Snow dusts my jacket as I walk down the white street. Heaps of fresh white pile on the sidewalk, and it’s fucking freezing. My toes are numb. The cold air stings my eyes and the white burns.

But it’s beautiful.

I brush my cotton gloves over a dusting of powder, and immediately regret it when it soaks through, stinging my fingertips. I walk past brownstones, and see a brilliant splash of red on some fresh snow. It looks like juice, but it reminds me of blood.

Then I think of how beautiful it would look—my body on the snow, a halo of red around my head. The irony makes me smile.

What the fuck is wrong with me?

Everything just feels surreal. These last few months felt like a practical joke. I’m aware that I should be worried for myself. I should race down these frozen streets and ask Tommy for a gun, or hell, just keep running. Something that might give me a fighting chance at survival.

Is it crazy that last night is the only thing I want to think about?

The moment I saw him in the bar, I wanted him. Yeah, he’s just another bad boy—a wise guy who’s going to chew me up and spit me out, just like Rafael did. At least he had the decency to be honest with me. You can’t say that about most men. Usually they ignore you because they don’t even think you’re worthy of dealing with.

I didn’t care, though. It was instant fire through my veins, the moment I locked eyes with him. He had an amazing body—ripped, and he used it like a pro. He wanted me to get off. He enjoyed it.

Beyond that, I didn’t really think it through. I thought that if I went home with him, at least I’d be safe for one night.

What a crazy night. My face burns when I think about how he utterly destroyed all my expectations. He was so fucking good. I felt like I was floating on clouds the whole time, but it wasn’t anything more than a great night. It would always be just one night.

I mull him over, unable to cool the burn that spreads over my skin. I can’t stop thinking about those eyes full of sin and his devilish smile, hinting that he’s nothing but trouble. Tony is the kind of bad boy I always lusted after, until I realized just how bad they really are.

Forget about him.

It would be easier to forget how to breathe.

Why am I lusting after a one-night stand when I have bigger issues?

After taking a chain of subways, I’m back at my apartment. Fear prickles all over my skin as I stare up at it.

He might be waiting for me.

Then I finally turn my phone on and there are about twenty text messages from Rafael. I blow out a frustrated gust of white into the crisp air. He’s either here or not. I’m out of options and it’s hard to care anymore. I could barely get a stranger to let me stay the night, even though there’s a fucking psycho gunning for me.

Maybe this is the punishment I get for being spoiled my whole life, and doing nothing to earn a single dime. I never really achieved anything. I graduated high school by the skin of my teeth and fucked around in college, wasting Daddy’s money as I tried to figure out what I wanted to do with my life. I never figured it out. The next stepping stone was always marriage, and shortly after, kids. It’s what they expected from me. It’s what all good Italian girls did, and I have to admit that I didn’t really mind settling in that role. Why did people always want to make me feel bad for wanting a simple life?

Rafael seemed like a great candidate. My dad approved of him, which was hard enough to get, and he was Italian. Worked in the same “business” as Dad. It didn’t even occur to me that he would change after we moved in together.

If Dad was alive, I wouldn’t know what to say to him. I can’t even think about him without feeling a mixture of guilt and betrayal. He sold us out, and for what? To get killed anyway.

Maybe I deserve this.

My feet are like lead as I climb up the stone steps. There’s another set of footprints leading to my apartment, but I don’t care. Fuck it all. My mother is a hollow shell and my own sister resents me. There’s just nothing left anymore. Just a bag of money my dear old Dad left for me.

At the top of the stairs, a small voice whispers in my ear.

There’s still time to make something of your life.

Tony’s hands wrap around my waist and his mouth covers mine. I see that wry smile on his lips as I sit on his lap, straddling his legs. Heat rushes to my face as my heart pounds like a drum, vibrating my whole chest.

Isn’t it worth chasing that feeling instead of giving yourself over to that asshole?

Too late.

My hand trembles on the doorknob, and I push it open. I know that it’s already unlocked.

A scene of devastation greets my eyes. Everything standing is tipped over—every chair and stick of furniture. There’s a vase smashed on the floor. The water darkens the hardwood.

“Fuck!”

My face burns as I walk inside, slamming the door. I pick up the phone and immediately dial the emergency number.

“Someone broke into my house.”

I rattle off the address, and then I carry the phone with me. It trembles in my hand as the operator tries to comfort me.

“Miss, you need to get to a safe place. You need to leave the apartment.”

But I can’t fucking leave. All my possessions are here, everything I bought with the thousands of dollars I brought with me. What a fucking jerk. What a loser.

Every drawer is yanked out, its contents spilled on the floor. I whimper as I step inside my bedroom. Every stitch of clothing is ruined, ripped in half, or otherwise flung to the floor in discarded piles. I bend over and touch the blouses I just bought, their colors bleeding together.

“Hello, Elena.”

I whirl around, red in the face and furious. My body bumps into his leather chest and I scream, my heart rate jacked. The murderous look doesn’t faze me.

“Get out of my fucking house!”

I flinch at the noise of leather squeaking as he lifts his hand and touches my face. “I’m not leaving without you and my money.”

“Yeah, I don’t think so.”

“Listen to me, you little twat. You’re going to bring me to wherever the fuck you stashed the money, and then I’m taking you back to where you belong.”

I shove his chest with both hands, and for a moment he looks incredulous. I don’t think he ever believed I would fight back.

“You listen to me. We are done and you are not getting a cent of that money!”

It’s like some kind of bizarre dance. I back away, and he advances. His hip bumps into mine until the backs of my legs hit the bed.

He grabs my face and shoves me backward. My back hits the mattress hard and I try to scramble to my feet, heart racing, but he places his hand on my shoulder and presses down. He’s so strong that he doesn’t have to try very hard.

Fucking asshole.

Rafael lowers his head, the lines under his eyes like dark scars. “You’re coming back to New York with me, right after you give me my money.”

“Never going to fucking happen, you psycho.”

My face screws up in pain before the blow comes, but a soft hand caresses me. I open my eyes in surprise.

“Ah, Elena. I missed this.”

Then a violent force smashes my jaw and stars erupt in my vision. I roll on the wooden floor, my head splitting into two. My skin burns, but nothing compares to the pain of my humiliation. I’m so fucking tired of falling—of just taking it and never saying a word.

