Page 38 of Hollow Forest

The corners of his mouth curled in a wicked smile. “You’ll be mine, Sam. Body, mind, and soul. I’ll claim every fucking inch of you, and I’ll never apologize for not letting you go.”

No….

No, I could be stronger than this. Two could play at this game. I flicked a glance at his crotch, seeing his erection painfully outlined against his own jeans. He needed this as much as I did.

And it was time to turn the tables.

“I guess the truce is over,” I breathed and sat up to snatch my shirt off the ground. “Thank you for bringing me home.”

The look of surprise that flashed through those pitch-black depths was priceless. His nostrils flared against the bottom of the mask.

I snuggled into the couch, pulling the blanket over my shoulders and fluffing it over my still bare legs.

“Sleep well, beautiful.” His voice was that of a roiling, blackening storm. I knew that when it broke, there would be hell to pay. But for tonight, at least, I still had the upper hand.

He rose.

I hated how badly it hurt to see him go.

But as his footsteps faded and the back door clicked shut, I knew it was only a matter of time before I gave into the stormy force of nature. There was no way in hell I was leaving town before I tasted that darkness. And that was a dangerous game to play.

Chapter 14 – The Monster

Ivry: She wasn’t pleased.

I snorted as I tapped out a response. Of course, my beautiful little monster was furious. An independent woman like her being told she would need to be picked up and dropped off from work was hardly her ideal situation.

Hell, if I had it my way, she wouldn’t be working at all! Not until her sprain was better. But she’d convinced Ivry to let her work the point of sale on a stool with her leg propped. When my cousin texted me with an update, I only allowed it under the condition she received a ride both ways.

Me: Watch her.

My third cousin, twice removed, would answer to me if a single hair on my angel’s scalp was harmed. The threat was implied, but I debated giving the bubblehead a vivid description of what I would do to her if she failed.

Of course, then I would have to answer to her scary fiancé. Demyan was new to town, but he was a force to be reckoned with. I liked that he was protective of Ivry. Hell, the woman deserved a happily-ever-after. But did it have to be with someone who’d tried to kill our don? It still blew my mind that Lucian allowed Demyan to live, let alone marry our older cousin.

A bubble appeared in the corner of the screen.

Ivry: Will do, cugino.

Ivry: PS the cottage looks great! Shoulda did that years ago.

If Drusilla’s cottage had been renovated, one of my numerous cousins would have moved in there. No, that old, rickety house was destined to be my bride’s. It just took my little monster showing up to town to make me realize new life could be breathed into the old bones.

I set my phone down and drummed my fingers into the wooden desk. The software continued to run, a small wheel circling in the center of the desktop screen.

The front door of the manor home opened with a bang. I groaned, knowing one of my siblings was home. From the clippety-clop of her heels, I braced myself for an encounter with the black mare herself.

“Stronzo! What are you doing?” Drew crowed, sliding the door to the library open.

“Working,” I clipped out.

The mafia princess tsked her tongue. “Using the famiglia’s resources? I know that isn’t business related.”

A blood-red, manicured finger pointed accusingly at the screen.

I glared at the baby of the Ravello family from over the top of the screen. “Like you haven’t used resources to get back at any number of ex-lovers, Drusilla.”

Her hawk nose wrinkled at the use of her full name. Like every Ravello female before her, the oldest daughter of the family received the honorary title. Just like the first-born son was always a Lucianus, and the current Lucian was the boss now, ever since the previous Lucian retired.