I shook my head, attempting to shake off his influence under the guise of defiance. “I’m not your pet, and I never will be.”
He chuckled, a sound of dark, sinful delight. “And that attitude is what will make taming you so much more satisfying.” He made a low, humming sound of arrogant pleasure, leaning in close enough that I could feel it reverberate in my chest. “I should have taken you for myself so long ago. It was foolish to wait. I could have killed your brother half a dozen times over the last twelve years, but I held back. Now, what’s left of the Ronaldo Cartel will be mine. You’re mine, Carmen.”
Rage burned through my lust in a searing wave, igniting my entire being with righteous fury. The Ronaldo Cartel was meant to be mine. I was supposed to finally be safe. To be as free as possible in my criminal underworld. The moment everything I’d scarcely dared to dream had been within my grasp, Stefano had snatched it all away from me.
Now, freedom was a distant illusion. I was a captive again, less than nothing. I wasn’t the head of a powerful cartel; I was Stefano’s slave, a toy to use for his own sick pleasure.
He’d made the mistake of getting too close to my face. I tightened my core muscles, maneuvering as much as possible with my wrists pinned. I managed to shove myself up far enough to snap my teeth at him.
His black eyes flared with surprise before he tried to dodge back. He twisted his head to the side, saving his face. I snagged skin between my teeth, biting down hard on his neck. He bellowed at the shock of pain, and I tasted blood on my tongue.
The familiar metallic tang made my stomach lurch, triggering dark memories that I’d tried desperately to bury. The dank scent of damp concrete sapped my senses, the pervasive chill of being confined underground sinking into my skin.
The force of my bite eased, and I recoiled from the sickening taste of his blood. His feral growl reached deep inside my chest, clawing at my insides. His hands gripped my waist, roughly turning me onto my front.
“That was very naughty, kitten.” Stefano’s voice rumbled in my ear. I felt his calloused palm on my upper thigh, skimming along my chilled flesh to push the hem of his shirt over my ass.
I tried to breathe, tried to focus on the heat of his hand.
Stefano, I reminded myself. Not Miguel. Miguel isn’t here.
Two hard, stinging swats set my exposed ass cheeks on fire. I cried out and tried to roll away, to shield myself from more pain.
“Very naughty,” he repeated, the chastisement rough with dark excitement.
He shifted suddenly, straddling my lower back. His weight pinned my belly against the mattress, rendering me helpless beneath him.
A harsh scream ripped from my throat, and I thrashed.
Not again. Not again.
His strong fingers tangled in my hair, pulling sharply to fully subjugate me.
My hands scrabbled against the sheets, my fingers clawing at the cotton. Base, animal fear took over my brain. The scent of damp concrete grew stronger, inundating my senses as the chill sank deep into my bones.
“When did you get this?” Stefano asked, his fingers circling the thistle tattoo that covered the back of my neck, just to the left of my spine. The thorny flower concealed the mark of shame that had been etched into my skin.
Nausea twisted my stomach, and the phantom agony of a knife slicing into my flesh replaced the gentle brush of Stefano’s fingers. I was back in hell with Miguel, his weight pinning me down while he branded me, marking me so that I would always know I belonged to him.
Don’t move, Carmen. I would hate to slice into your spine.
I choked on a sob and went completely still, too cowardly to push back against the blade and sever my artery. I should have chosen to die, but I let him break me instead.
Chapter 5
Stefano
Carmen stilled beneath me, abruptly ending our game. If she thought she could deter me by refusing to engage, she was mistaken. I would keep pushing her buttons, wearing down on her pride until she couldn’t resist snapping back.
I wrapped my hand around her nape, squeezing hard enough to capture her full attention. I wanted her to feel pinned, overwhelmed.
She didn’t struggle or curse at me. She shuddered and whimpered.
Carmen Ronaldo didn’t cower from anyone. Certainly not me.
If this was her new tactic, I didn’t care for it one bit.
I shook off my irritation. She wouldn’t be able to keep up this charade for long. I was certain she was waiting for me to ease off. Then, she would attack.
Clever kitten.
A small, cruel smile curved my lips. She was clever, but I could figure out her strategies.