“Where the fuck were you last night, huh?”

“None of your damn business.”

“You were fucking some other guy, weren’t you?”

I say nothing.

His face twists in rage. “You fucking whore!”

He aims a boot toward my ribs, but I spring to my feet and grab the closest thing—a crystal paperweight on my nightstand that I use for decoration—and I hurl it into his face. Rafael clutches his nose and screams, and I jump on the bed, bouncing toward the entrance.

It was so fucking stupid to come back here.

My feet pound the wooden floorboards as I race down the hallway. His heavy footsteps tell me that he’s not far behind. My voice stabs my ears as I scream down the hall, hoping that someone, anyone, will hear me.

“HELP ME!”

“FUCKING CUNT!”

A violent force rips me backward as Rafael takes the back of my collar and wrenches me. My hands fly out in front of me, trying to grab something to break his hold on me, but he’s too fucking strong. A surge of self-hatred for my weak body makes me scream, and then my side crashes against the wall, shattering a photograph.

“Arrêtez!”

A volley of French voices makes Rafael freeze behind me, his hands still balled in my hair. “Mind your own fucking business!”

Two men stream inside the apartment, guns drawn. I flatten against the wall, but Rafael advances toward them.

Please, shoot him. Please.

“This is none of your fucking business!”

One of the cops raises his gun to Rafael’s chest. “HANDS BEHIND YOUR FUCKING HEAD!”

I place my hands behind my head, trembling as they tackle Rafael against the wall. His head crushes against the plaster. He gives me a look of potent rage. It’s more than that, though. He just looks—evil. There’s nothing behind those eyes but ill will.

He won’t stop until I’m buried in the ground.

“Mademoiselle—Miss, are you okay?”

The cop touches my shoulder, giving me a puzzled look. I swallow hard and let my hands drop from my head as a snarling Rafael is dragged outside.

“BITCH!”

I flinch at the angry sound.

“Miss, you want to press charges?”

I gaze around at my apartment, which looks as though a tornado blew through it. I’d like nothing better than to see that fucker locked up, but I know that he’ll just come after me once he gets out. Or his boss might do it for him.

Numbly, I shake my head. “No.”

The disappointment on his face gives me a guilty squirm. “Miss, let me give you ah—numéro de téléphone for women’s shelter.”

I take the card he gives me in his shaking hands. Yeah, I might be able to live for a few days until Rafael finds a way to bribe one of the cops here and gets its location.

“Take care.”

He gives me a sad smile and leaves my apartment. I look around, knowing that I should clean up, or pack, or something, but I just can’t bring myself to do any of it.

* * *

The best—the only—defense I can come up with is to pretend that everything’s normal. That my ex-boyfriend didn’t just track me down to my apartment to kill me, and I only just got away. If I accepted the seriousness of it, I would panic.

Panicking doesn’t help.

They’ll probably keep him in lockup for a day or two for resisting arrest, so that’s a small comfort.

The door swings open for me as a man steps out. The din in the bar swallows me like a shroud, and I feel safe surrounded by so many people. I scan the mass, my eyes cutting through the crowd of testosterone to find the man I found last night. It’s too much to hope that Tony will be here tonight, but even if he was here, what could he do for me?

My gaze passes over Tommy, whose penetrating stare eats right through me.

What the hell does he want?

He jerks his head toward the back of the bar. Swallowing down my heart, I brush past him and squeeze my eyes shut when I hear him follow. I bend down, changing my shoes in the back as I imagine him standing over me, his arms folded.

“What is it?” I finally snap.

“Your boyfriend came in here last night, not long after you left with Tony.”

I didn’t want to hear that. He knows where I work and he knows where I live.

I’m fucked.

“He’s not my boyfriend.”

His hazel eyes narrow at me. “Are you sure you told him that, because I don’t think he got the memo.”

The blood pounding in my head is painful. It’s as though there’s a sledgehammer smashing my skull. BAM. BAM. BAM.

I swallow hard as I raise a shaking hand to my temple. “I was pretty fucking clear. He’s just crazy.”

Tommy rolls up his white sleeves and bends down to my level, a tinge of emotion shining in his eyes.

“If he finds out you went home with Tony, he’ll fucking kill you.”

“W-well, he tried and I’m still here.”

For some reason, his concern brings me another thrill of fear. My eyes search his desperately, but I know he won’t stick out a limb for me. Yeah, he helped put a Band-Aid over the situation, and Rafael ripped it right off.

“What the fuck are you talking about?”

“He came to my house. I called the cops on him—”

Tommy rakes a hand through his hair and lets out a groan. “Jesus.”

“I’m not pressing charges.”

“Why the fuck not?”

I stare at him. “There are people in New York who would love an excuse to see me dead.”

“Well, honey, you’ve got to do something. He’s going to come after you.”

Tears well in my eyes as I shrug at him and stand up. “Do what? I don’t know what else there is to do. I thought that if I—if I left New York, maybe he’d leave me alone. Maybe if I was with someone else, I don’t know.”

“He’s going to find you, and when he does, New York will be the least of your problems. He’s going to kill you, Elena—”

“I know! You don’t think I fucking know that?”

My head pounds with what will surely become another bruise. The air feels strangely thin, and I stagger toward the wall. Colors bleed together, and the room swims. It feels as though I’m drunk, but it’s hard to breathe. Tommy grips my arm and squeezes hard, and the pressure from his fingers makes me feel my pulse pounding against his skin.

It’s happening.

I’m panicking.

“You don’t look good, hon. Maybe you should take the night off.”

“Hell, no! I’m not—I’m not leaving here. This is the only place I feel safe.”

Tommy’s concerned face swims in front of me. “Safe? He’s not going to leave you alone, Elena. Not unless you’re fucking married—”

I don’t hear the rest of Tommy’s sentence.

Not unless you’re married.

So I just have to marry someone. Simple. No, that’s fucking crazy.

You have a ton of cash. It’s possible.

Yes. Someone out there is willing to marry me for cash. I’m certain of it.

“That’s it!”

I’m still shaking, but my vision clears and I grip Tommy’s arms, almost sobbing in relief.

Tommy smiles back weakly, uncomprehending. “What is it?”

“That’s—a really good idea.”

“What did I say?”

“What if I gave you a ton of cash to marry me?”

