Page 112 of Sweet Deception

A sudden, stinging slap landed on my backside. My heart jumped into my throat as I whirled around.

Stefano.

My stomach twisted in revulsion. Had I been so lost in the conversation that I hadn’t even heard him enter?

“Who is that, Anna?” Gleb’s voice sharpened.

Panic shot through me. I was about to hang up when Stefano snatched my phone from my hand.

“Gleb Romanov.” He smirked as he brought the phone to his ear. “Nice to finally talk to you.”

“If you touch her...”

“Touch her?” Stefano interrupted with a laugh. “Oh, I dare you to come to Italy, Gleb. Let’s see what happens.”

Gleb’s voice dropped to a deadly whisper. “Do not underestimate what I can do.”

Stefano scoffed. “You’ll do nothing. In fact, I just smacked her ass. Maybe next time I’ll do more.”

“You did what?” Gleb’s voice was pure fury.

“You’re not deaf, Romanov.” Stefano smirked, glancing at me. “Pray her father allows it. And the next time I call you, you might just hear her moan my name.”

He ended the call and smashed my phone against the floor.

“Have you lost your damn mind?!” I hissed.

As he took a step toward me, I instinctively backed away, my pulse hammering.

“If my father hears about this...”

Stefano let out a dark chuckle. “Who do you think I work for? Go ahead, tell him what I just did.” He took another step. “And I’ll tell him you’ve been speaking to Gleb Romanov. That Gleb cares about you. That you care about him. What do you think your father will do?”

I swallowed hard.

“It’s obvious, even to the blind, that you’re here for his sister,” Stefano continued. “But you won’t be able to save her. And you...” He smirked. “You won’t be stepping out of Italy anytime soon.”

He tilted his head. “I’m the only one who can help you get back to Moscow.”

A cold, sickening feeling crawled up my spine. “And what do you want in return?”

His smirk widened. “Allow me to fuck you. Doggy style, to be precise. And I swear, I’ll risk my life to get you out of here.”

Rage shot through me. “You’re disgusting.”

He bent down and picked up the shattered remains of my phone. “If You think you’ll ever leave Italy? That your knight in shining armor will come for you? No one’s coming, Anna. Not for you.Not for her. You’ll rot here, just like your sister-in-law.” When you finally realize the truth, hit me up. I’m always around.”

He turned away, walking toward the door.

“Let go of my phone!” I started after him, but he lifted a hand.

“Don’t,” he warned. “Or I’ll push you.”

I froze, watching as he disappeared down the hall.

I was in deep shit. No phone. No tracker. No way to contact Gleb.

Coming here was a stupid move. Gleb had been right.