Ravaged By Passion

He laughs, genuinely amused, and lets me go. He steps back as I gather myself, glaring. He walks to the door, pulls it open, and steps into the hall. I want to scream at him to stop, but I know it’s pointless.

A man like Gavino doesn’t listen to anyone but himself.

“I’ll give you another couple days to reconsider,” he says, staring back at me with a smile on his handsome face. “If you’re serious about what you just said then you know that working for me is the only way to make it happen.”

“You don’t know me at all. You don’t know what I’m capable of.”

“I’m sure it’s a lot, but that doesn’t change a thing. You need help, princess. You need me.”

I watch him walk away, trembling.

I don’t need him.

I don’t need anyone.

I’ve been on my own for a long time and I’ll always be that way.

Friends come and go. Family doesn’t last forever.

There’s only me and only ever me, and no thug is going to change my mind about that.

I don’t need Gavino Bruno and he can go to hell for all I care.