“I didn’t.”
“Well. . .you have me half-naked and. . .” I tried to fix my dress by pulling it back up over my bra.
“Put your hands down.” Tilting forward, he placed his hands on the hood, trapping me there. He moved in closer until the tip of his nose almost touched mine. “What evidence?”
Fear filled me. My chest rose and fell fast.
“Now, Ms. Walsh.”
I screwed my eyes at him. “Or what?”
“Or I’ll fuck the shit out of you.”
Oh.
“You would love that wouldn’t you?” He nipped at my lips.
“Dima, I can’t tell you.”
“Why not?”
“I don’t want to cause a war.”
“Paradise is already caught up in war.” Rage covered his face. “Stop playing around and pick a side.”
“I’m trying to pick one.”
“You’re not. You’re teetering in between searching for a hero. Let me give you some inside information about Paradise. There are no heroes.” He sneered. “Pick a side!”
I trembled. “I want to be on the right one.”
“There is no right one. Both sides hold criminals. Just pick your favorite ones.” And then he crashed his mouth onto my lips, ending all conversation.
Days ago, his kisses had been sweet and tender.
Tonight, our lips were at war, tasting and bruising. Desperate and angry all at the same time. Tonight, he growled between our kisses. Tonight, he held me hard, gripping me. Tonight, I could taste his fury on his tongue.
Groaning, he ripped his mouth off mine and glared.
I shuddered under his attention, slipping between regret and hope, fear and lust.
Silence filled the few inches of space between us. His gaze said more than his mouth ever could. Love mingled with sadness in those icy blue eyes. Meanwhile, guilt shivered in my heart. I turned away from him, unable to deal with the sorrow in his gaze.
“Look at me.” Leaning down to me, he brushed his lips against my cheek. His whispers slipped along my skin. “Pick a side, Rose. Please.”
I shivered with need. “If I tell you, then you must make a promise.”
“To not kill anyone?”
I looked at him. “Exactly.”
He smiled. “Jonathan was that bad?”
I nodded.
“Then, I can’t make a promise that I won’t kill him.” He tried to kiss me.
“No. I’ll battle Jonathan and everyone else on my own.” I pressed both of my hands on his chest and stopped him. “Move. We’re done talking.”
“We’re not.”
“We are.” I scooted to the side of the hood and tried to move his arm from blocking me.
He didn’t move.
“Please.”
“I’ll let you know when we’re finished.” He raised his hand and wrapped it around my neck.
“Dima.” Freaking out, I froze in horror. My chest rose and fell.
His fingers hugged my throat. “Sometimes it’s okay to kill a person.”
Trembling, I whispered, “I disagree.”
“Because you haven’t had to do it.”
“And I won’t.”
“If you go up against Parks and his political goons, you will need protection.” He released my neck and slipped his hands down to the mounds of my breasts. “You think your last name will protect you?”
“Maybe.” I frowned. “My father is involved in small ways.”
He moved his hands from my breasts and studied me. “How?”
“Dima, I already told you what I need in order to tell you—”
“A fucking pinky promise?” He tilted his head to the side. “This isn’t kindergarten, Rose. If Parks disrespected or harmed the Syndicate in any way, his blood will flood the fucking streets!”
I gulped in fear.
“Enough.” He moved away and stood. “You should have already told me.”
“You don’t need to kill him.” I sat up on the hood and lifted the top of my dress up. “You could win this without shooting a bullet.”
He stared at me like I was crazy.
“You could win the mayoral election.”
He laughed. “I only did it to piss you and him off.”
I quirked my brows. “Me?”
“You think he’s a perfect angel—”
“I don’t.”
“The election is a joke to fuck with him. Keep them busy until I’ve figured out—”
“But, I could help you win.”
Tickled, Dima held out his hands. “Why would I want to win?”
“You would have control of the city.”
He sneered. “I already do.”
“Not all the way. And this would be legal.”
“Legal.” He chuckled. “It must be nice to live in your world of right and wrong. Good and bad. Legal and illegal.”
“Yes. Yes. All politicians are criminals. I get that, but they’re legal criminals that don’t usually go to jail. Instead, they make more money and gain more influence and protection.”
It was his turn to blink.
“I’ll admit it. You are right about their being gray areas to the world. I’m seeing that more.” I got up from the car and pulled down my dress. “However, that doesn’t mean that I want you to do something stupid.”
“And stupid would be killing Parks?”
“My father and his people are backing Jonathan. They’re grooming him for presidency. That’s a lot of old money. A whole lot.”
“I don’t give a fuck about them.”