He tries to swallow his laughter, and it cuts right into me like a sharp knife. “Sweetie, I’ve a girlfriend. I don’t think she’d like that very much.”

Fuck.

I turn my back to him and enter the bar, looking for the guy I was with last night. He’s fucking perfect. He’s a member, isn’t he? He was kind of an asshole, but it’ll just be for a little while. Long enough to get Rafael off my back.

“What about Tony?”

Loud, obnoxious laughter echoes down the hallway. I whirl around, annoyed when I see Tommy leaning against the wall, laughing his ass off. He looks at my serious expression and tries to keep it together, but he just can’t.

“You’re—you’re fucking serious? He’s the biggest man whore I’ve ever met. He’ll never do it.”

“Then I’ll find someone else,” I say in a hard voice.

“It’s a stupid idea.”

It is stupid. So is doing nothing.

Tommy’s mirth rings in my head as I step into the bar. Immediately I spot Tony at the same spot. I hang near the doorway like an awkward mannequin, and then his heated gaze finds me.

A violent flush creeps up my neck as I imagine Tony laughing the same way Tommy did when I told him about my idea.

It is fucking stupid.

It’s so dumb, it just might work.

It’s not as though I wouldn’t make it worth his while. I was willing to part with a lot of money to place a hit on Rafael. What should I offer him?

Twenty-five grand? Thirty? What’s fair?

You barely know the guy.

I’m desperate. If it gets Rafael to back off, it’ll be worth it. As of right now, the only future I see for myself is in a body bag.

The only problem is that Tony intimidates the hell out of me. He reminds me of Rafael, in a way. The same allure drew me to him—the suspense, the excitement. I had to beg him to let me stay the night. What kind of asshole does that to someone? He’s the only other guy I’ve slept with—and I had to pull out all the stops to impress him. Will I be able to do it a second time? A third?

I just don’t know.

My heart pounds hard when my eyes sweep over his handsome face. Last night throbs in my head, all of the images playing in front of me like a highly colored dream.

A perfect shadow of stubble covers his jaw and mouth, just long enough to look sexy, teetering on the edge of being disheveled. Cool eyes meet mine, almost indifferently, and my guts clench. I lose my nerve. I grab a discarded rag with the pretense of cleaning.

Then I see something that makes me want to vomit.

A woman hangs around his arm and then sits down next to him. She’s beautiful, with long highlighted hair and shining red lips, and Tony gives her a lascivious grin that makes my insides clench. A vicious surge of jealousy rises in my throat as I gather the drink orders and pass them out.

I can’t let her get him.

“Another one! Hey! Mange de la marde!” Eat shit!

A patron hisses at me as I ignore his request and disappear behind the bar, watching as she reaches forward to touch his thigh. My face heats up.

I’m annoyed by the fact that I’m annoyed at their antics.

She whispers something in his ear, and he smiles. The bitch gets up to go to the bathroom, leaving him alone.

Good.

He doesn’t see me coming. The glass he’s holding obscures his vision as he sips his drink until I slide another one under his nose. Tony responds to my presence with a wide, cocky grin.

“Hey, sexy.”

Hey, asshole.

My heart makes another painful thump against my chest as I take the girl’s seat, forcing a smile on my face. The last thing I want is to ask him for a favor because of the way he looks at me with the widest, smuggest smile. Vivid images of his wickedly tattooed body thrusting over mine run through my head. The smile paired with his seductive eyes seems downright dangerous. He looks me up and down, the heat from his gaze scorching through my clothes. He wears a midnight-blue suit, the stubble over his jaw rougher than yesterday’s.

“I enjoyed last night.”

“Of course you did.”

Smug asshole.

“Your tits looked better in that other outfit.”

Ah, the backhanded compliment. What a jerk.

“Yeah? Would you rather I took my shirt off?”

Amusement twinkles in his eyes. “I think every guy in the bar would love that.”

“Too bad I’m only interested in what you want.”

Rich laughter booms from his chest. “I’ve already got what I want, sweetheart.”

“You should take me out and fuck me again.”

So fucking blunt.

He doesn’t seem to mind. In fact, his attention is riveted. There are probably hundreds of women constantly kissing his ass.

I’m different.

His eyes sear my flesh. “One night, hon. That’s all you get.”

“One night? Even though I made you come three times? Sounds like three nights to me.” I lift my shoulder in a shrug. “You’ve already broken your rule.”

“You were a lot more fun than most girls, I’ll admit that.”

I lean in, placing both hands on his thighs as my lips brush his ear. “Then fuck me again. And again.”

His voice strokes my ear. “Are you begging me for more, or do you want something specific from me?”

“Specifically, I want your cock. Inside me. Now.”

A small growl rumbles in his throat. “It’s rented for the night.”

My hand slides around the back of his neck. “Aren’t you tired of mediocre sex?”

His eyes lighten at that, and a smile spreads over his rugged face. “Who says I’m having mediocre sex?”

“Can that girl suck your dick like I can? Can she fuck you like I can?”

Tony’s smile never falters, but it darkens. His eyes are all over me.

“You’re fucking crazy, aren’t you?”

Lust heats his face until I can almost feel it radiating off his skin. My fingertips brush over his cock, and he suddenly grabs my arm. My heart leaps as he pulls me onto his lap and crushes his lips against mine.

It’s like instant electricity. It shocks me to feel the sudden rush of blood. Then my back hits the bar counter as his tongue slips into my mouth. I cling to his shoulders because all the energy evaporates from my limbs. I kiss him back and gasp as he grabs my tits, right in the middle of this bar. Everyone can see, but he doesn’t give a shit. He pulls back with a grin that sends a jolt of anxiety through my heart, and I realize I’ve just given myself to another monster.

He’s deadly. Just look at him.

“What the fuck!”

A shrill, feminine voice makes him break apart from me, but only barely. I taste the sweetness from his tongue, and I want more.

“Ah shit.”

“Putain de merde!” The tall brunette screams herself hoarse, looking mad with rage.

The whole bar turns their attention to the pretty girl, screaming her head off. They laugh behind their hands and even Tommy emerges from his office to see the commotion. He leans against the doorway, spotting me on Tony’s lap, and frowns.

My face burns as she turns away from us, angry tears glittering in her eyes as she stalks away. Another man attempts to comfort her, but she storms out of the bar.

