5: Bound

Afte

breath shallow, pulse h

st of the man who had stood there moments ago-Victor Russo's

hadn't

ion that could snap at any moment. His fingers twitched at

could s

ng beneath his c

ruder had stayed a second longer

orming on her wrist. A deep purple

e no

y, his expression darkening. Slowly, deli

n sti

Gentle. A contrast to e

?" His voice was

lowed. "

aze turne

p tightening just enough for her to

d've kil

in his tone sent a

a step back.

didn't

Russo'

t ice throug

ard it bef

underbelly. Ruthless

d

w who

s insane," she whispered. "I

ssion remaine

that left no ro

long to

s breat

at her to argue, t

s gaze-dark, unwave

voice was quieter now, but no less inte

art po

esponsibility,"

d, but it wa

hat to

between them. He

h

his phone and m

al

ckled on th

. She was followed from The

n sti

mach cl

t she me

hat changed

as before you did,"

ed around the phone.

pa

on't

g the phone back into his poc

coming w

yes widene

leaving y

cketed. "Dante,

uld finish, his fingers tilting her

't a nego

ay he said it sent a

he was thr

se she be

ti had made

n like him ma

s no cha

n swa

h

ka

-

en in the

use was not wh

gant, luxu

living room was sleek and modern, with expensive le

the

neath them, glittering like

beauty, the pl

ouse, no

d the door

shrugging off his jacket. "Nobo

near the entr

at happ

turned

ce was calm. "

ked. "Th

ut it didn't

me to sing y

her eyes. "You

d. "And you'r

that he

ned her more than

he hall. "Guest room. Lock the d

hesi

e nodded and walk

fore she st

urned

an

fted

hesi

, so

nk y

ickered in h

she coul

er word, she disapp

rubbing a han

ne what h

her

yn safe was supp

pposed to fe

omethi

ething d

ti didn't just want

ed to k

th

oing to be

-

r: The War

fice, Victor Russo sat behind his

ood before him, face

ated him," the

o sm

is drink. "We did exactl

ed. "But More

rd, eyes gleaming

act

s down and folded

something he

sitated. "And if he d

ckled, lo

he

ack, tiltin

ante Moretti don't

smi

ill for

d his glass i

velyn

slow, del

r had