TEN

We were now in an open corridor. Rocco stood like a statue at the end of the room, staring into space. Two other guards stood at a reasonable distance, taking the same stance. I snatched my hand back from him, crossing it over my chest.

"Good. Then that's settled. But make no mistake, he turned "I'm going to take my pleasure from you, how and when I deem it fit." He threatened.

"You dare not!" I challenged, creating a distance between us.

"Really," he mused. "Let's see how that goes."

"Every single thing about this situation is disappointing," I corrected him, feeling my jaw quiver. I had a temper. So I try so hard to always remain happy and positive.

And that was why I surrounded myself with people that really love and care about me. They all knew and understood how bad my temper used to be.

As a form of control, I would always remain cold and calm in situations I have no power over. Until I grab a full picture of the situation. But then, in some conditions, I almost always end up crying when I get angry. It was frustrating and embarrassing and something my best friend had teased me about a lot.

Hollis mouth opened as if he was going to snap back at me before he shut it again, thinking for a moment. When he spoke, his voice was calm, patient even. "You will learn that there are benefits to being with me."

"Touche. You might end up dead one morning."

He chuckled. "And you'll be my killer?" He asked as one of his dark brows rose.

"What do you think?"

"I think you're giving yourself too much credit, Ugo." I couldn’t decide if he was surprised, amused or annoyed. Or maybe all of them at the same time. "But I'm banking on that," he added.

"I imagine there are at least a dozen men who want you dead."

"Yes, even more than a dozen." He said, shrugging it off.

"So I'll just wait it out then."

"You should." He nodded, pretending to think it through. "Someone might beat you to it."

I hissed, wrapping my arms around myself more tightly. He shook his head and reached for his phone as it buzzed, taking a second to check the screen. "I have some business to attend to. Rocco will see you in our room. You have a few hours to clean up and wait for me, we need to talk."

"Rocco." I asked, stiffening, not wanting that guy that had been giving me mean stares near me again.

"Maxine would have done that for you, I noticed you feel less edgy around him. But, Rocco is nice, be nice too." Hollis said, waving toward the side of the room where the mean looking Rocco stood.

"You know the schedule." Hollis said to Rocco, not sparing him a glance.

"Yes Boss." Rocco replied.

"Good." She stays within the house, unless I say otherwise."

"Oh, but I’m not a prisoner or anything, right, Mr. Warden." I said, getting his gaze to lift, his brow arched up.

"Just do what you’re told, Ugo."

"If that's what you want, you know I'm the wrong person for the job."

"My god! what's with you. A few moments ago, you were calm, quiet. But now, it feels like someone pulled a plug on your mouth-switch."

I shrugged, thinking of the best reply, but couldn't come up with any. "You’re only going to make things harder on yourself with that attitude," Hollis said, but shrugged it off. "Whatever sets your panties on fire."

"Don’t speak of my panties," I snapped, jaw tight.

And that got his full attention. He slowly tucked away his phone and stalked toward me, leaning down as he held my gaze, something dark and wicked in his eyes.

"I will talk about your panties anytime I want, Ugo. Or have you forgotten that you're mine for as long as this last. Mine to command, mine to please, mine to toy with, mine to fuck!" He blew out.

"Jesus!" I exclaimed, the severity of what I just signed glared at my face.

I felt insulted, humiliated in the worst possible way, that I didn't think it through when I cocked my arm back and slapped him across the face.

After the slap and two seconds of feeling pleased with myself, I look around the room and knew then that I've fucked up. Because the men in the room all stiffened and reached for their weapons.

"One, little cockroach, just one," he said, running his fingertips across the spot I slapped. "Get your ass up to the room before I drag you there myself. Rocco!" He called, keeping unnerving eye contact the whole time it took for the mean-looking man to move to my side.

"Ready?" Rocco asked, tone lighter, like he was trying to ease up the tension between Hollis and I."

"Yeah," I agreed, my gaze moved away from Hollis to Rocco, who at the moment, seemed like a more friendly face.

I fell into step behind him as he led me away from his enraged Boss.