Possessed by the Killer (Dark Possessive Mafia)

Her mouth opened but she clamped it shut.

I moved closer, and she finally stepped back. She was small, maybe five foot five at most, and I towered over her—nearly a foot taller.

“You’re not seriously considering my uncle’s insane offer?” she asked. “I’m not going to marry some stranger just to make sure this crazy family sticks together. I hate the Valentinos. Why the hell would I try to help it?”

I reached out, faster than she could pull away, and grabbed her wrist. She gasped, surprised, and I pulled her toward me. I slipped one hand along her lower back and pressed her tight against me.

She stared in shock for one glorious second before the surprise turned to absolute rage.

And I kissed her.

She tasted like bubblegum and mint. I held that kiss, her lips soft and delicious, and she returned it—and I could’ve sworn, she released a soft, gasping moan.

Until she shoved me hard in the gut with her free hand.

I laughed and released her. She staggered back, glaring at me like she wanted to rip my head off. “What the hell is wrong with you?” she asked. “You psycho asshole.”

“Just giving you a taste of what you’d miss out on,” I said. “And testing you a little bit. I’m not the man you think I am.”

“You’re exactly what I think you are,” she said, shaking her head, and went around the bar. She grabbed a bottle, checked the label, then took a long drink straight. “God, you’re all the same.”

I held my hand out. She hesitated then passed the bottle over. I drank—cheap whiskey. Tasted great, mingling with the memory of her lips and tongue.

An idea hit me then.

It was crazy, maybe even reckless, but it could solve all my problems.

I liked this girl, liked the way she glared at me, the way she kissed me back, even the way she shoved me away. She had fire and anger, and I appreciated that.

Hell, I wanted it.

So I’d pay for it, and make this marriage worth her time.

“How about this,” I said, handing the bottle back. She took a pull. “I’ll make you an offer. You don’t have to accept it, but think about it first, okay?”

“I’m not interested,” she said, but stared at me and didn’t move.

I leaned over the bar, staring into her eyes.

“If you marry me, I’ll pay you one million dollars for every year we stay together, for a maximum of ten years.” I tilted my head, smirking slightly, as her mouth fell open. I loved that look on her face. Delicious and almost sexy. Maybe this girl would be a treat to marry after all. “Ten million if you can stick it out.”

“You’re insane,” she said. “You don’t have that kind of money.”

“Ask your uncle if you’re not sure,” I said and turned my back on her. I wondered if she’d try to throw the bottle at me. I figured I’d find out as I walked toward the door.

“This is crazy, you know that, right?” she asked. “You’re a total stranger.”

“I’m aware,” I said, pausing with my hand on the knob. “But I need your father’s help and I like the way you kiss. Besides, it might be fun.”

I left the room and caught one final lingering image of her glaring murder at me, like a panther unleashed in a hen house.

Roy sat on the stairs at the end of the hallway. He struggled to his feet, smiling and dabbing at his forehead. “What’d you think?” he asked.

“That girl hates my fucking guts,” I said.

His face fell slightly. “I told her to be good.”

“She was,” I said. “But she still hates me. What were you thinking?”

“She’ll come around,” he said, his face going dark, and I grimaced. I didn’t like the way he glared down the hall, and I could only imagine what Roy’s idea of making her come around was.

“Whatever you’re thinking right now, stop it,” I said angrily. “I made her an offer. If she wants to accept it, then we can make this deal happen. Otherwise, I won’t force her.”

“She’s got no say,” Roy said. “She’s nobody.”

“She’s your fucking niece,” I said, walking past him. “Tell her the offer stands. Tell her I’m good for it. She’ll decide on her own.”

I left him alone there. I hoped he wouldn’t do something drastic to the girl.

She fascinated me. I never met someone with so much anger before and so willing to tell me straight to my face how she felt. That, combined with the kiss, made me want to tear her clothes off right then and there.

Fuck, she was gorgeous. I knew Roy would try to force her, but I figured my offer would sweeten the deal enough for her to come around on her own regardless. I didn’t know her at all, and our marriage would be for political reasons, but maybe I could learn to like being with her.