Page 6 of King of Obsession (Kings of the Underworld #1)

And then the strangest thing happens. He throws his head back and laughs, a deep, heartfelt sound. Butterflies swarm my belly, flapping their wings erratically, upsetting my stomach with their unwelcome raid.

“A few minutes?” He clicks his tongue. “Clearly you haven’t been fucked properly.”

At all would be the better description.

I wave a hand through the air to appear unaffected. “Not interested.”

“I’ve heard that. Must have sucked to fail at the only thing you’re good at.”

I gasp, taken aback by the truth in his words, making me murderous with rage. My hand moves to my small clutch, blinded by the desire to slice his throat right here and now.

I am about to take out my small knife and thrust it into his chest when he bends over me. Lowering his head, his mouth is only an inch from mine, causing my lips to tingle. His nearness short-circuits my brain so that I forget everything else for a moment.

“It wouldn’t look good on your track record if you follow that instinct. Hmm, am I riling you up, Luciana?”

My name out of his mouth is as decadent as chocolate and just as bad for your health, pouring over me in streams. I need to leave before I lose my damn mind in his presence. Every second, it gets harder to maintain control.

As if he notices my disheveled state, he asks, “Why are you here?”

With the change of topic, I gather my thoughts and escape the spell he put on me. It’s like everything about him is hypnotic, starting with his deep green eyes with flecks of blue that bore into me as if trying to peer into my soul—positively staggering.

“You’re here for me. I hoped you wouldn’t… I guess we’re at an impasse.”

That’s not good. That means he has people on the inside and was waiting for me.

I purse my lips, remaining silent, and sort through this new information.

“I haven’t gotten this far by being negligent, Luciana,” he says matter-of-factly.

So, he has spies in his cousin’s fold. He’s nothing like Adamo.

He picks up his glass just when I do, and in perfect synchrony, we lift them to our mouths.

I despise any kind of attention, even though it doesn’t look like it, but it’s more to satisfy my need to be the one thing men want and can’t have. When I go out, I go all out. But his attention hits differently. I don’t like it, but strangely I don’t despise it.

He lifts his hand, his intention clear. I suck in a breath, unable to open my mouth and stop him.

His thumb presses into my chin, swiping gently but firmly, setting a fire that spreads through me, burning me up.

Then he brings it to his mouth and licks the reddish drop clean.

It must have run down the corner of my mouth without me noticing.

It takes everything in me not to squirm in my seat as my thighs clench.

He’s really trying to seduce me. While my body seems to have no problem, I am glad my brain hasn’t forgotten its primary function.

“If you ever touch me again, you’ll lose more than your fingers,” I grit out.

“I apologize. You’re right. I don’t know what came over me,” he quickly says and retreats, putting some necessary distance between us.

I didn’t expect the apology, nor did I expect him to respect my wish.

“I don’t question my orders. I execute them,” I say, redirecting our conversation to safer topics.

He arches a brow playfully. “Could you be persuaded?”

“Nope.” I giggle. I fucking giggle.

There’s just something sensual and charming about him, and combined with that confident attitude he emanates, it does the strangest things to me. His eyes lock on mine, once again offering me his undivided attention. It’s so potent I have trouble breathing.

“Don’t.” His voice turns cold.

The shift is so sudden that every instinct of mine is on alert being face-to-face with someone dangerous. There’s no pretense. He can be the version he presented to me, but just as swiftly become a killer. The dichotomy is so familiar that it disconcerts me.

“I don’t have a choice,” I confess.

I can’t believe I am being truthful for the first time in my life, and it’s to a stranger who I wanted to kill just a few minutes ago.

“So the Council fucks over the decades long peace?” He nods more to himself. “It’s not the Council. It’s personal.” The self-assured way he says it reveals he already knows who is behind the hit.

Damn, he’s astute, wise beyond his years. I don’t even know how to respond. I don’t have conversations with my targets, and I can’t kill the people I consistently interact with even if I wanted to.

This is something that is so far out of my comfort zone, I can’t even begin to describe it. I remain quiet, neither confirming nor denying.

“My cousin. But then you wouldn’t go against the Council’s wishes if he didn’t have something you want badly enough to jeopardize your position.”

“This conversation is over,” I hastily say, breaking the haze.

I am about to pay when the bartender takes a glance at Enzo. Just with a slight shake of his head, the bartender hurries to another customer.

Tapping his finger on the smooth bar, he casts an intent look my way.

“Nothing is worth your life, Luciana. You get only one warning. Leave my city and find another way to get what you want. I am the judge, jury, and executioner with the power to end whoever crosses me. Don’t enter my courtroom.

The verdict will be death. I don’t pardon.

I don’t give a second chance. And I will kill you personally. ”

“That won’t be necessary. Enjoy tonight. It will be your last.”

I march out of the bar and head straight to the bank of elevators. Swiping the card to the penthouse suite, I square my shoulders, telling my reflection in the mirrored wall, “You’re Silver Death. Nothing rattles you. Nothing stops you. You kill men, not the other way around.”

Go ahead and try, Enzo Ferrara. But you will be the one who loses your head.