“What the fuck?” she said, holding her wrist.
“Is that how you welcome guests?”
“Guest? As far as I’m concerned, you’re breaking and entering. Don’t you know how to knock?” she asked.
He walked in, tossing her gun on a low dresser. Boss checked out the small, open-concept cabin. It was a lot more presentable inside than out. There was a double bed, nightstand, dresser, and oversized wicker chair with a big floral cushion. It didn’t look like Widow Maker’s style. “What is this place?”
“None of your business.”
He shrugged. Boss never expected a straight answer from her. She was the most difficult female he’d ever dealt with. “This where you fuck your marks?”
“Bastard.” She lunged at him and he grabbed both her wrists. He loved pushing her buttons. There was something deeply satisfying about toying with Graciella.
“You should really learn to control that Latina temper of yours. It’ll be your downfall.”
“Funny how you’re the only one who manages to piss me off.” She struggled to free her arms but she wasn’t going anywhere until he decided so. “What do you want from me now?”
“I want to know why you drove all the way out to this piece-of-shit cabin. You’re hiding something.”
She shook her head. “What you see is what you get. I’m not hiding anything.”
“You met with Viko a few days ago. Don’t forget I’m watching him. And you. What did you talk about?”
Graciella huffed. “Why don’t you ask him yourself?”
“I thought I’d ask you. He’s your master, after all. Like he said, you’ll be in debt to him for the rest of your life. That what you like? Being a slave to a man like him?”
Her eyes narrowed, but that was all the emotion he could get out of her. He knew he’d hit a sore spot, but she managed to keep up her iron walls.
“You like being put on show for piece-of-shit assholes like Viko? He said that wasn’t the first time he’s had you stripped naked.”
“So what? I’ve told you before it’s only a body.”
“And I’ve told you you’re better than this.”
Her figure was fucking perfection. Thick thighs, rounded hips, and a killer ass. She filled out everything she wore in an unholy way. And she knew exactly how she affected men. Graciella was the whole package. Only she wasn’t. Her beauty was skin-deep, the rest a dark abyss of pain she lived to keep buried. Boss was convinced he was the only man who could handle a woman like her.
But he wasn’t looking to settle down. Not now. Not ever.
Only the distant sound of waves and their combined breathing could be heard. They were so close. “You came here for a reason,” she finally said.
“I don’t like secrets. Yours tend to be deadly.”
“Again, I didn’t plan on this happening,” she said. “And I’ll clean everything up. I’m working on it.”
“Where does this cabin come in?”
She exhaled. “It’s mine, okay? A place I like to come to sometimes. It helps me think.”
Even the heartless Widow Maker needed an escape. Boss never granted himself such liberties. Too dangerous.
“You like the ocean?” he asked. Graciella was cold, calculating, and ruthless. Discovering she had hidden passions was worth the drive out to the beach.
She didn’t answer him, but he expected no less.
“Mind if I have a seat?”
“Make yourself at home,” she said, snatching her hands away once he relaxed his grip. He sat on the edge of the bed, the springs squeaking slightly from his weight.
“I never thought of you as a floral girl,” he teased.
“You know so little about me, Boss. You think you know everything, but you can never get in here.” She used two fingers to tap her head.
“I want in there.”
She sauntered toward him, standing directly in front of where he sat. Her legs were bare. She only wore a short white sundress, and it highlighted her golden skin. “You get everything you want, don’t you?” she asked.
“Almost.”
He ran both his hands up the backs of her legs. She didn’t flinch away.
Boss groaned, his cock already stiff and uncomfortable.
“Have you had many dinner dates lately? I’m sure you can have any woman you want. You’re the great Boss of Killer of Kings, after all.”
“No dates. And the only woman I’m interested in right now is already here.”
“Now I’m the conquest of the week. I suppose I should be flattered.”
“You should,” he said.
“I guess I’m good for one night,” she said. “But men like you don’t settle for women like me. You want virgins. Young, sweet things to balance out the darkness. I know how it works,” she said.
“What happens to women like you?” he asked. There was pain in her words. He wasn’t used to getting an emotional response out of the raven-haired beauty.
“We become forgotten. Lost. Nobody really cares about the broken ones.”
His hands drifted higher up her thighs. Fuck, her legs were smooth. He felt the edge of her panties.