I stared at Ace, having a hard time acknowledging his words. Did he truly suggest I should marry Hunter Thorne?“Are you out of your fucking mind?!” Fifi burst out, glaring at Ace. “That man is practically a Mafia Don! Not to mention that he has a long line of enemies waiting to kill him... and his wife!”Ace gave her a look. “Don't be so dramatic. You're forgetting that he also has the biggest number of soldiers at his disposal. I'd say he's pretty well protected. I'm also certain he'd make protecting his wife a number one priority.”Fifi worked her jaw. “He's doing a lot of illegal… stuff!”“Well, no shit!” Ace snorted. “May I remind you your family deals with all of the Italians, Russians, Chinese Triads, and Yakuza and is quite OK with taking money from them?”Fifi rolled her eyes. “That's… different. We don't get to pick our clients.”“Spare me that bullshit, Fifi.” Ace gave her an unimpressed look. “And may I remind you that Cat can either marry a sadist or... choose someone equ
My stomach turned to lead. He refused. This was a script from my worst nightmare. I could feel the blood draining from my face. Had I been too arrogant in thinking he might agree? Perhaps I was only fooling myself. I wasn't presentable enough. I had no true value to him. Still, I wanted to know. I needed to hear it. “Why?” I choked out. “Is it because I'm not Italian?”He shook his head. “If I'd wanted someone to act as my wife, I would have hired an actress.” His cold voice echoed through the room.“Then what else do you want?” My hands shot up in frustration. “You want me to become your assistant? Your personal maid? Or maybe you want me to bake you fucking cookies?!”His lips curved, but the smile that formed was dark... feral. “What you offer is still only the wrapper. What I want is the whole package.”I swallowed, suddenly feeling naked despite the layers of fabric covering my skin. “There are limits to what I am willing to sell,” I gritted out.A soft chuckle escaped him. “Do y
I was still in a daze after our quite intense kissing, but I was conscious enough for all kinds of questions to appear. I stared at him in silence, processing everything he had told me before blurting out, “I won't bear you a child.”Amusement danced on his lips. “Never say never.”My hands fisted. “We're not going to add a child into our deal.”“There won't be any deal.” He leaned forward, his lips forming a sly smirk. “You will marry me because you want to, and I will pay for your mother's treatment out of the goodness of my heart.”I huffed out a laugh and folded my arms across my chest. “Are you serious?”His smirk turned into a sultry grin. “Deadly serious. My friend, Rowan, will drive you home and give you a few documents to fill out. I'll need them to take care of your mother.” He leaned back in his chair and glanced at his watch. “Now I'll have to ask you to leave. I'm having an appointment in a few minutes.”I studied him in absolute disbelief. “You really mean what you said,
HUNTERI stood by the wall-to-ceiling window, looking at the sun setting over Manhattan. I should have been celebrating. The first part of my plan had succeeded. Instead, the mix of emotions I felt put me on the edge.The sun was bloody as if to emphasize the recently spilled blood. Exhaling slowly, I looked at my hand and the itching skin on my healing, still-reddish knuckles. A faint smile stretched my lips. At least one good thing happened today. One piece of shit less in this fucked-up world.The door behind my back slid open, and Rowan stormed into my office. “The news about the police finding Marchetti's body is now everywhere,” he said through his teeth. “I bet that the old fucker is already heading here.”I could feel the incoming headache. I glanced at my hand again and turned around to face Rowan. “How much do you think he knows?”Rowan dragged his hand over his face and slumped down on the sofa. “He knows that Giulio was last seen at the wedding. Apparently, Giulio told one
I woke up the same way I'd woken up yesterday and the day before—with a painful hard-on. Growling out a curse, I rose from the bed and walked into the shower cabin. If only jerking off could lessen the thirst I felt. It sure as fuck didn't work this way, and Catherine Duncan was the one to blame.I wanted those rouge, heart-shaped lips wrapped around my cock. I wanted to watch those stunning green eyes widen as she took me in. I dreamed about it and about everything I would do to her once she became mine. I wondered if she knew how badly she had gotten under my skin. I bet she had no idea.I couldn't fully comprehend it myself. At first glance, she wasn't much different from other pretty faces I had met before her. Perhaps it had been that wild determination in her eyes or the way she'd tried to fight in my office. I could still hear her breathy little moans… Fuck, I was hard again.I'd just walked out of the bathroom, a towel wrapped around my hips, when my phone rang. I snatched it
CATHERINE“And this will be your bedroom.” Marcello Salvo, the maggiordomo, opened the door and gestured for me to enter.I gave him a nervous nod before passing the threshold. My breath caught at the sight of a beautiful chamber filled with light. A slow smile rose on my face as I took in the large, dark wooden floor, cream-white furniture, large canopy bed, and carefully chosen accessories. My feet moved on their own, heading to the row of arched windows. They overlooked the stunning garden. God… I could paint this place for hours and hours.“I hope you'll find this place comfortable,” Marcello's voice sounded behind me. Only then did I realize he was still here, waiting for my reaction and perhaps acceptance.I turned around and smiled at the gray-haired man. “This room is amazing. This whole place is mesmerizing.”Marcello slightly bowed at the waist before pointing at the door on the right. “The bathroom is over there. I took the liberty of filling it with a few cosmetics worthy