Her tears give me a stab of guilt, but it dissolves when Tony turns back toward me with a shrug, extreme indifference all over his face.

“Well, I guess that makes your decision much easier.”

He takes my head in his hands. “This is all your fault.”

“Yeah, but I’m not sorry for that.”

Deep laughter shakes from his barrel-like chest, and my face flushes with pleasure. My hands play with the hair behind his neck. It’s just at a length where I can curl my fingers through his strands.

“Let’s get out of here.”

“Don’t you have work?”

“Fuck work.”

He smirks at that. “Ask Tommy if you can cut out early. I’ll wait.”

“You better.”

As I slide from his lap, I feel his hands on my ass. There are people watching us as he gives me a rough squeeze and then slaps me, sending me on my way. He winks at me when I turn around, and I feel like shrinking on the spot.

The men jeer after me as I enter the back and look for Tommy. He’s on the phone, a mess of paperwork scattered on his desk. He’s frowning.

“All right, I’ll—yeah. Thanks, Vince.”

At the mention of his name, fear stabs my chest. The high from successfully asking out Tony pops like a soap bubble, and a chill creeps up my arms.

Vincent. There’s only one that Tommy and I know.

He hangs up the phone and folds his hands into steeples, looking unhappy. “Listen, Vince just found out that one of his men was detained for resisting arrest. He doesn’t know why, but he wants one of us to bail him out. Whatever you’re going to do, you better do it fast.”

My face drains of color. “Thanks—I was going to leave with Tony. Is that all right?”

He looks like he wants to say something else, but he stops himself. “Yeah, okay.”

Shit. He’s getting bailed out a lot sooner than I thought.

I gather my things and head out, fixing a smile when I rejoin Tony at the bar. The sooner I ask him, the better. The tension in his face dissolves somewhat when I take his hand. A dark, searching look descends over him as he squeezes my fingers.

“Are you hungry? I was going to take that girl to dinner.”

Surprised, I look up at his expressionless face. “Yeah, a little.”

“Great. Let’s go.”

“Okay.”

He leads me out of the bar, holding the door open for me with a self-assured smile. God, the man exudes confidence. All of Dad’s men seemed like that, at first. It took a few months for me to realize the difference between confidence and cocky assholes flying off the handle at every perceived slight.

“So what kind of food do you like?”

“Oh, anything is fine. Really.”

We walk down the streets as I cling to his hand for warmth. He keeps giving me meaningful looks as we pause for the lights, and then we finally stop in front of a restaurant. Tapeo.

“Hope you like Spanish.”

There’s a line inside the restaurant. The foyer is completely packed, but Tony calmly pushes to the front where the hostess recognizes him.

“There’s no way we’ll get a table!” I shout over the din.

He gives me a secretive smile and nods toward the hostess. “Table for two,” he says in his deep voice.

“Right this way, Mr. Vidal.”

My jaw drops as he turns around to give me a wink.

Of course. Johnny must have all the restaurants in the city in his pocket.

The hostess takes the heavy coat from my shoulders, and I feel oddly vulnerable without it. I’m dressed in a flowing tank top and jeans, and he’s in a suit. Discomfort rattles against my ribs.

It’s a nice restaurant, low lit and moody. The golden tone of the lights complements the steel-blue walls nicely. Tony’s strong hand wraps around my waist and a flash of desire trails up my thighs. I forgot what it was like to be excited for a date, to have his hands around my waist, and for that small, yet powerfully intimate touch to send a thrill to my heart.

But it’s not a date.

No, I’m here to ask Tony for a favor.

The hostess leads us to a table with two white, round candles. The rustic decor in the restaurant gives the place a trendy vibe. There are no tablecloths. Tony pulls my chair out and pushes me in when I sit down.

It’s kind of startling to see how well mannered he is. I didn’t expect it because he talks like a goddamn jerk.

Here we go.

My nerves fire up as he sits across from me and orders a bottle of wine. The sommelier whisks back with the bottle, pouring two glasses for us. I take the delicate stem in my hands and swallow a small gulp, shuddering as it spreads heat over my chest. Tony looks vaguely content, his eyes relaxed, but with the occasional glance toward the door.

I wish I could just sit here and enjoy the night like a normal person.

“When was the last time you’ve been on a date?” I ask him.

“I go on dates all the time, I just don’t go on second dates.”

“Why not?”

He lifts his shoulder in an elegant shrug as a complicated look flashes over his face. “What’s the point?”

What’s the point?

“Oh, I don’t know. Friendship? Love?”

He smiles at me. “I don’t know if I care about any of that.”

Wow.

“What do you care about?”

He grins like a devil. “Pussy. Money. Those are my two loves.”

It’s like a wrench inside my chest. This is going to go so badly. A man like this will never agree to a marriage of convenience.

“Aren’t you a charmer,” I say in a very dry voice, sipping more wine.

“I never pretended to be.”

His gray eyes are as dark as his face, and just as cold. His indifference strikes me hard, and I don’t know why I care. I don’t care. Whatever, I’m not here to make him smitten with me. I’m here to hopefully get him to agree to marry me.

“So why the fuck are we here, huh? You got rid of that girl I was going to bring home.”

I roll my eyes at his narrowed ones. I decide that Tony looks even sexier with a scowl on his face. “Please, don’t act like you don’t want me. You were all over me as soon as you recognized me in the bar.”

“I don’t like being manipulated, sweetheart. Just tell me what you want.”

The tiny flames of the candles flicker in his unrelenting stare.

Fine, I’ll tell him.

I lick my dry lips and open my mouth, unable to ask him.

Hey, guy I barely know. Wanna marry me for money?

The cutlery on the table rattles as I bump my fist against the wood, suddenly overcome with a fit of giggles. I cover my mouth as he stares back at me in bemusement, my shoulders shaking.

He swirls his wineglass. “You seem a bit stressed.” Then he leans in closer. “Maybe I should have just taken you to my place to fuck the pain away.”

The laughter breaks off and my skin blazes under his penetrating stare. “Yeah, maybe you should have.”

“This is about your ex, isn’t it?”

A wary look hardens his face.

“Yeah, but it’s not what you think.”

I still can’t fucking tell him.

“He showed up to my apartment right after I got home yesterday. We—we fought.”

He says nothing, but his eyes blaze.

