Page 15 of Contract of a Billionaire

But who wouldn’t be? Alessio Russo in a suit was drool-worthy.

Every time I’d seen him he’d worn a suit, and it made me wonder if the guy ever wore anything else. Maybe he was born in a suit.

Alessio’s posture was calm, but underneath it was something harsh and ruthless. The look in his eyes could freeze a volcano. Yet, I was on fire. Just his presence erupted an inferno within me, and I didn’t know how to extinguish it. My eyes flickered to Alessio’s hand wrapped around the drunk’s throat. Tanned skin, strong fingers and my heart drummed with unnatural speed as I wondered how they’d feel wrapped around my own throat.

Jesus Christ!

I was losing my mind. If Alessio Russo had his hand wrapped around my throat, it meant I was enroute to being a dead woman. So yeah… there was that.

“Whoa, where did you come from?” Branka voiced my thoughts.

Her big brother ignored her question and folded the guys’ fingers back, loosening his hold on my hair. The crack of the bones echoed in the air and my eyes widened. My mouth parted in shock and I glanced at Branka who didn’t seem shocked at all.

Was her brother mad? He couldn’t do shit like that to people.

Taking a step towards him, I jerked on his arm and gripped the sleeve. “Hey, you can’t do that.”

His granite, hard expression didn’t flicker as he inclined his head. “You’d rather me let him harass you?”

I swallowed with a gulp and shook my head, the tips of my ponytail brushing against my bare shoulders. This man was formidable, scary, and fascinating all in one. Let’s not forget drop dead gorgeous.

For barely a fraction of a second, his eyes lowered to my lips and then back up. His gray eyes held mine captive as a shadow passed through them, watching me with an icy gaze that threatened to steal my breath away.

Instinctively, I took a step back and my hand that held his forearm mere seconds ago fell to my side. The loss hit me instantly, causing me to sway on my feet. My eyes flickered to my fingers that had held his sleeve as if I expected to find something that would explain this feeling. This attraction. Whatever the hell this was.

Alessio’s eyes darted to his sister. “You and your friend go and sit down at my table.”

Both of us followed his gaze to a table in the far corner. The table that was always empty when we came here. But not today. The two men that came to get us at Berkeley sat there, as well as another man.

Branka and I shared a glance, both of our brows furrowed. The flight back from Berkeley was uncomfortable enough. Cassio King barely spoke a word, while his eyes whispered of darkness that I never wanted to experience. And his brother, Luca, was just as scary, but he hid it behind his snarky comments and seemingly laid back attitude.

“Ummm, we’ll just go,” I muttered, my throat suddenly dry.

“You walk to that table and sit down.” The cold, measured tone of Branka’s brother would whip fear into anyone. Never mind me.

Branka already headed toward the table, while I remained immobile in my spot, staring at him. Who in the hell did he think he was? I couldn’t let the bastard talk to me like that. My shoulders straightened and I glared at him, hiding my fear behind fake bravado.

“You can’t tell me what to do,” I hissed and surprise coasted through his eyes. “And secondly, I’m only going to sit over there because of Branka. Next time you think about bossing me around, think again.”

I glared at him, then whipped around giving him my back. With my head held high, I strutted towards the table where Cassio, Luca, and another guy sat, then flopped my ass next to Branka.

Okay, so it wasn’t smart to talk like that to someone who was rumored to have connections to the mafia. Fuck rumors. I’d stake my life that he was the mafia. After all, Cassio King sat in front of me.

“Your brother is a dick,” I gritted under my breath to Branka. I wasn’t even certain why I was pissed off. Maybe it was the fact that I got all flustered around him. Or the fact that my body heated up with an unfamiliar, aching need that I knew deep down only he could sate.

Branka shrugged her slim shoulders. “That guy went too far. Alessio doesn’t like it.”

“I could have handled him.” Lie. I would have called the police, but whatever.

“How are you this evening, ladies?” Luca’s tone rang with sarcasm. “Causing trouble again, I see.”

Branka and I narrowed our gazes on him, but neither one of us answered. I glanced over my shoulder. Alessio was no longer in the same spot. In fact, he was nowhere to be seen. Neither was the guy that dared to approach us.

“Great singing voice,” one of them complimented, but I was too busy fuming.

“Thanks,” I muttered, ignoring all three of the men.

“Why are you all here anyhow?” Branka questioned, glaring at the three men seated in front of us. My eyes darted curiously to the men. They shrugged as if they were one. Okay, a tad bit freaky.