“You know damn well that contract was doctored. I don’t know how you did it, but half of the shit written in there, I would never agree to.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Backing off of me, he grabs my hand again and begins to pull me down the stairs.
“This conversation isn’t over.”
“We’ll see. Come on.” Even his wink is fucking sexy. God damn this man.
As much as I’m pissed at Marco, and would love to knee him in the balls right now, I’m also curious as to what he has in store for our wedding night. Maybe it’s his own special red room and he’s about to get filthy as fuck. I’m aware this isn’t where my mind should be going, but it’s been a long-ass day, I’m tired, and I’ve already broken all my usual rules. It’s like I’m an observer in my own mind, just here for the ride at this point.
“Ugh. You’re incorrigible. Fine. But don’t think I’m dropping the whole mutilation thing.” Shoving past him, I roll my eyes and make my way down the stairs in front of him, the train of my dress flowing neatly behind me—which means the fucker has to walk a few steps behind me to avoid stepping on it.
“Five,” is whispered into my ear as we reach the bottom before Marco takes my hand again and pulls me toward the door I know leads to the basement. It’s just past his office door, the one place I’ve stayed away from since the meeting with Mr. Bobby’s lawyer. Mainly because it’s where Marco seems to conduct most of his business, and while he’s in there, he’s leaving me alone. Admittedly, I am still constantly supervised by Stefano, Enzo, or Lina. Sometimes Luca, but he’s not here very often and when he is, he spends most of his time in the kitchen preparing meals.
“Is my wedding present all the spanking you’ve been threatening? Because if it is, it’s not much of a surprise, and I can’t say I’m all that excited about it.” I’m lying, of course. I’m actually a little wet just thinking about it.
Once we reach the door to the basement, he spins me so my back is against the frame, his hands on either side of my head, caging me in. Within seconds, his lips are on mine in a hungry kiss that doesn’t last long enough before he pulls away.
“My wedding present may be a little… unconventional. But it is exactly what you need, Tesoro.”
His steel-gray eyes are so intense as he meets my gaze, I’d go so far as to say they’re a little scary.
“Marco, nothing about you is conventional. I’m sure I can handle whatever kinky surprise you’ve got for me.”
A brief sadness crosses his face, but it’s quickly replaced by the same intensity from before as he reaches down to open the door behind me. He walks me carefully through the door and down the stairs backward, his hands on the tops of my arms as he guides me down. I can hear a deep muffled laugh behind me, which makes me even more curious. Marco told me he doesn’t share, so this isn’t about to be the sex-fest I’d expected. There’s a crinkling of some kind of material as we move into the room, which confuses me even more.
“Turn around.” He’s so serious, maybe he’s worried I won’t like what he’s planned. Which actually makes me a little nervous.
Doing as he says, I look to the floor and slowly turn—wanting to get the full effect when I look up—and Marco’s grip on me moves to my hips. Closing my eyes, I move my head up before opening them to see…
“Oh my God, Marco, what the fuck have you done? I know him. Let him go!” Pushing Marco’s hands away from me, I run to the chair in the middle of the room, immediately spinning it so I can begin to untie him.
Then my nose is assaulted with the smell of nicotine, and the night in the alley comes rushing back to me. No…
I spin the chair again so I’m facing him, my breaths coming short and fast as tears sting my eyes. In this moment, staying strong in front of my client can go fuck itself. Everything around me blurs and I focus on the man in the chair.
“Tell me it wasn’t you, Frank.”
A gruesome smile appears through the gag on his battered and bloody face. My whole body is shaking with adrenaline and I have no fucking idea what’s going on right now.
Heat warms my back as Marco moves to stand behind me, and I feel him place something cold into my right hand.
“I know what he did to you, Tesoro. Now it’s time for you to take your power back from this vermin.”
Looking down, I see a beautiful diamond-encrusted dagger in my hand, which I immediately drop in shock.
What the fuck does Marco expect me to do?
“You need this.” His breath tickles my ear as he speaks in a low, deep grumble, then he spins me to face him once again.
I’m trembling with fear, anger, confusion… so many things, I can’t pinpoint just one.
“Marco, what the actual fuck?”
“This man is responsible for your torment. He’s been calling you, sending you messages, and he’s responsible for your Mr. Bobby. Vincenzo has been on the hunt and we finally tracked him down.”
“No…”
“Tesoro—”