Page 10 of Villainous Kingpin

Two heartbeats.

“Wynter,” I breathed. I loved the way he watched me. Possessive. And he didn’t even know who I was. “Wynter Star,” I rasped, giving him my first and middle name only.

CHAPTER4

Basilio

Wynter Star.

The name suited her. She gave off ice princess vibes, except when she smiled and her eyes twinkled, it felt like warm sunshine on my skin.

Look at me going all poetic, I mocked myself silently.

She tucked an unruly piece of hair behind her ear, her hand visibly trembling. I wondered if I scared her. Or something bad happened to her. She had soot smeared on her cheek and some on her clothes. Though she still looked breathtakingly beautiful. Even more so under the bright rays of the sun. Her blonde curls shone like gold under the daylight, and her green eyes reminded me of the colors of Lake Como right before a storm hit it.

A mixture of light green, gray, and blue.

“I- my friends and I need help.” Her eyes darted around nervously, as if someone was chasing her. Something protective reared its head in my chest. It was unexpected, startling. “We set a house on fire.”

Dante, my cousin, who sat in the passenger seat, coughed, probably stifling a laugh.

“Is that all?” Dante mused.

Wynter’s eyes flashed behind me, but unless she ducked down, she couldn’t see him. And I had a feeling she didn’t want to lean forward and flash me her cleavage. I was glad for it, because I didn’t want Dante to see it.

“It was an accident,” she added, her tone miserable. “Well, kind of. It was either set his house on fire or cut his dick off. Neither was ideal, but at least this way he’s alive.” The words flew out of her mouth like she couldn’t contain them anymore. “And now he’s blackmailing us with surveillance of us setting his house on fire. Though it was truly an accident. The girls got a bit too wild.”

Dante’s chuckle filled the car. I bet the fucker never had shit like that happen in Chicago. Welcome to New York where anything and everything was possible.

Wynter chewed on her bottom lip nervously. “My mom will kill me if-”

Her voice trailed off. She knew who I was but instead of being scared of me, she was scared of her mother and getting in trouble. Another car flew by, honking their horn like their life depended on it.

I pulled the door handle and stepped out onto the pavement. Let them try and sit on the car horn with me out here. If they knew me, and most of New York did, they’d know I’d come for them.

Wynter didn’t step away and no fear entered her eyes. In fact, relief flashed across her face, and it was a novelty. She looked at me like I was her savior. And fuck, I wanted to be.

Though, if she needed saving, it meant she had nothing going on with Liam Brennan. Otherwise, he’d be doing all the saving. Speaking of the head of the Irish mafia, I had just left his office, settling a truce which would help us eliminate constant fighting over territory. Tomorrow, I’d get the deed to The Eastside Club.

“Tell me what you need help with,” I demanded, soaking her in like my personal sunshine.

“Is there a way you could-”

She couldn’t finish the statement so I did it for her. “Kill him?”

A gasp slipped through her parted lips. And fuck, my cock stirred just from that little innocent gesture.

“No, not kill him,” she clarified, her eyes watching me like I was a god. “Maybe erase the evidence?”

She nervously licked her lips and my eyes lowered to them. They were tempting, full and pink. I bet they were soft too. I had never felt the instant need for someone. Fucking ever! But something about her did it for me. How many times has she crossed my mind over the last three months? More than I cared to admit.

And here she was now. Needing a favor and free for my taking.

My eyes fleeted to her red Jeep. Her girlfriends’ attention was on me. The two in the backseat looked slightly disheveled, their faces smeared with soot. Like they went down the chimney or something. It made sense if they set fire to someone’s home.

I returned my attention to the blonde young woman in front of me and a smile tugged at my lips.

“What do I get in return?” I drawled.