Page 65 of Red Retaliation

But I did well. I kept things under control with my deadpan expression and sarcastic, curt comments. Until Arianna kissed me, that was.

She. Kissed. Me.

Not the other way around.

But the moment her velvet lips touched mine, I was done. I could have walked away, but I wanted to prove to myself that I could kiss her andthenwalk away.

Which I did.

Just about...

And shit the bed, doing that was tough when all I wanted was to rip her clothes off and fuck her senseless.

Fuck. My cock’s getting hard again. That woman just does something to me.

But I didn’t rip her clothes off or fuck her senseless. If she wants to play games, then I’ll play them right back.

And I’ll win.

I know what she’s doing. She’s taking liberties because I slipped up. Running a bath for her and touching her face gave the wrong impression. She thinks I’m a soft, chivalrous twat who’ll dance to her tune.

Well, I’m far from that. And I’m certainly not soft in any way either...

Christ, this constant hard-on is ridiculous.

I enter my office and close the door behind me.

Luckily, my ringing desk phone distracts me. I snatch it up, willing the relentless ache in my groin to subside. “Red Bateman.”

I frown. “What? What, now? Where...? Okay... I’ll be right down.”

Chucking the receiver back in the cradle, I remain motionless.

Fuck! Howhegot in without being apprehended at the door is something to question, but being as Emiliano Galvatoreisin my reception, demanding to see me and his daughter, then there’s no choice but to deal with it.

Sitting in the same room as the cunt who I’m convinced arranged the death of my parents won’t be easy to do without ripping the bastard to shreds. Plus, his presence here could be a setup using the guise of wanting Arianna back; therefore I’ll take no chances.

I’ll just exhibit extra control.

Yanking open my cabinet, I retrieve a pistol and shove it in my waistband just in case, then stride from my office towards the front of my casino, wondering how my stress levels can be ramped up further.

The only positive is that my erection has fully and completely disappeared.

CHAPTER

46

Red

MY RESENTMENT for offering this bastard a glass of whiskey is high. I resent even more that each time he sips it, his face wears a slight sneer, as if my spirits aren’t quite good enough.

But what I resent most of all is making out I’m considering his demands.

However, I give nothing away. My face portrays nothing of what’s really going on inside my head, and that won’t change, despite being desperate to rip this piece of shit out of the chair and throw him from my building to lie with the trade bins.

Instead, I steeple my fingers under my chin and study the man on the other side of my desk as he continues outlining his wishes.

And theyarewishes. Emiliano Galvatore believes he’s issuing demands, but he can think what he fucking wants. Anything I grant will be onmydecision alone.