Carmine

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“Fucking mess!” I grumble in frustration, not wanting to waste any time while I keep Eva’s legs restrained.

“Who are you talking to? Put me down!” She yells as she slams a girly fist into my back.

When I reach the oak tree, I bend over to set her on her feet and plant my palms against the tree at ear level, caging her in.

“I’m talking to you.” Lowering my head, I bring us face-to-face while she catches her breath. “You cock-block me, then I cock-block you.”

Her chest rises and falls, almost touching mine, yet her disbelieving scowl is more penetrating than ever.

“Let me remind you that you provoked me.” I expect a comeback, yet she remains quiet, probably conjuring up a story, so I warn, “Or I can talk to Roman and reveal what I’ve found out from you, and I don’t think you’d like that.”

She tenses. “You wouldn’t...”

“Don’t test me. I saw you sneak out into the garden earlier tonight. What happened? Do you have my watch?”

“I didn’t get past the gate.” She trembles as the wind howls.

“Where were you during dinner then?”

“Washing up.”

“And my watch?”

“Like I told you, I’ll get it when I can get out.”

“Then what the hell was that with Gwen all about?”

“Nothing. All that’s going on is that Roman appoints escorts to men to make the most money he can.”

I believe her, partly. “You know what I think?”

“I’m sure you’re going to tell me.”

“You and Roman have a plan and it keeps changing.”

For a moment, her grey eyes widen, betraying that my assumption is correct. Though that’s the extent of my knowledge. I’m still fishing in the dark as to what Roman’s intent is since our shipment is in Syndicate hands now and no other issues have arisen. I’m also beginning to see that Eva might not be easy to crack just as a female voice purrs, “Well, well, well, what do we have here?”

I pull back and Eva straightens as a curvy blonde comes strutting up to us. For a second, Eva and I look at each other before she flanks me.

“What do you want, Diana?” she demands.

Diana’s suspicious gaze moves back and forth between us, and she sends me a coy smile that has no effect on me whatsoever. “What are you up to, Eva?”

I’m getting aggravated, but so is Eva, evidently, because she sneers, “Just say what you heard and what you want. I’m not in the mood for games.”

“I heard that you and Roman have a plan and you were about to tell Carmine. How much is it worth to you two for me to keep quiet?”

Eva’s lips thin into a hard line, yet I grin, motioning to the girl while turning incredulously to Eva. “Is she blackmailing us?”

At first, she frowns, but then it changes into a knowing smile. “I think she is.”

“I don’t like it.” I pin my stare on the girl, who shrinks back.

Eva follows my lead perfectly, much to my surprise. “Me either.”

Raking one hand through my hair, I point out in a low voice, “See, even if you’d caught me fucking Eva buck naked here on the grass, you still wouldn’t have anything on us. Because I’m not one of those politicians or small-time criminals in there. You just targeted the wrong man.”

I step forward and when she edges back, Eva grabs her arm and we share a smile for a moment.

“I have a friend.” Reaching around my back, I grab my gun and hold it up, causing her to freeze as I stop in front of Diana. “His name is Smith & Wesson.” She gasps when I place the barrel against her temple. “And from now on, there’s one bullet reserved for you if Roman hears anything about this conversation. So you better make sure he never finds out that I spoke to Eva out here, because if he does, I’ll blame you, whether it’s your fault or not.”

Her unsteady demeanor proves that she’s lost her bravado.

“Don’t make the mistake of thinking I’m the kind of man who’ll be lenient with a woman. I will kill you without hesitation if you meddle in my business again.” I glance at Eva. “She can vouch for that.” To which Eva nods, and I smirk. “Do you understand me?”

Her head bobs up and down, so I move back and Eva releases her with a jolt as I say to Eva, “Well, Roman does know how to get the most infuriating escorts in Chicago at his party.”

She shows her teeth, and then we realize that the woman is still standing in the same spot, petrified.

We look at her, and I gesture toward the house with my gun. “Run along, girl.”

With a shiver, she spins around and flees into the mansion.

As I stash my weapon in the back of my waistband, I relay, “Now, how should I deal with my most annoying prey...”

Eva’s smile fades instantly as the tension rises again, and I admit without thinking, “Even though you believe I’m an ass, I think you’re sexy when you threaten someone.”

Her brows hit her hairline in disbelief, and a hint of amusement crosses her face before she masks it. And I realize that at certain moments, I’m being too familiar with her, so I add, “Make no mistake, this little display has no bearing on our situation. If you’re setting me up for something with Roman, I’ll kill you too, without a second thought.”

Her throat works. “I don’t know what his plan is. I’m being honest when I say that he just tells us who to seduce, and tonight, I had to seduce you. I don’t know why he summoned me out here to talk to him either.”

This is the most she’s revealed to me, and I wonder if I’ve gotten to her with our game with Diana.

“I’ll ask you one more time; what was that with Gwen?”

“That was me wanting to inform you that I don’t have your watch yet.”

“Well, how considerate of you.” I shift closer again until she hits the tree. “And to seduce me because Roman told you to, apparently. So what’s your offer for a night of pleasure then?”

“Why? You don’t even like me,” she retorts, jutting her chin out.

I see her lips quivering, yet she stands her ground, enticing me in her tight dress, the swell of her breasts exposed since her purple jacket hangs open.

“The fact that I don’t like you has nothing to do with whether I want to fuck you or not. Clearly”—I push my front against hers, making her pant—“my cock has other plans.”

To my amazement, she goes on her tiptoes, and when my dick twitches, she smiles.

“Fine then. If you want to go to my room, we can,” she answers against my mouth, and I contemplate the proposition.

Eva’s proving to be much more of a challenge than I anticipated. Furthermore, my instinct is screaming at me that she has ulterior motives, and since I can’t foresee why she needs me in her room, I decide not to take her up on her offer in order to avoid possibly finding myself in a vulnerable position. But this elusive ingénue intrigues me more than I care to admit, so instead of backing off, I bite her lower lip and release it slowly, toying with her until she arches her back in response. Then I step away from her and adjust my slacks, pushing my carnal reaction to her from my mind and pivoting around without another word. I abhor that this perfect stranger can affect me this way.

“Where are you going?” she calls after me.

“You’re too eager, so I’m not playing along,” I reply in all honesty, reclaiming the upper hand – I’ll find her when I want my watch. “I’m going to Gwen because she’s much easier to break than you.”

“Is that a compliment?” she counters defiantly.

“Not really,” I throw back and she chuckles.

Inwardly, I berate myself for always responding to her and allowing her to provoke me to the point where I lose control over a conversation.

As I walk away, I hear her footsteps treading behind me. One of us constantly seems to be following the other.