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I stop at the iron gate, lower my window, and hit the Call button on the speaker.

“Hello?” a gruff voice says from the other side. “Astor residence.”

I lean forward, resting my arm on the windowsill. “Tell Carlisle I have his daughter.”

“What the hell?” Genesis shrieks, returning to her struggle with her tied wrists.

The man clears his throat. “Excuse me, sir?”

“Genesis is in the car with me.” When rain drops into my SUV, I inch my window up some. “You have ten seconds to open the gate unless you want me to drop her off here.”

I notice a camera in the speaker box turn on. I lean back in my seat to show Genesis. I’m sure it’s a great scene—her blindfolded and restrained.

The gate immediately opens, reminding me I’m not dealing with the typical men I’m used to. No one from my world would ever open a gate so easily.

I speed down the drive and flatten my foot against the pedal when we reach the front door.

I jump out of the SUV, swing open Genesis’s door, and pull her from her seat. She fights back as I drop her onto the hard concrete and roll her body over with the sole of my foot.

“You motherfucker,” she yells, kicking at me. “I’m going to kill you.”

“We both know you can’t even lay a hand on me.” I nudge her farther away from the SUV. “You’re welcome for making sure you got home safe.”

I squat so we’re eye level, grab the pocketknife from my pocket to cut her zip tie, remove the blindfold, and tap her cheek.

Her breathing is noisy, her eyes cold, and she catches me off guard when she pulls back her fist, punching me in the face.

I wince, drawing back, impressed by the sucker punch. “I’ll give you that.” I cup her face. “Stay away from this world if you know what’s best for you.” I feel blood against my tongue.

She glares as I step over her body and drive away.

There’s only one woman I can never touch, under any circumstances—Genesis Astor.

She’s trying to make it damn hard for me though.

The best solution to that is to scare the shit out of her.

Make her fear me.

That’s exactly what I did.

16

The Past

I once hada boyfriend in high school who called his attorney after his friend grabbed my ass at a party. He wanted tosuethe guy, not punch his lights out. I broke up with him two minutes later.

That was the moment I realized I’d never date a man like him.

I don’t want amy father will sue youman.

I want atouch her and dieman.

Loud music booms against as I swing my hips to the beat on the dance floor. Darcy, dressed in a glitter minidress, grabs my hand, twirls across from me, and shakes her ass. Her maroon-dyed hair is sweaty, sticking to the side of her face.

This is our first time at Seven Seconds—the hottest nightclub in the city.

It’s also Cristian and Benny Marchetti’s club, and Melissa’s parents weren’t comfortable with her coming to any establishment run by another Mafia family.