Page 74 of Darkest Desire

“Giovanni Ricci. I know Nico is out right now. I can tell him to leave.”

I want that but I also want to tell Giovanni off for even thinking he could be with me. “I’ll talk to him. Just… stay nearby.”

“Of course.”

Aldo remains in the foyer with me as I open the door. Giovanni gives me a large smile like he didn’t just try to make me uncomfortable a few nights ago. Like he didn’t ask Nico if he could have sex with me.

“What do you want?” I ask flatly. “Nico’s not here.”

“It’s not Nico I want to see.”

“He doesn’t want to work with you. And I don’t want you, so go.”

“If you really are a virgin, then you don’t know what you’re missing.”

My spine straightens as my skin prickles. “You’re not the man I want to have sex with. How dare you ask Nico if you could have me for one night. Who does that? You’re disgusting.”

“A man who isn’t afraid to go after what he wants. And don’t you want a man like that? Nico is weak. If he hasn’t fucked you yet, then he’s no man. You need a strong man for a husband.”

“So, first you want to fuck me for one night and now you want to be my husband? Which is it?”

“You have a mouth on you,” he says flatly, his smile disappearing. “I don’t like that. That will have to change.”

“Why? You’re not my husband and you’ll never be. I only agreed to talk with you because I wanted to tell you off. I’m glad Nico isn’t working with you. You would only bring him down. He’s twice the man you’ll ever be.”

“Isn’t that interesting?”

I flinch. “What is?”

“That you think I would be intimidated by that. I’ve come here because I want you, Sasha. And I want you now.”

Aldo steps forward. “I think it’s time you leave.”

“If you want.” In one quick motion, Giovanni pulls a small dagger out of his jacket pocket and slams it into Aldo’s neck.

Before I can scream, Giovanni pushes his way into the house and slams the door behind him, locking it before any other guards can come in. His hand clamps over my mouth.

“I said I want you,” he growls. “And I’m going to get you.”

My eyes flick to Aldo, who’s lying on the ground, bleeding out from his neck. There’s no way he’ll be able to survive that. I have to watch him die right before my eyes.

Giovanni backs me up against the stairs. “It’s Nico’s fault that he hasn’t claimed you yet. I’m going to rectify that situation.”

“No!” I scream behind his hand. Then I bite down on his skin. It tastes slightly salty. Giovanni yelps and pulls his hand away before he smacks me across the face. I slam against the stairs so hard, all the breath leaves my body.

Giovanni slams his body against mine, crushing me against the stairs. “This is going to be fun.”

I can’t let this happen. I’ll die before I let this happen.

My eyes flick over to Aldo on the ground. His blood is seeping across the white marble floors.

Fear seizes my body and I freeze.

Chapter Thirteen

Nico

“Sir, Giovanni Ricci is here,” one of my guards, Tony, tells me as I head up the driveway but his words make me stop in my tracks.