tomorrow in the living room.” As he pauses, he grins in the cruelest manner. “You’ll be a prize at the auction, but the same rules apply. I’ll share you with anyone except Carmine.”

“Okay,” I reply hurriedly to appease him.

Thank goodness, he nods and lets himself out of the room just as quickly as he came in, so I flip the lock before rushing back to the connecting door. Placing my palms against the wooden surface, I listen for any movement.

“I know you’re standing there, Eva,” Carmine’s voice booms through the wall, making me jump backward.

My god, this guy is so intuitive and stealthy that it’s scary.

“Shit, shit, shit!” I angrily wipe the strands of hair from my forehead.

He’s now ruined any chance I had of sneaking out of the mansion to retrieve his watch and get him off my back. Grabbing my phone from the nightstand beside the framed bed, I call one of the few numbers I have stored in my contact list.

“Good evening, Orchard Children’s Institute.”

“Kayley, it’s me,” I greet my friend, who’s the receptionist working the night shift.

“Hey. I thought you’d come by tonight.”

“I was planning to, but I can’t get away. How’s he doing?”

“I had already told him you’d visit tonight, so he was upset earlier because he doesn’t like it when his routine is interrupted.”

Guilt fills me, yet there’s nothing I can do to make the circumstances any better. “I don’t know when or if I can get away. Did he go to sleep?”

“Yes, he did. And I’m working until eight tomorrow, so I’ll be here when he wakes up.”

“Okay. Thank you.”

“I don’t mind. But, Eva, be careful, okay?”

“I will.”

“Bye.” She ends the call, and I collapse backward onto the beige duvet.

After a frenzied half hour, my scattered thoughts begin to collect. Apparently, there’s a past between Roman, Gwen, and Carmine, and Roman has some kind of plan for Carmine.

Unfortunately, my mind strays to only Carmine and how enchanting it was to be up close and personal to a man like him. I couldn’t help noticing the strength in his posture while he effortlessly kept me trapped against the tree, how unwarranted warmth pooled in my belly. And I completely understand Roman’s need for women to avoid him, because the enigmatic pull Carmine has on the opposite sex is something I can’t deny. Somehow, Carmine is as dangerous as he is striking, and he appears to damn well know it.

Pressing my eyelids closed, I try to ban him from my brain since he has trouble written all over him, and I start to grasp what a risky game these men are playing. A game that I’m a part of now. A game where none of the rules are clear to me. But I need the money and decide to stick to my initial plan, which is to avoid Carmine until I can give him his watch and then get my payment from Roman as soon as this party is over. Afterward, I’ll never have to see either of them again.

***

All morning long, I don’t cross paths with a certain Italian man whose good looks are equaled only by his arrogance. Yet I’m still apprehensive for my own safety when I enter the sunken living room in a tight marine blue maxi dress with spaghetti straps and a split, which is clearly the attire for the day, because all the women are in a similar dress in a range of colors. Everyone’s situated around a long table that’s set up by the glass windows, and I read the place cards, sitting down when I find my name. I have no idea what’s going to happen, but since I’m anxious, I slide the knife next to my plate into my lap and hide it along the inside of my thigh, slipping it into the top of my black stockings. Then I inhale an encouraging breath and glance at the cards on either side of me, seeing unfamiliar names.

At that moment, the place card to my left is replaced with another one that reads Carmine Montesi, and as my gaze shoots up, Carmine plops down next to me.

“I’m here to collect your debt,” he says, unbuttoning his perfectly tailored navy suit jacket that’s complemented with a red power tie, and his brown hair is brushed back with gel, yet it remains an attractive, untamed mess.

“You have got to be kidding me,” I grumble out loud.

A wicked smile edges his lips. “That seems to be your common reaction to my presence.”

“You heard me that night?”

“I did. But I was curious as to what you would do. This was before I met you, obviously,” he insults.

“Why can’t you just leave me alone?”

“Because you become more interesting with every encounter,” he answers as the crowd gathers around the table and everyone’s lost in their own conversation.

Unexpectedly, he grabs the arms of my chair, rotates it a quarter, and traps my legs between his.

“What are you doing?” I try to slap his hands away, but he seizes my wrist easily, expelling an annoyed sigh.

Then he skims his palm underneath my dress and up my stocking, leaving a hot trail on my skin until he reaches the knife, and a devilish smirk spreads across his face.

“What did you take from the table, Eva?”

As he circles the pad of his thumb over my thigh, his touch inflames my nerves. An involuntary shiver of pleasure rocks my body, but I refuse to be moved. I very well realize that I’ve dug a bigger hole for myself, and I gulp in nervousness.

Because Roman could come into the living room at any second.