Page 68 of Ruin Me With Lies

Stefano’s office is exactly what one would expect for a man like him—overly large, unapologetically sumptuous, with hunter-green and gold accents.It smells like log fire, lavender, and frost.An interesting combination.

Not a window in sight.

Unlike Lorenzo’s office, which overlooks the casino, this place is sealed off from the world.Which tells me this is where he goes when he wants to be away from everything and everyone.

Glancing at the sleek desk and the glowing computer, I ask, “Are you sure you want to give that kind of access to a ‘foxy little liar’ like me?This devious Delilah who’s after your secrets?”

“Only because I want you to prove me right.”He steps closer and presses a single finger to the center of my forehead.“Give me just one reason to put a bullet right here.”

I lean into his touch with a smile.“If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you’re obsessed with me.”

“You’re only half right.”

Meaning?

Meaning?!

But instead of chasing clarity, I let it hang and shrug like it doesn’t matter, then move around to the desk and sink into the comfortable leather chair.

Stefano turns to leave.

“What’s your password?”I ask as the computer prompts me for one.

With all the energy of a man dealing with a pest, he exhales a dramatic, long-suffering sigh, pivots back to the desk, plucks a pen from the holder, scribbles something onto a sticky note, and slaps it onto the back of my hand.

4F@m!ly&4L0y@lty

“Hm...”I murmur.“Interesting.”

“You wouldn’t know anything about that, would you?”

Oh, you have no idea...

“Considering how you pretend to care about Gio,” he goes on, “but still tried to protect someone who meant to kill him.”

Now that…that struck a nerve.Hard.

The son of a bitch sure knows how and where to strike.

“Or maybe I was trying to stop a sick kid from growing up without her mother,” I snap.

“Right,” he sneers.“Because you’re just a glowing light of mercy and goodness, aren’t you?”

It’s raging hunger, taut restraint, and bridled lust that has me gritting out, “Fuck.You.”

“There she is,” he whispers, watching me from beneath those broody dark brows like he’s been waiting for that crack in my composure.“Anything else?”

What a miserable, arrogant bastard.“Yes,food.”

He turns without another word, the tension between us still thrumming like a live wire.Just before he’s out the door, he tosses a warning over his shoulder, “Don’t leave this room.”

And then he’s gone.

I sit there, seething.Once again, I’ve let him get under my skin.Under the veneer I work so hard to keep intact.Every time I let my guard down around Stefano Castello, I lose a little more ground.The veil slipping lower and lower.

Goddamn him.

It would be so much easier to be the enemy.