“The cops showed up just in time, but he’ll be out soon. And then he’ll come after me.”

My face still smarts where he hit me, made worse by the alcohol flushing my skin. Tony looks back at me, his face stony. “How did you end up with a guy like that?”

Now it’s my turn to shrug.

“Dating opportunities were pretty thin on the ground. Daddy scared the guys away and he didn’t approve of a lot of them. He liked Rafael, though.”

Tony would know all about the traitorous New York boss, who was killed by his own crew for mob justice.

He leans back into his chair and swallows hard. His gaze flicks toward mine and away. “I’m sorry about your dad. I know what it’s like to lose a father.”

Somehow I see that. Something deep stirs inside his eyes: the jagged pain of losing someone too young, or some long-ago horror.

“You’re the first person who’s said that to me. Isn’t that—isn’t that funny?”

It’s not, really, but he makes a valiant attempt at a smile. His hand slides over the rough wooden table and seizes my hand, squeezing it.

Why is he being so nice to me? This wasn’t what I expected at all. A lump rises in my throat and my hand trembles inside his.

I bite my lip hard as images of the poorly attended funeral run through my mind, everyone’s lack of sympathy, my mother, crying. It buries me.

“You should be glad I even came,” Rafael said, his mouth curled. “Your father was a coward—”

“Don’t you—don’t you dare talk about my father like that!”

It hurt me to hear those poisonous accusations from my boyfriend. He was supposed to protect me, and instead he tortured me.

“I’ll say whatever the fuck I want.” Then his voice dropped to a whisper as his fingers cruelly pinched my waist.

Tony looks at me, at a total loss for words. I want to talk to him about it. I want to talk to someone. I want to tell him how horrible it has been. Everything had to be locked tight inside, because I wasn’t allowed to grieve for my worthless, rat-bastard father.

He was always my daddy.

Bury that shit, damn it. Just be like a fucking stone.

I look into his impassive gaze as I freeze over my facial muscles. “Sorry, this is not what I—I don’t want to bring you down.”

“Why don’t you just tell me what you want from me?”

My cheeks burn when I realize how transparent I must be, but he doesn’t look angry. I open my mouth to tell him, and my guts clench.

God, this is a lot harder than I thought it would be.

“What makes you think that I want something?”

An unpleasant chill wafts from his eyes. “Cut the bullshit already and ask.”

I hate that I have to look across the table into his heavy eyes and ask him for something. The men back home wouldn’t have lifted a finger for me because I no longer mattered to them. The moment my dad became a traitor, I stopped existing. And they call it a family. What fucking family?

“Well, you’re right. I did want to ask you something.”

“Tell me.”

“Uh—well…” I was just wondering if you would maybe like to marry me in exchange for money. But don’t worry, it’ll only be for a little while.

Oh my fucking God, this is going to be a disaster.

My face feels as though I have a sunburn, and he laughs at my discomfort.

“Jesus, what the hell is it? Just tell me.”

Yeah, just tell him.

He’s going to laugh in my face.

“I want to—to pay you to do something for me.”

“Okay…” he motions with his hand. “What?”

“To—to marry me. I have fifty thousand dollars in cash.”

It sounds just as stupid as I thought it would, and I want to evaporate on the spot.

A strange expression suddenly contorts Tony’s face. It takes a moment before I realize that he’s actually scared of me. Because he thinks I’m nuts.

Then the irony of a six-foot-something Mafioso actually fearing me hits me hard, and I nearly burst.

He shifts in his chair. “Uh—”

This is life and death.

“This is the only way to get Rafael off my back,” I say quickly, my face a shade of fuchsia, I’m sure. “I can’t get rid of him.”

He looks at me as though he’s concerned for my sanity.

“That’s the dumbest idea I’ve ever heard of. It is fucking ridiculous. Marry you? Are you fucking crazy?”

His indignant tone pisses me off.

“Since you’re a genius, you tell me what to do.”

“Get a fucking gun and just kill him.” He mimes with his fingers. Pop-pop.

I give him a hollow laugh. “And when Vincent finds out, then what? I’m just as fucked, and that’s assuming I can actually kill him and get rid of his body.”

The very idea fills me with revulsion. As much as I hate Rafael, I’m not a violent person, and blood disgusts me. I wouldn’t even know how to get rid of a body.

Tony crosses his arms, thinking, and then he shakes his head with a boom of laughter. “You know, I knew there was something off about you the moment you grabbed my cock in the bar. Amazing in bed, but completely fucking nuts.”

Oh fuck you.

My face burns again, this time flushed with the embarrassment of his insult. “I’m not crazy. I need to be married to a made guy, or I am dead.”

“That’s ridiculous.”

“Yeah, it fucking is,” I fire back. “It’s also the only thing that’ll keep me alive.”

Tony plays with the silverware on the table, tapping the butt end of the knife on the wood as he looks at me.

“Fifty-thousand dollars for a few months’ work isn’t ridiculous. It’s fair.”

Another snort of laughter leaves him and he drops the knife. He covers his mouth with both hands, his eyes alive with mirth. I should have known he wasn’t going to take me seriously.

I slam my purse on the table and stand up abruptly.

Suddenly his attitude turns. His hands lie flat on the table as the humor wipes from his face, and he looks at me with a paralyzing stare.

“Where the hell do you think you’re going?”

“I won’t be laughed at,” I snarl, suddenly hating everything about him right down to his smug smirk. He doesn’t know what the fuck I’m going through.

“I’m really not the guy you go to for this shit.”

“I’m aware of that, but I’m short on time, and I’ll be paying you, for fuck’s sake. It’s just another job.”

“It’s extreme.”

You want to see what I’m fucking running from, asshole?

In front of the whole restaurant, I lift up my shirt, stopping just below my bra.

Black eyebrows narrow dangerously at me. “What the fuck are you doing? This is a nice place. You can’t disrespect—”

“Look.”

I point at the huge purple bruise stretching over the side of my abdomen, the dark horror that he missed under the sheets. His face sobers immediately.

“He did that?” His voice sounds uncomfortable.

“There’s more,” I say in a toneless voice, dropping my shirt.

“That looks pretty serious.”

“That’s the fucking point.”

“I meant that you should see a doctor.”

