Page 58 of Villainous Kingpin

A soft chuckle vibrated in my chest. “That sounds like a busy schedule.” I glanced around. The rink was still empty and I had an idea. “Want to skate?” I asked. “I know where they hide the skates.”

“Principessa, are you suggesting I steal the skates?” he retorted, pretending to be shocked.

“We’ll just borrow them,” I justified. “I won’t let you fall and we’ll keep your impeccable suit intact.”

He chuckled. “I’m not worried.”

Ten minutes later, we were both on ice. His black skates against my white ones. My leggings and loose shirt compared to his three-piece suit. We probably looked ridiculous; I didn’t care. My heart sang as he held my hand, as if he was worried I’d fall and I couldn’t help grinning at his thoughtfulness.

“You’re surprisingly stable on your skates,” he complimented, the deep timbre of his voice seeping into my soul.

I grinned. Maybe I could impress him and fly through the air. Or maybe not, since I’ve landed more on my ass than on my feet today. Still, this was too much fun.

“So are you, Mr. Kingpin.” It was slightly silly because he was still wearing his three-piece-suit. He pulled it off with panache though. This man could do no wrong. At least not in my eyes.

He was graceful, dangerous, and fascinating all in one. My own romantic villainous kingpin.

I raised my eyes and watched him, while my chest filled with warmth. He cocked an eyebrow, as if asking if everything was okay and my heart fluttered like a butterfly captured in a jar. Except I was his willing victim.

His arms wrapped around my waist and he lifted me up like I weighed nothing. My hands came around his neck and our lips met, as my body pressed against his. I wasn’t experienced with relationships but these feelings… I wanted to see where they took us.

There was something comfortable and easy about being with him. Even better than the exhilarating feeling I had from the moment I stepped on the ice. Reporters and newscasters called me an ice princess. A natural on the ice, like I was born on it. But not even that compared to these feelings I had for Bas.

Our tongues slid against each other, his mouth consuming me and kissing me deeper. I moaned and he swallowed it, then nipped my bottom lip.

“Ready to go home?” he murmured against my lips.Home. Yes, I was ready to go home. With him. And see this through. Regardless if it ended in a fairy tale or a broken heart because there was one thing I knew would be even worse. To wonder for the rest of my life whether I lost my chance at love.

I nodded my response.

He skated backwards and I followed. I remembered his words from before.I’ll always follow. I’d always follow him too, because he was mine as much as I was his.

It was at the very moment I decided I’d stay with him.

Basilio DiLustro engraved himself on my flesh, into my marrow, and I couldn’t let go.

CHAPTER23

Basilio

Iknew something was wrong the moment we left the skating rink to get to my bike. I had parked it a few parking spots away from her Jeep when I arrived.

Wynter stiffened, her eyes frantically darting around and she almost dropped her duffle bag.

“What is it?” I demanded, shuffling her to my left so I could easily retrieve my gun with my right hand.

“My car is still here,” she said, looking shaken. “Davina was supposed to take it.”

She rushed to her Jeep and I took her hand into mine, squeezing it in comfort. All the while, I kept alert to ensure nobody blindsided us. There was only one car here, and it was Wynter’s Jeep.

This side was too secluded, and it left you vulnerable if something was to happen. But the exit out of the rink was on this side. Once by her Jeep, Wynter gasped. I followed her gaze to see a sports bra on the ground, on the driver’s side.

“Somebody must have dropped it,” I told her but Wynter shook her head.

“It wasn’t here when I pulled up.” She went to open the door but I stopped her.

“Let me.” I put her behind me and then I opened the door to find a bag on the driver’s seat, wide open and in plain sight. Wynter came around me and grabbed it.

“Oh my God,” she whimpered. “That’s Davina’s bag.” Her face turned my way, and I could see her eyes shimmering with tears she tried to hold back. “Someone took her, Bas.”