Page 5 of Darkest Desire

I always knew the business my father was involved in but he managed to keep the bulk of it away from me and my sisters. It wasn’t until he died that we got thrusted into the madness that is the world of the mafia and all the men in it. The men who want to hurt us. Abuse us.

“Don’t talk about my father,” I manage to say.

“Did I strike a nerve? My apologies.” Except, he doesn’t sound sorry at all. “I’m a wealthy man. I have a lot of power in this city. And I’m handsome, if I dare say so.”

“You shouldn’t say so. It makes you sound arrogant.”

He leans in closer to me. I hold still, keeping my breath steady. His fingers tilt my chin up so I’m forced to look him in the eye. “For someone who thinks I’m a bad man. you sure are not afraid of me.” His eyes narrow as my heartbeat increases. “Or are you?”

“I don’t want to marry you.”

“I know. You’ve already said.”

“Why me? Other than making a deal with Denis.”

“Your younger sisters are too young and you’re too beautiful for me to ignore.”

His compliment makes me blush. I’ve never had a man tell me this before. Since my dad didn’t let me date, I was rarely around boys growing up. If any man tried to approach me or my sisters at one of the many dinner parties my parents used to host, my dad would swing in and lead them away from us. He wanted to keep us as sheltered as possible.

For the first time since my dad died, I feel angry. Angry that he didn’t better prepare me for this world. Angry that he didn’t give me the experience with men so I knew how to handle myself around men like Nico.

“You think giving me a compliment is going to make me like you?”

He flashes me a charming smile as he lets my chin go. “Is it working?”

“No.”

He skims his finger down my cheek. “Your blush is beautiful.”

That’s it. Quickly, I stand up and put as much distance between me and Nico as I can get. “You are my sister’s husband’s enemy, which makes you my enemy.”

“Does it?” He stands up and approaches me like a cat stalks its prey.

“You also want an alliance with my uncle, whom I hate, so that makes you my enemy twice.”

“Didn’t know that’s how that works.” He keeps coming towards me and I keep moving away. It’s a strange dance around the living room.

“That’s how it works for me.”

“I’m curious, Sasha. You’ve been groomed your entire life to get married and yet, you don’t want it. So what do you want?”

I move around the backside of the couch. “For you to leave me alone.”

“Not going to happen, I’m afraid.”

“See? This is why I don’t want to marry you. You don’t respect my boundaries.”

I try to run away but he catches me around the waist, pulling me flush against him. I can feel all of the hardness of his chest. It’s making it hard for me to even think.

“I am to be your husband. Once we’re married, you’re mine to do with as I please.”

I shudder. “I want my freedom.”

“What?”

“You asked me what I want. I want my freedom. I don’t want to be shackled to a man who thinks he can grab me like this.” I elbow him in the stomach and he lets me go, though he doesn’t even look wounded. Bastard.

“I get it. You feel as if you have no choices in life.”