“I don’t need a fucking doctor. A doctor won’t help me stay alive the next few days. You just—you don’t understand what it’s like. I’m scared, and this is the only thing I can think of.”

Tears thicken my voice, and I hate that I can’t keep it together in front of this guy.

He sighs and wipes his hand down his face. “Sit down.”

Trembling, I return to my seat and ball my fists on my knees.

Tony begins talking in a softer voice. “I’m telling you, it’s a bad idea. No one will believe it.”

“Who cares if they don’t believe it? I just need to be married, right?”

He buries his face in his hands. “What the fuck do you think this is, the boy scouts? No—not if people think it’s fake. Besides, if Johnny found out, I’d have to give him tribute.”

Shit.

“Well—”

“How do I even know you have access to that kind of money?”

I hurl him an ugly look. “Tommy is holding it for me. I have over a hundred grand American.”

His eyebrows lift at that, and he takes the glass of wine, taking a huge gulp. “It’s still a bad idea.”

“I don’t have any alternative! Do you think I want to marry some guy I just met?”

“People know me, sweetheart. They know I’d never get hitched.”

My head perks up. “Does this mean you’re interested?”

“It’s a lot of fucking money, of course I’m interested. But that’s a lot of—” A lump moves up his throat. “My mom—it would fucking kill her. She’d never forgive me.”

I lean forward and take his hand, expecting him to rip it away from me, but he lets me smooth my thumb over his knuckles. “I’m sure she’d be proud of you for helping someone whose life was in danger.”

His eyes cut me. “You don’t know her, and you don’t know me. What makes you think I’m the right guy for this? You think that just because we had a good time, I won’t just rob you and throw you into the streets?”

My hands twist in my lap as he stares at me with that intense glare, daring me to contradict him.

“I have to have faith in something. I don’t know you, but I don’t think you’ll hurt me.”

He crosses his arms and a scowl burns on his face.

He’s right. This is stupid. I don’t know him, and he doesn’t know me. There’s no way he’ll agree to do this for me. My best bet is to just run. Run far away, and keep running until Raf gets tired of chasing me.

“I’m really sorry.”

I take my purse and stand up from the table, eyes blinking away tears as I walk to the closet and grab my coat roughly, sending the hanger flying.

Honestly, what did I expect?

I ignore the hostess as I barge outside and walk swiftly down the freezing streets. Fuck, it’s so much colder here than New York, and it’s the kind of cold that seeps through every layer. I hug myself in the middle of the sidewalk, blinking furiously and feeling utterly alone in this foreign place.

I can’t even speak the language.

Nowhere to go.

My back slides against a brick wall and I huddle in the snow, hands wrapped around my knees. Part of me hopes I’ll freeze—maybe it’s cold enough to freeze my heart into place.

A man in a long wool coat walks past me, his gaze flicking to me sharply before he walks on. Then he stops in his tracks and doubles back.

“Elena?”

Tony. He came after me. The way he says my name fills me with hope. I know that it’s dangerous to hope, but I can’t help but lift my head to look at him.

“What?”

Tony frowns at me as he walks close enough so that his boots touch mine.

“I need assurances.” He gives me a shrewd look. “I don’t trust you.”

“I’ll pay you half up front. Tommy’s in on it, and he trusts me.”

That was not entirely true, but close enough.

“That’s not good enough.”

He bends down and takes my freezing hands, and I stand up with him. It makes my heart pound to be so close to him.

“I—I don’t know what else to do, then.”

His hand curls around my neck and my pulse beats into his thumb. Gray eyes search my face, which grows more and more hot. “How am I supposed to trust you and let you in my home?”

“Why would I do anything to piss you off? I already have one pissed-off mobster after me.”

Deep dimples carve into his smile.

“What if we don’t get along? Three months is a long time.”

“We don’t have to get along. We just have to tolerate one another.”

“This is crazy, Elena. It’s fucking nuts.”

“But it’ll work, and you’ll be fifty thousand dollars richer. In a few months, we’ll divorce. It won’t mean anything, I just need to have a fucking ring on my finger for a while.”

He considers it, lifting his head as he stares into the brick wall. I can see the cogs working in his head, weighing the advantages and disadvantages.

“If you were my ex-wife, I could probably get a sit-down with Johnny if that asshole tried anything.”

“Perfect.”

He smiles at me. “There’s still no way you’re going to get people to believe this.”

I think hard, staring into his honest eyes, and then a rush of adrenaline runs through my veins. “I’m pregnant.”

A stunned silence follows my words, which Tony eventually breaks with a laugh.

“That might work,” he says in an impressed voice. “Fuck, I’m going to hell.”

A sigh of relief runs through my body as he shuts his eyes.

“Why me?”

Why did I choose him? Well, that’s simple.

“You looked strong and—and I thought you were—well, you’re my type.”

Mischief shines through his eyes. “Am I?”

His eyes smolder suddenly and his hand wraps around my wrist, pulling me into his chest.

“Can’t you tell?”

A rush of heat fills my neck as I feel his warmth and his lips touch right under my ear. My skin shivers at the brief contact. Everything—his hands around my waist and his breath billowing over my skin—it overwhelms me. I’ve never been quite this speechless around a man before, but the sensations void all thought from my head.

“Yes, I think I can.” He sears my neck with a biting kiss, one that’s sure to leave a mark. I moan and tremble in his arms.

“Tony, I really don’t think we should—if we’re going to be living together we don’t want to complicate things.”

He pulls back with a steely look in his eyes. “What?”

“We shouldn’t have sex anymore.”

Blackness descends over his face. “What’s the point of having a fake marriage if I can’t have any of the benefits?”

I inhale a sharp breath as he plants a kiss, breathing hot air over my neck. Damn, it feels amazing. “It’s just a—a job.”

“Uh-huh. And how the hell am I supposed to bring women back home if you’re there all the time?”

My insides clench hard as I think about it. Fuck, I don’t want to think of him with other women. The thought of hearing him with another girl in his room makes me feel slightly sick.

“We’ll think of something. I can stay at Tommy’s bar overnight.”

He takes my face in his hands and I don’t think I’ve ever looked into someone’s eyes like this. It’s as if he’s stripping me down.

“This isn’t going to change me, understand? Don’t ask me any more favors. I fuck who I want.”

I swallow hard and give him a nod. “You’re a great lay, and all, but that doesn’t mean I’m attached to you. This is just business. We should keep it that way.”

