Page 6 of Caruso

I am still.

My mind moves at a thousand miles an hour as I struggle to get my bearings. Seizing on my knowledge of the layout of the rooms as I prepare for something out of my control.

“Who’s there?”

My voice is low, steady and unafraid, and thebreathing deepens before a husky whisper hits my left ear.

“Peekaboo.”

A hand grasps my wrist and pushes me hard against the edge of the bed, my knees buckling as they fold, my face hitting the flat white sheets.

The uniform is pushed around my waist, and the sound of a zipper dragging down alerts me to my fate. As I still, my attacker kicks my legs apart and presses against me from behind, reaching for my hair and curling it around his fist.

“It’s time to service the room, pretty lady.”

His breath is close, dusting my ear, and I struggle to maintain a cool composure as my mind shifts to fight.

“Such a pretty lady, so attractive, so mine.”

His grunt of lust mixes with his deep breathing, and the stench of whiskey hangs heavy in the air.

I wait until he positions himself behind me and then I reach out and sink my nails deep into his balls. His agonized roar is lost on me as I twist them hard, his scream fading into the background as I turn and thump him hard around the head.

His squeal of pain delights me as I fight my predator literally in the dark, and my fury knows no bounds as I grip his head between my hands and twist his neck, loving the sound of it snapping under the force of my aggression.

He slumps to the floor, and the accompanying silence tells me I’ve succeeded in my aim, and as I edge to thedoor, I search on my hands and knees for the card he must have flung to the ground.

It takes mere minutes to locate it, and as I snap it back in its holder, the artificial light floods the room, and I stare in horror at the huge body, lifeless on the floor.

Fuck!

I move to his side and stare down at the carcass of a monster as he lies glassy-eyed, staring up at the ceiling, a vision of surprise on his face.

His pants rest around his knees, and his cock lies flaccid now, the wild eyes of a rapist staring at the woman who slew a monster.

I do nothing but stare, wondering why I attract luck this way. I had one job to do, and this is how it ended. I could have let him. I could have put up with it to keep this position because it’s obvious that after today I’ll be heading straight back to hell.

Unless I leave.

Unless I pretend I found him like this. Nobody would suspect that I was capable of murder. The housemaid always finds the dead body. She is never a suspect. This could work.

My mind works fast as I backtrack through the events. There must be a camera in the hallway. They would know in a heartbeat that I was guilty. I’m screwed already. I should run while I can.

But this is The Artemis. The Caruso brother’s domain. I wouldn’t run far before they caught up with me.

Unless I go to them first and makethem an offer, they would be fools to refuse. Perhaps this man’s death will be my salvation. It could work. Itmustwork.

It’s surprising how calm I am in the moment when my life hangs in the balance because a sharp knock at the door followed by security shouting, ‘Open up,’ tells me that Plan A is no longer an option.

Plan B it is then.

Chapter Four

Matteo

As I head toward room fifteen-ten, I can’t believe what I just heard.

The housekeeper has murdered one of the guests.