AllFreeNovel
Share Us
If only he knew, I didn’t send shit. This is all Retsos idea, and I’m only going along with it to protect Castor.
“And do you respond so seriously to every proposition you get in the mail?” I ask, trying to gather my bearings.
“If you think anyone gets propositioned to in the mail anymore, you must be living in a different time, darling. Funny, you look a lot younger than most grandmothers I know.”
“Is that what you’re into? Grandmothers?”
“Why else would I have responded to that stupid letter?”
“Then you must be disappointed. Since I’m so young and pretty…”
In response, Leo does something completely unexpected… and utterly dangerous. He smiles.
His thick red lips curve upwards, revealing subtle dimples under his chiselled cheekbones.
“You sure are young.”
Just like that, his smile fades, and the cold mafia boss returns.
Instantly, my cheeks begin to burn with embarrassment. Maybe I’m reading him all wrong. Maybe he’s not staring at me so intensely because he likes the way I look, or even because he sees past the walls I’ve built up around myself. Maybe that little girl in me just wants this handsome prince-lookalike to be attracted to me. But deep down, he’s just another evil mafia man. And he only wants what’s good for him.
Well, I’m definitely not good for him. And I’m going to make sure he knows it.
“Not young enough for you to take advantage of,” I bark.
“If you were my wife, I’d do whatever I wanted to you.”
The embarrassment burning through my cheeks flares up even hotter at that comment. But that’s not the only thing on fire. Suddenly, a fan of hot flames are tingling down the inside of my thighs.
Clenching my fists, I try to beat back what I know this is.
Arousal.
The bastard. How dare he make me feel this way.
“Good thing I would never be your wife!” I mindlessly shout.
Finally, Retsos can’t stand it anymore. All of his plans are blowing up in his face.
“Enough of this shit!” He shouts. “I think we should continue these negotiations some other time.”
I can feel the heat of his fury beating against me, but I don’t look at him. My eyes are only for Leonid.
The arousal remains. So does the fury. It’s a confusing mess. A disaster I can’t look away from.
Even though I dreamed of having enough courage to shut this whole marriage proposal down, to say what I’m saying, I know that in reality, this can only end badly. Castor’s life is at stake; so is my well-being, as well as the entirety of my father’s empire.
No. Not your father’s empire. He’s dead. It’s your empire now. Everyone has rallied around you. Retsos is just trying to take advantage of that fact for his own personal gain.
“I think I’ve heard enough,” Leonid says. “Actually, that’s not true. What the fuck is your deal?” My shoulders instinctively drop in disappointment as Leonid tears his gaze from me and fixes it on Retsos. “All of this travelling, all of this secrecy, all of this manpower, for what? Just to reconvene at a later date? This is a mess, you fuck. And I take it as a direct insult that you would arrange a meeting with me and then come completely unprepared. Ray, let’s get the fuck out of here. Clearly, the Greeks are a mess. We can take them in any war.”
Leonid doesn’t even give me one last look as he whips around and brushes by his partner, who is still tense and ready for a fight.
My stupid, immature heart drops as the blonde prince disappears around the dusty, peeling corner. When the front door creaks open, Ray finally snaps to.
“What a waste of time,” he agrees, before following Leonid out into the swamp.
All of a sudden, it’s just me and Retsos again. Well, us and his two goons.