The smirk, his eyes, his thumbs slightly caressing my skin—it’s hard to think with all three at the same time.

“We’ll see.”

“I’m not exactly eager to jump into bed with another connected guy, if you know what I mean.”

“I’m nothing like your piece of shit ex,” he says in a heated voice, eyes flashing. “As long as you understand that what we have isn’t ever going to become anything, we’ll be fine.”

Good.

“It’ll just be fun.”

A pleasant growl rumbles in his throat.

“Hold on—we only just met—doesn’t it take a while for those tests to find out if you’re pregnant?”

Oh shit.

“Yeah, but I don’t have a week.”

He smiles against my neck and it sends electricity through my skin. “You can stay at my place.”

“What—what if he shows up?”

“He won’t.”

Emotion floods my chest as I turn in his arms, cupping his rough face. “Tony, thank you.” I lean into his broad chest as he hands slip under the hem of my shirt, stroking my skin. Kissing him is so much stronger than the alcohol running through my veins. I feel myself unfolding, losing myself in his smell and the taste of his mouth.

I shouldn’t touch him.

He pulls back, his lips swollen. “We need to talk more about it, but right now—all I can think about is fucking you.”

* * *

The door closes and the shaking reverberates throughout the entire apartment. For a moment I think about how that sound terrifies me, and Tony’s huge bulk looms over me like a shadow. He just smiles at me in the darkness, knowing that I’ll eventually go to him. That my heart already pounds in anticipation of his touch.

We’re not supposed to have sex.

It keeps repeating in my head like a feeble whisper.

What is it about him? I know he’s no good. He’s cut from the same cloth as Rafael. He’s a man whore, for god’s sake, and yet I still find myself drawn toward him beyond all sense or logic. How can I ignore a guy whose body looks like Brad Pitt’s in Troy?

I step into his chest, swallowing down my dread that I’ve signed myself a deal with the devil. He seems to notice my mood. A slick grin spreads across his face and he smoothes the hair on my shoulders, tucking a few strands behind my ear.

“What’s wrong, sweetheart? Cold feet?”

His hand feels incredibly cool against my cheek, or maybe it’s because I’m burning up. “No, it’s just—I don’t know how to act around you.”

You make me nervous.

“You’re paying me for my time, that’s all. Fucking me is not part of the payment, understand? I want you to want me.”

His thumb brushes under my bottom lip as his smooth voice caresses my ears, and my palm spreads over his broad chest. “I do want you.”

“I know.”

“I just don’t know if this is a good idea.”

“This whole thing isn’t a good idea.”

“I know, but—”

His mouth descends over mine finally, cutting off my protests, and I weaken in his arms as though his kiss somehow drains me of all energy. Then he bends, reaching under my knees so that I fly into the air—into his arms like a ragdoll. My arms link around his neck, but he pushes me higher so that my legs straddle his head. I squeal and clutch him as he backs me against the wall.

“I’m going to make you come with my mouth.”

How can I resist that?

Last time, I tell myself. It’ll be the last time I have sex with him.

His gritty voice makes my blood pound in my ears, and then his fingers burrow under my jeans and cool air stings my skin as he pulls them down. A thrill runs through me as he reaches under my shirt, finding the hem of my thong.

It seems ridiculous, but my stomach flips at the thought of him eating me out. Rafael never would have done it—he thought that it was emasculating.

Tony kisses my inner thigh and I curl my fingers in his hair. “I’m going to lick your pussy, and you’re going to love it.”

The last thread of resistance breaks as soon as his dark head bends over, his hot mouth breathing over my wet folds, and then the slightest touch of his lips against my clit sends a lightning bolt through me. I arch my back as his tongue reaches back and licks.

A shrill sound escapes my mouth.

Holy crap.

I’ve never, ever experienced anything like this.

He lifts his head, smiling.

“That’s right. I want to hear you scream. I want to feel you come when my tongue fucks you.”

It thrills me to hear him talking like that. Fuck, it’s hot.

The wet, hot muscle moves down my slit, taking care to flick over my sensitive clit as I try not to squeeze his head off with my thighs. His mouth closes over me, and I’m overwhelmed by the sensation. I look down, and his head is buried in my pussy. Eyes closed in apparent ecstasy, he sucks hard, and a small explosion occurs in the pit of my stomach. I never knew it could feel so fucking good. My fingers dig into his skull as the pounding ache between my legs grows, and I dimly feel ashamed for how turned-on I am, for how my juices run down his chin. The smooth muscle slides inside me, teasing me. It’s not big enough—not wide enough to satisfy the burning ache.

“Tony, please—Jesus!”

He ignores me as his hands caress my bare ass, his tongue continuing its torture as he fucks me with his mouth. I dig my fingers into his hair and pull hard, and he lets out a muffled growl.

“You’re so fucking wet for me.”

His finger curves into my pussy and I moan out loud as it slides into me. His tongue flicks over my clit as his finger fucks me mercilessly, and I clench my muscles, face screwed up almost in pain. I just want him to fuck me, already. Just fuck me!

Then his tongue slides in again and he presses his face to my pussy, burying himself as deep as he can go as he pinches my clit. A violent reaction rips through my body, and I cry out loud as contractions seize me. Ecstasy rolls through me as Tony pulls away, laughing. He kisses my inner thigh and I dig my hands in his hair so painfully that he winces.

I slide down his chest, and as my hands explore him—the rock-hard cock between his legs—I want him again. My swollen core clenches hard, and I just yank his shirt apart, hard enough so that several buttons fly off.

He laughs as they scatter loudly over the floor and his wet lips press against mine. “You are so fucking eager. I love it.”

I open my mouth, tasting myself, loving the way my musk mingles with his scent. My hands move over his ripped, tattooed muscles, and I want to lick every hard bump and stretch of taut flesh.

Suddenly he buries his hand in my hair and pulls hard. “I don’t care if our arrangement isn’t real, your tongue will only taste my cock.” His fingers shove inside me. “Same with your pussy. It’s mine, along with the rest of you. I have a reputation, and you’re not going to fuck it up.”

“So you can fuck whoever you want, but I can’t? That’s not fair.”

“Nothing about the life is fair.”