I walked through the doors into the marble-covered veranda, and my eyes instantly drifted to the black Bentley parked in front of the mansion. The driver dressed in a jacket, a fitted tee, and slacks—all black—leaned against the front door with his muscled arms crossed over his broad chest. He had chestnut hair and light hazel eyes, slightly creepily emphasized by his golden-brown complexion.He watched me descend the steps, scanning me from head to toe before offering a curt bow. “Pleasure to meet you, Ms. Duncan.”“Ferro… right?” I gave him a nervous smile.“At your service.” He nodded and opened the door, helping me into the car. “Where to?”“Sinclair Clinic,” I said, watching his dark brows rise in a silent question. “Doctor Robert Sinclair is a neurologist. He's treating my mother.”“I see.” He nodded before rushing to sit behind the wheel. He started the engine and glanced at me in the rearview mirror. “Hope she'll get better soon.” A small, sympathetic smile curved his lips.“Th
This had to be some seriously fucked-up joke. Why, of all people, did I have to run into the one I was supposed to avoid?! Calvin closed the door behind him as his father—the hoarse voice I had heard before—continued to yell at the poor doctor.Grinding my teeth, I stepped back and squared my shoulders. “I heard about Connor. Sorry for your loss,” I clipped. Then I offered him a shallow bow and tried to walk past him.He was faster, stepping in front of me and blocking my way again. “So that's it? You say your sorry-ass condolences and walk away? Why are you here, Catherine?”I saw his fisted hands and clenched jaw. I could almost feel the acidic rage radiating from him. “My mother's in this clinic,” I explained quietly. “I need to go back to her, so…” I turned around, but he grabbed my arm, forcing me to a halt.“What are you doing here, on this floor?” he hissed.I jerked my arm, freeing myself from his grip. “I don't need to answer your questions.”He leaned over me, fury burning i
CATHERINEI had a dream. I was running through a dark tunnel. Shouts and rough grunts echoed behind me. I couldn't understand them. I only knew that if I stopped, I would die. So I kept running, even though my lungs burned and my muscles turned into stone. I was cold. I was hopeless. I was alone…‘You can stop now, Catherine,’ someone's voice coaxed. ‘You can go back.’The voice sounded familiar, although it was etheric and breathy. It didn't seem to come from one place. It vibrated around me. It pierced through me. I wasn't even sure if it came from the tunnel or I heard it in my mind.‘Catherine, stop.’ The sound was gentle, pleasant, and yet filled with strength and confidence.I slowed my pace, then dug my heels into the cold ground. “Mom?” I whispered, looking around as if the voice could somehow materialize.‘Go back,’ she said. ‘He's waiting for you.’Hot tears gathered in my eyes. “He?” I croaked.‘It's over, Catherine.’ A warm smile filled every note. ‘Go there. Celebrate your
A hand on my shoulder jerked me awake. Wincing in discomfort, I straightened up in my seat and blinked, adjusting my vision. The sympathetic smile on Lazar's face told me I must have looked like shit. His eyes drifted to the side of the bed where I held Catherine's hand.“No changes, I see,” he muttered.I looked at his sleeping great-niece and shook my head. Then I turned to him and cleared my throat. “The doctors say this might take a while before she wakes up.”The night she had gotten shot, I'd nearly lost my mind. Luckily, Lazar's doctors had taken care of her immediately. Ironically, the shot might have been the thing that saved her. The massive blood loss had lessened the Pink Opium's effect, and after the blood transfusion, the poisonous drug had left her body.Lazar fixed his eyes on me. “But… she will wake up.” I wasn't sure whether it was a statement or a question, but I still nodded. A sliver of relief relaxed his features, but then he clenched his fists. “I should have pr
My finger turned heavier, curling on the trigger as I imagined his brain splattered all over this fucking corridor. But I wasn't the only one feeling bloodthirst. Dante wanted to kill me just as badly; I saw it in his rage-burning eyes. He tried to mask it with cold amusement, but I could nearly taste the fury radiating from him.“Is she inside?” he purred, jerking his chin at the ajar-open door to the storage. “Such a stubborn little thing, isn't she? She's dying because of that stubbornness.”Every fiber within me filled with lethal calm. “You did this to her? You gave her the Pink Opium?”The fucker smiled, triggering a new urge. No. He wouldn't die from a single bullet. He deserved to be skinned alive and torn to fucking little pieces.He lifted his gun, aiming at my head. “She will die within an hour. The latest booster works that way. Although, I have to admit she used it well. Did she tell you she killed five of ours until the initial effect wore off?” Cold laughter slipped free
