Page 80 of Veil of Obsession

“What the fuck were you doing in our system?” I demand.

She tilts her head, feigning confusion. “Excuse me?”

I let out a sharp breath, running a hand through my hair before gripping the edge of her desk and leaning down so we’re eye-level.

“Don’t play dumb, Princess.” My voice is low, edged with irritation and something darker. “You think I don’t know? I disappear for three days, and you go insane because you can’t get a hold of me. Breaking into our system, crossing firewalls. Andyou know how good my brother is at tracking anyone who breaks through the system he set up.”

Her lips purse together, her brows pulling together. “I didn’t do it, if that’s what you’re insinuating.”

My jaw tics. She’s fucking lying. I grab the arms of her chair, caging her in, tilting my head as I stare her down.

“I know it was you.”

“Like fuck you do!” she says, pushing me out of her way as she stands up. “I didn’t do it. Just because I stalked you doesn’t mean I’ll put myself in the direct sight of the fucking Camorra.”

“Liar!” I growl.

Her face crumples, and it feels like a knife being pushed into my chest.

I don’t know why I’m doing this. I didn’t come to fight with her, so why am I itching to argue?

31

Princess

My heart hammers against my ribcage as if it wants to escape.

I just lied to him. He called me out on it, but I can tell that he doesn’t have any proof against me.

Lucio crosses his arms over his chest, his fingers tapping against his arm. Instead of admitting fault, I deflect.

“You disappear for days without a fucking word. Then you show up in my room accusing me of something I didn’t do, like you have a fucking right to!” I shout, my fists pounding against his hard chest.

He doesn’t even move an inch. I try to push him toward the window, where he entered from.

“Enough!” he snaps, his hands wrapping tightly around my wrists and tugging me against him, his breath fanning my face.

“No. Not enough! Get your hands off of me. You weretouchingher,” I snap back, yanking my hands out of his hold.

And for some sick reason, my words cause him to smirk.

“Are you jealous?” he asks, leaning in.

I grit my teeth and before I know what I’m doing, I lift my hand, and the sound of a sharp crack echoes in my room as my palm connects with his cheek. He reels back, his head turning on impact.

But instead of anger, a breathless laugh tumbles from his lips. Low, disbelieving. Lucio lifts his fingers, brushing over the reddening skin, slow and deliberate, like he’s savoring the burn I left behind. His eyes flick back to mine, dark with something far more dangerous than rage.

Before I can take a breath, his hand is wrapped around my throat—not squeezing, just holding, controlling, claiming. My pulse thumps against his palm, but I don’t pull away. I don’t want to.

His mouth crashes on mine, rough, searing, swallowing my sharp inhale like he’s drawing power from it. He tastes like fury and want, his lips punishing, his body pressing closer until there’s nothing between us but heat.

“You want commitment?” he growls in between ragged breaths. “I’ll give you commitment.”

His teeth graze my lower lip before he sucks it between his, biting just hard enough to elicit a whimper.

“You want loyalty?”

Another kiss, deep and possessive, stealing the air from my lungs.