Page 30 of The Mobster’s Secret

My stomach is tense, and a wave of nausea sweeps over me as I start to come to. My wrists are bound behind my back and tied to something cold and hard. A metal post or something. Trying not to draw attention to myself, I blink my eyes and look around.

My vision is still fuzzy, but I’m in a warehouse of some kind. There are pallets stacked everywhere, rows of boxes, and standing by an open door at the far end is a group of men.

I recognize at least one of them from the group that grabbed me. It’s times like this I wish I wasn’t a tiny woman and I was a badass female superhero out of the MCU. One that could snap the ropes off her wrists, leap up into the rafters, and then jump down on these pricks and kick all their asses.

But that’s not me. I’m a little environmental sciences major who didn’t listen to the man who knew better and got herself into big trouble.

What was I thinking running away like that?

I had a new life where I was being spoiled like a princess by a ruggedly handsome man that treated me like I was the most important woman on Earth. And I didn’t listen when he told me about the danger.

“I’m thinking we have a little fun with her before we kill her,” a gross male voice hisses from up front, quickly followed by murmurs of affirmation.

Then again, I never would have been in any of this mess if it weren’t for Ivan. Ivan, the man who thought he could buy me with eighty thousand dollars. Ivan who thought he could turn me into a kept woman. Ivan who thought he could make the decision that I belonged to him and only him because he’s so used to ruling and getting whatever he wants.

Tears begin to pool in my eyes.

I should hate him. I should blame him for all this. But the truth is, I can’t. When I picture him in my mind, all I see is those piercing eyes and square jaw, the concern on his face, and the way he stared at me as he moved in and took me in his arms.

All I hear are the tantalizing things he murmured into my ear as he ran his hands all over my body, as he exposed me to pleasures I’d never felt before, as he took me and claimed me and made me his.

And as much as I want to put all of this on him and cut off all emotions I have that are linked to him, I can’t. All I can do as I sit on the cold concrete floor with my arms tied behind my back is finally accept the truth. The truth that I’ve been fighting against since he took me home that first night.

I love Ivan.

And God do I wish he was here right now.

“You mind, boss?”

Another voice rings out—colder and more restrained. I don’t even need to be told to know who it belongs to. Vincent Messina.

“What do I care?”

My whole body tenses at the sound of heavy footsteps approaching. I pull hard against my restraints, causing the ropes to bite into my skin. I clench my teeth and twist, doing anything I can to get free. But it’s hopeless. I might as well be superglued to the floor. I’m not going anywhere.

“I can see why he likes her,” a cold male voice comments, clicking his tongue behind his teeth.

“Oh, look. She’s awake.”

“She’s trying to pretend she’s still out.”

“We know you’re awake, sweetie,” the cold voice jeers. “Give it up.”

Pursing my lips, I look up at the three men standing over me. My vision is still a bit blurred, but I can see them all smiling like they’ve just been served an expensive meal. And that sends a shiver down my spine.

A taller figure steps up behind them. He’s wearing a tacky striped suit with a gold necklace draped down where his tie should be. The men make room for him as he takes a step closer to me, assaulting my nose with the stench of cigar and awful cologne.

“Vincent…” I manage to mutter with disgust.

He puffs his cigar and grins down at me. “The one and only,” he replies. “Bet you never thought you’d be in this situation, did you?”

“He’s going to kill you,” I reply. “You know that, don’t you?”

Vincent laughs, and his men join in with him. It’s like watching a bunch of drunk frat boys praising their leader for telling a terrible joke.

“I don’t think you understand what’s going to happen here,” he says. “Ivan is done. Finished. The Messinas are going to take over, and you are going to be my little pet for as long as I want. Mine and my men’s.”

Where the terror in me should be, an anger rises. I lift my head and spit right onto Vincent’s terrible coat. His men go silent, and he freezes. His eyes narrow as he clenches his free hand into a fist.