Cruel Vows

“Tell me about it.” I rush out from behind the bar in a hurry, slamming straight into a hard wall of muscle that smells as intoxicatingly divine as he did the other night.

The impact almost floors me, but Massimo catches me around the waist. His touch sends that unwanted desire pulsing right between my thighs. The smirk on his face is beautiful and yet irritating at the same time. “What’s the rush, Paisley?”

“If you hadn’t noticed, we’re short staffed and have too many customers.” I push him away from me, freeing myself from his grasp. “Follow me.”

He leans toward me and whispers into my ear, “With pleasure.”

Heat spreads through me so damn fast I feel like I’m burning up from the inside out, as I lead the way into the back room where Axle is playing cards as always.

I clear my throat. “Axel, Massimo Morrone is here to see you.”

Axel’s head whips up and then he plasters on the fakest smile I’ve ever seen on his lips. “So glad you could make it, Massimo.” He stands and walks toward him, holding out a hand for him to shake.

Massimo takes it. “Of course.”

“Didn’t you get our guest a drink, Paisley?” Axel asks, glaring at me.

I open my mouth to reply, but Massimo cuts in before I can.

“She offered me one, but I refused.”

Axel waves his hand at me. “Fine, get back behind the bar.”

I turn to move when Massimo grabs my wrist rather forcefully, yanking me against his side. “Paisley stays.”

To say Axel looks confused is an understatement. “What?”

Massimo’s hand settles on the small of my back, making me shudder. “I want her to stay for the negotiation.” There’s a sinister tone to his voice, and it sets me on high alert as I exchange glances with Rick.

Why the fuck would he want me here for this meeting?

My brother looks ready to deck Massimo, which would be a terrible idea since he has killed people for less.

A muscle in Axel’s jaw flexes a few times before he nods. “Fine, she stays.”

“The bar is short-staffed. How will Alice cope?” I ask, as I promised her I’d get back fast.

“Hawk,” Axel barks. “Go and help behind the bar.”

Elijah’s expression is priceless as he stands, glaring at the president. The guys never have to do shitty, menial work like that. I watch him disappear and then turn my attention back to Massimo, who is watching me with an unreadable look in his eyes.

“Have a seat,” Axel says to Massimo.

Massimo pulls out a chair and sits.

I linger, uncertain about this entire situation, as my gaze meets Axel’s.

“Take a seat, darling.”

Massimo stiffens when he hears him call me that and grabs my wrist before I can move away. “Where do you think you’re going?” He yanks me onto his lap sideways and wraps an arm firmly around my side, holding me there.

My eyes widen in shock. “What the—”

Axel’s warning glare stops me short as I know what happens to people who fuck with him. Women are never allowed to sit back here, so him allowing me frays my nerves more than they already are.

I shut my mouth, uncomfortably settling in on this misogynistic son of a bitch’s lap.

Rick’s face has turned red as he glares at Massimo, who is tracing his fingers over the exposed skin at my hip gently. He’s angered by the way Massimo is treating me, but everyone here knows they can’t question him. The guy has more power in his little finger than the entire club put together. One wrong move could spell disaster.

I clench my thighs, wishing that the man beneath me didn’t turn me into molten lava from one fucking touch. There’s a hard press against my backside, which I’m certain is his erection. My throat turns dry as I try to ignore it and the sensations pulsing through my overly sensitive body.

“Now down to business,” Massimo says, his deep velvet voice practically vibrating through me.

I shuffle out of discomfort, which results in a soft, manly groan from the man beneath me. “I’d keep still if I were you, princess.”

My cheeks flame and I’m almost ready to jump off his lap and punch him square in the jaw. He thinks he can just order me about and hold me in his lap like I’m a doll here for his pleasure.

Axel notices the sudden change in my demeanor and clears his throat. “Yes, business.” There’s a tension in the room that you could cut through with a knife and it only heightens my anxiety.

Massimo remains apparently unfazed by the tension, perhaps because he’s the cause of it. He smirks at my boss. “What exactly is it I can do for you?”

Axel’s jaw clenches. “You know what we need. A steady supply of heroin and cocaine.”

I try to focus my attention on anyone in the room but the man holding me on his lap.

“Right. And you have changed your mind after telling me to shove it up my ass in no uncertain terms three months ago?”

I’ve never seen Axel shaken before, but in the presence of this mobster, he’s not the usual cocky, unfazed leader. He needs Massimo to agree a deal, or the club is going to run into serious trouble, according to my brother. The Russians have screwed over the Irish badly in the last couple of months, meaning they’ve hardly supplied any product.

Axel nods. “I spoke out of turn and was wrong to say that, Massimo.” He runs a hand through his short sandy brown hair. “Your family commands the club’s full respect, and I hope we can put past grievances behind us and work out a deal that favors us both.”

Massimo tightens his grasp on me until it almost hurts. “What do you think, Paisley?” he murmurs, forcing me to look at him. “Should I give Axel another chance?”

His dark eyes are unreadable as I search them, wondering what he’s playing at.

“I have no idea.”

Rick clears his throat. “My sister has nothing to do with this.”

His sudden outburst rewards him a sharp look from the president, forcing him to bow his head. “What Rider means is Paisley doesn’t understand the workings of the club or what we’re trying to agree a deal for.”

Massimo laughs, but it’s the most evil, dark laugh I’ve heard. “Do you hear that, Paisley? Apparently you’re just a dumb bar tender who couldn’t possibly understand any of what we’re discussing.” His dark eyes hold mine. “How does that make you feel?”

I bite my bottom lip, mesmerized again by those elusive dark eyes. “Like shit.”

“Not surprising, but you are smart, aren’t you, princess?”

I swallow hard, as I don’t know how to answer that. Compared to most the guys in this club, I have more brains, but I can’t let them know that. They like the women in their employ to be dumb and obedient. Smart isn’t a requirement for the job.

“Enough of this.” Axel claps his hands. “Can we negotiate for supply or not?”

Massimo breaks our eye contact. “I think we can, but it’s going to cost you.” He remains calm and collected as he sits with a gang of vicious bikers discussing a drugs deal as if it’s an everyday occurrence for him. His name must afford him protection, as he hasn’t even got a bodyguard or anyone to back him up.

“You offered it to us for twelve thousand a kilo three months ago.” Axel tilts his head. “Are you telling me the price has gone up since then?”

Massimo’s fingers tap against my hip in a rhythm, sending a thrill through me at being in this powerful man’s arms. He may be a cocky, demanding son of a bitch, but deep down, I’m kind of enjoying his attention. “Perhaps, unless there’s something else you can offer me.”

“Like what?” Axel asks.

I shudder as I feel Massimo’s electric gaze slide back to me. When I meet it, he’s looking at me with that same predatory stare that makes me want to run in the opposite direction.

“Paisley.”

My name comes from his lips and it sounds so damn dirty. For a moment, my mind doesn’t join the dots. Then I realize what he’s asking for. He wants me as part of the deal.