I curl my lip bitterly when I look at his rigid face. He’s right, though. Mafiosi may fuck behind their wives’ back, but the wives definitely don’t do the same thing. Not if they know what’s good for them.

It’s fucked up.

“You want to be married to me? You have to play the game.”

That’s right. Play the game.

A satisfied smirk flicks over his face and then is replaced with smoldering lust. I know that I’m just a good lay to him. He doesn’t do relationships. I can see the conflict in his eyes.

“Don’t get attached to me, Elena. I’ll just disappoint you. Just expect great sex from me, nothing else.”

“I don’t know if I can detach like that.”

His voice is ragged. “Try.”

His hand gropes my breast, his thumb stroking my nipple as he kisses me again, and then he leads me to the huge window and turns on the light so that we light up like a Christmas tree. Everyone in the neighborhood can see us. Excitement runs up my leg when he slides up behind me, kissing my neck. A possessive arm snakes around my waist and grabs my tits roughly.

“Do you want to please me, baby?”

His lips sear my neck over and over, like hot brands. It’s as though he’s marking me as his.

“Yes, fuck—of course—”

I can’t fucking think when you’re playing with my tits and kissing my neck.

“If you want to be in this house, you’ll let me fuck you in front of the whole world.” He squeezes my breast again. “I want them to see me claiming your beautiful body. I want every asshole looking in my apartment to be jealous of me. I want your ex to see me banging his girl.” A wolfish grin smiles at me, reflected from the glass. “The fact that I’m fucking a made guy’s girl gives me a bigger thrill than finding a new piece of ass every night.”

He’s cruel and crazy, but the hard bump digging into my ass is impossible to ignore. I turn around in his arms and I grab his thick cock, loving how his eyes lock onto mine. I sink to my knees and kiss him through his slacks, feeling him twitch.

It’s fucking crazy. I shouldn’t feed his ego, but his words have me on fire, and I’ll do anything for him. I’ll blow him in front of the window, and I hope Rafael sees. A savage pleasure burns my chest at the very idea.

Fuck you, asshole. You and I are done.

I tear the slacks from his hips. Without even looking at him, I slide his hard length in my mouth as his hands caress my head. The long sigh he gives me makes my pussy contract, and I reach around his muscled thighs to run my hands over his ass. I stick my tongue out, imaging that asshole watching from the ground, and I take his cock as deep as I can. I want that jerk to see me blowing Tony with more enthusiasm than I ever showed him.

Tony lets out a volley of swear words in French that makes the glow between my legs pulse.

“Crisse de tabarnak… Keep going, baby!”

I ride my tongue under the ridge of his cock, flicking it over his head. The sloppy, wet noises echo in his apartment and I see myself, head swinging back and forth as his hands fist my hair. Then he moves his hips, grunting loudly. My jaws widen as he pushes all the way down, and I push my tongue out so that it just barely strokes his balls. His abdomen presses against my nose as I feel him throb inside my throat, and then he pulls out so that I can breathe.

“Do you like it when I fuck your mouth?”

My chest heaves as I catch my breath, his cock rock hard in my hands. “Yes. Yes, I do.”

He strokes my head in a surprisingly tender gesture. “All right, baby. Open wide.”

I grab his thighs and open my mouth obediently. He thrusts inside me slowly, gradually picking up the pace. Then he buries himself. I feel the thickness bulging down my throat as his hips slide closer and closer to my eyes. My air chokes off and he bends slightly, grinding his cock against my lips even though it can’t go any deeper. I clutch his thighs, wanting more of him.

“Fuck!”

He pulls out and looks down at me, raking a shaking hand through his hair. He grabs my arm and pulls me up roughly. “I need that pussy of yours now.”

An indescribable look consumes Tony’s face before he crushes his lips against mine and slams me against the glass. His arms curl underneath me and he lifts me over his powerful waist. A thickness presses against my core and suddenly my walls yield around him. I bury my face in his neck as his cock sinks into me.

My legs wrap around him and he stabs my pussy with his cock, burying his face in my neck. God, it’s so long and deep. I feel it sliding up my channel, widening the walls. Then he thrusts hard, and it knocks the breath out of me.

Again.

And again.

And again.

I moan to the ceiling as he kisses my neck. His balls slap against my pussy as his body rocks with his thrusts. My back freezes against the cold glass, but I imagine the show we must be giving to anyone looking out the window, and it fills me with fire. My flesh stings as Tony takes one of my nipples in his mouth and bites down, pulling my waist to bury his cock inside me at the same time.

“Fucking gorgeous tits.”

He throbs inside me, slowly pulsing in and out as his tongue works magic on my tits. He takes my breast in his cavernous mouth and sucks hard, flicking his tongue over my nipple. It’s as though he’s rubbing my clit, and the ruthless pounding tightens the coils inside me like a spring. My moans cut off sharply with a jerk of his hips. Then he lifts his head with a manic grin on his face, and I know that every sound I make feeds his energy.

He kisses me and swallows my moans. I make several more desperate sounds and then he bites my lip hard and thrusts. The glass groans as I’m crushed against it. His body rubs against my clit and fireworks explode in my abdomen, my pussy clenches over him, and he sucks hard on my bottom lip. Then his cock makes a twitch inside me and his low voice groans in my mouth. Liquid warmth fills me as he makes one last, violent shove, and another.

Then, shaking, he lowers me to my feet. I tremble on my legs and sit down against the glass, feeling like a puddle of water. Tony sits down next to me and wraps an arm around my waist, pulling me into his heated chest.

It’s relaxing and comfortable, sitting here in his arms.

“So, do you think anyone saw us?”

A shaky laugh leaves my mouth as I glance at the street. “I don’t know.”

Now that it’s over, a stab of anxiety hits my heart. We both got a bit carried away in the heat of the moment.

“I wonder if he’s out there—watching.”

The thought sends goose bumps prickling my flesh. “I doubt it.”

“We’ll have to rectify that.”

My body shudders. “Tony, I don’t want to provoke him. You don’t either.”

“Oh, I do. It gets me off, Elena.” He strokes my hair. “Fucking you is playing with fire. If he had any inkling that we were messing around, I would get killed.”

I turn around in his arms and look at his strangely calm face. “Then why are you doing this?”

“Because I don’t care.”

He smirks, but I don’t feel any of the warmth. It’s like being doused in ice water.

I really did make a deal with the devil.