HUNTER“Explain to me again, why do we trust this guy?” Rowan grunted as we marched through the tunnel.“We don't trust him,” I corrected. “We're taking a necessary risk.”Rowan glanced at Remo and Ferro as if hoping they would back him up. Luckily for them, they kept their mouth shut. Rowan, however, chose otherwise. “This looks like a trap. Why would this guy, who's apparently Lagunov's general, help us get into their fortress through some backdoor? It doesn't make sense!”I gave him a wry smile but didn't slow my pace. “I don't get it either. Then again, he had a chance to kill me twice. He didn't even try. Maybe he actually wants to switch sides.”Rowan gave me a look. “He killed Arianna without remorse.”“Perhaps he can't work around every order Lagunov gives him,” I reasoned. “Or maybe he simply hated Arianna.”“That I can imagine,” Remo commented dryly.Rowan lined up with me. “Basically, you dragged us into those tunnels because he wrote something about the documents signed by
Twenty-four hours had passed without Dante showing up in my prison cell, but that hadn't made me relax even for a second. I had been on constant alert, listening to every sound coming from the corridor. My muscles tensed every time I heard someone approaching my door, but I knew that I finally had to get some sleep…I'd used Maxim's trick to block the handle, but even then I allowed myself to rest for merely three hours. Drifting into a deep sleep wasn't an option, although I realized my body would soon run on fumes.My anxieties threatened to devour me, but each time I was close to panic, Maxim's words appeared in my mind. “They're coming, Catherine,” I mumbled to myself. “Just hold on a little longer.”A few more hours had passed, and I was slowly losing the fight to keep my eyes open. I was on the verge of falling into unawareness when the sound of heavy footsteps made me jerk up to my feet. Barefoot, I rushed to unblock the door. A second later, the door slammed open, and three me
My whole body began to rattle, and a high-pitched tone rang in my ears. It was a struggle not to fall apart as I silently prayed Hunter was alive. But if they had attacked the estate in Scarsdale, how many people had they killed? What about Gianna, Ferro, Enzo, Remo, or Rowan?“Thank you, Maxim.” Aleks Lagunov's icy laugh tore me out of my frantic thoughts. “That's great news,” he crooned as his eyes shifted to me. “Not so great news for you, I'm afraid. You see, Catherine, I can assure you that no one will come for you. Tomorrow, we will attack the Fedorov's estate and crush Lazar's little army. We know more than a little about your plans…” He pointed at one of the Italians sitting by the table. “Mr. Messino was kind enough to share more than a few details.”My hands fisted into tight balls. “Fucking traitor,” I strained through my teeth.Messino glared at me, but Lagunov laughed. “Such feistiness… Just like Katerina.” Then he locked his eyes on me, a grim smile stretching his lips.
CATHERINEI couldn't sleep. Drifting into unawareness in this place was more terrifying than Dante's presence in my room. I was exhausted, but my adrenaline levels were high enough to keep me constantly awake.Nearly every sound coming from the corridor made me flinch. The heavy steps brought chills down my spine, and the deep, cold laughter caused my stomach to roil. Dante hadn't visited me again so far, but I knew he would come and demand my answer. As if he had given me a choice…Three times a day someone walked into my room, bringing me food—mostly a slice of bread and water, sometimes an apple. Those servants never looked at me or spoke except for barking out a few commands. They had uncuffed my hand twice. Only for a minute, and only so I could take care of my physiological needs. Then I was cuffed again.I began to think I might lose my mind should I stay in this room and in this bed another day. My whole body began to ache, and I spent hours trying to shift the chain to make m
“Where are the fucking darts?!” Remo shouted through the communicator. “I've literally stuffed those fuckers with bullets, and they're still attacking the gates!”“Get a grip. You're not the only one pissed off by those zombie cunts,” Rowan hissed as he released another empty clip.All my men had been trying to fend off the attack at our gates for over an hour now. So far, the defenses we had installed around the estate turned out to be unbreachable, but those drug-fueled soldiers were relentless in their attempts to bring our fences down.“Enzo said the darts are on the way,” I said, aiming my gun at one of the bloodshot-eyed fuckers charging at the western gate. “In the meantime, aim for the heads.”Most of my suit was coated with blood. I hadn't had the time to change, and those renegades didn't die easily. Blood formed a red mist around our borders, and countless bodies lined the ground. Their losses were far greater than ours, but they kept coming, kept attacking…“Guys, I'm runn
HUNTERTwenty-six hours passed since Catherine had been abducted, and we still couldn't locate where she was kept. Potentially, she could have been in one of over thirty estates owned by Aleks Lagunov. So far, we were trying to narrow that list down, but excluding each location took too much time…After more than a few hours of useless quarrels, Lazar and I had finally gathered all our allies under one roof—my roof. Certainly, this agreement hadn't eliminated the mutual hostility, which currently satiated the air in the meeting room so densely, breathing had become a struggle. Well, at least none of them had chosen to resort to violence… so far.We all sat at the large oval table with Lazar and me on the opposite sides. We exchanged meaningful looks, then Lazar cleared his throat, drawing everyone's attention. “My spies confirmed our previous suspicions… The Lagunov family's old estate was abandoned some time ago,” he said. “That means the renegades' main headquarters has to be elsewh