Beautifully Brutal ( Cavalieri Della 1)

She rises, like a cheetah about to pounce on its prey, her hips swaying as she nears me. I play her game, acting as if I’m caught, but what she doesn’t know is this was all part of my plan.

Games in this life are just that. My piece has moved; now it’s her turn to see if she can knock the knight from his place on the board.

“Lance Knight,” she drawls with a sultry smile curling her full, red lips. “It’s been years since I’ve laid eyes on one of the most dangerous men in the country.”

I don’t res

pond, allowing her to run her blood-red nail over my shoulder. She stalks around me, waiting for my reaction, but I don’t gift it to her, not yet.

“Have you thought of me like I’ve thought of you?”

This time, I do respond. “Probably not. I don’t jerk off when I think of you,” I smirk down at her. Even though she is tall, taller than Giuliana, I still tower over her.

“That’s a shame,” she muses. “Perhaps I should change that.”

“And how, pray tell, do you suggest you do that?” I question. This time, I’m walking away, her heels clicking behind me as I make my way through to the bar. At this time of the afternoon, it’s quiet, with not many guests in the space. The bartender glances my way, and I point at the bottle of Scotch behind him. “Two tumblers with that bottle.”

He nods, making haste to grab my order. Once he sets it on the bar, he disappears to the opposite end of the counter. Jezebel settles on the stool beside me.

“I’d like to invite you to a party,” she tells me. “On Saturday evening at my brother’s home.” Saturday is Giuliana’s birthday. I wanted to spend it hunting for my girl, but I know Arthur will be waiting for me to deliver Sergio’s hands to him. Even though I should refuse her immediately, I don’t. Instead, I play into the game.

“A party?” I ask, focusing on the bottle and pouring two shots of amber liquid into the tumblers. Shoving one her way, I pick up the other and gulp down the drink.

“My brother is holding a dinner for some acquaintances.” She picks up the glass, lifting it to her lips, and sips the strong liquor. “And he has a new plaything I think you’d like.”

This is news to me. When I did my research, I didn’t pick up anything about Sergio having one of his whores with him, but perhaps it was overlooked by Arthur’s men. Already, something doesn’t sit right with me.

As much as I know Arthur hates me, and he’d like to see me dead, his men wouldn’t overlook something so critical. Going into a job like this, not knowing all the details could get innocents killed. And as much as I’d like to see Sergio bleeding out on the floor, I don’t hurt innocent people.

“Sounds like you need a date,” I tell Jezebel, playing up her invitation.

She shrugs. Her lips purse when she regards me. I can tell she’s nervous, unsure if I’m about to tell her to go to hell or not. “If you don’t want to—”

“Sure, just tell me where and when.”

If Arthur wants to play a game, I’ll bite. And when he loses, I’ll be the one calling checkmate.

Giuliana

When I reach the living room, I find Sergio standing at the window. He’s deep in thought, staring out at the dusky evening. The sky slowly darkens before us with no hint of stars just yet.

He doesn’t turn to regard me, and I watch him for a moment. I wonder if I could be with someone like him when all my life I’d only known a man like Lance.

The jeans and leather jacket compared to the suit and tie.

“You look beautiful,” Sergio notes in his thick Spanish accent, and I notice he’s been watching me in the reflection on the glass.

Glancing down at the elegant dress, I feel myself blush as I smile. I haven’t worn anything as beautiful as this in so long. I almost feel too exposed for dinner we’re having in his home rather than going out to an expensive restaurant. “Thank you. Jezebel said—”

“She’s annoying for a little sister,” he interrupts, turning to look directly at me. His eyes burning over my skin as his gaze roves from the top of my blonde head to the heeled sandals on my feet. “But she has good taste in clothes.” His mouth tilts at the corner, the movement is slight, but it shows his approval.

“She does. I haven’t worn something so elegant and expensive in a long while,” I relate, allowing my hands to trail over the material.

“Come,” he beckons, offering me a hand. “Let’s eat.” With my fingers laced through his, he leads me through to the dining area where the table is set for two. Wine glasses are filled with a deep red liquid, the plates are covered with silver domes, and the view from the window is spectacular with the swimming pool shining in the darkness. There are blue lights under the water, illuminating the pool, which makes it seem surreal.

Sergio pulls out a chair, waiting for me to get comfortable in the seat before taking his own. His gaze meets mine before he speaks. “This is new to me. I haven’t had dinner with anyone other than my sister or the men I work with in a long time.”

“Well . . . same here.”