A Vow of Lust and Fury (Underworld Kings)

“Why did you bring me here?” I asked.

“Because I have something for you.”

“Oh?”

I turned to him, taking in the strain that clung to the angles of his face. I knew he was losing men, that whatever was going on with my uncle and the Irish was escalating. He was a mafia boss, hard and ruthless, but those dead men clearly weighed heavily on him. Yet here he was, offering me gifts.

I opened my mouth to say something, anything. That I was sorry about his men, that I saw what it was costing him— There was a knock on the door that led into the main club, and I tried to pull away from him but had nowhere to go. A pretty blond woman strode inside, the music spiking with her appearance. Her swaying hips faltered when she spotted us, gaze narrowing as she took in Gio pressed up against me. She placed a drink down on his desk, flashing a sultry smile. I instantly hated her for absolutely no reason, which wasn’t fair.

“We need to talk,” she said, her voice low and raspy, gaze roaming over Gio as he pushed away from me and took a seat behind the desk.

She obviously worked here, and if she hadn’t fucked him yet, she wanted to. Why did that bother me so much? He was gorgeous. Of course, she wanted to fuck him. And she was hot, so he’d probably taken her up on it. There are girls I fuck, and now there is the girl I’ll marry. Was she one of the girls he fucked? I wondered if he made her beg for it, too. It didn’t look he’d have to. Did he punish her? Tie her to a bed and spank her?

“Not now, Laylah.” He took the drink, barely sparing her a glance.

“It’s important, Gio.”

Not Giovanni, Gio. A name he’d only insisted I use when he’d made me touch myself for him. Something vicious twisted in my gut, and I swallowed it down.

“Well, then spit it out.”

The woman pointedly glanced at me.

“You can discuss business in front of Emilia.”

I was pretty sure she didn’t want to discuss business.

I wanted to flip her a middle finger. With my left hand. Not like she could miss the massive rock he insisted I wear anytime I left the penthouse. It was stupid. I did not care what Gio did or who he fucked, but evidently, I did because I found myself moving behind his chair. My left hand landed on his shoulder before sliding down his chest… Laylah’s gaze burned into mine, and I fought a smirk as anger flared in her pretty hazel eyes.

“It’s fine,” I said, feigning confidence I did not feel. “I’ll go get a drink.” I said the words, but some petty yet insecure part of me wanted Gio to stop me, to pick me. Pick me for what, though? Because this entire time, I’d been trying to get him to do anything but pick me. God, I needed to stop, walk out of here, and let her fuck him. But I couldn’t.

I bent and captured his lips, purely for show, just to drive the point home to this bitch before I left. Before I could pull away, he grasped my jaw, turning the kiss from something chaste to something altogether…not. Teeth scraped over my bottom lip, his tongue seeking mine. My mind instantly clouded until I couldn’t focus on anything but his mouth, his touch burning my skin.

“Laylah, get out,” he snapped.

I wanted to see the pissed-off look I was sure she’d be wearing right now, but he wouldn’t release me, and I couldn’t look away from those eyes that seemed like the endless depths of the bluest ocean. Music boomed for a second before the door slammed, blocking it out once more. I started to pull away, but he yanked me forward, forcing me to straddle his thighs.

“Oh, no. You’re not escaping after that little display.” He clasped the back of my neck, imprisoning me against him.

“What display?”

He chuckled and slid his fingers into my hair, gently pulling my head to the side. “You know exactly what.” Warm breath washed over my throat before his lips did. “You’re sexy when you’re jealous, princess.” His lips worked lower, his tongue making occasional swipes that had my skin tingling.

“I’m not jealous.”

“So you don’t care if I let you go and get that drink while I call Laylah back in here to suck my dick?”

The thought made me irrationally angry, made me want to kick him in the junk and scratch out her eyes. What the hell? That was not okay, and the realization startled me out of whatever lust-fueled trance he had me in.

“I…” I tried to shift off his lap, but he wouldn’t let me. “We should—”

“Shhh, it’s okay, piccola.” He stroked my cheek like I was some panicked wild animal.