Page 9 of Villainous Kingpin

The car came to a sudden stop and I slammed on my own brakes so I wouldn’t run into his expensive car. The traffic around us was already blaring their horns. My heart drummed in anticipation and anxiety, ignoring everything and everyone. This could be our way out.

“What are you doing?” Juliette demanded to know.

“I have an idea,” I told them all. “There might be a way to delete the surveillance.”

Everyone knew the DiLustros made things happen. So did the Brennans but going to my uncle or Killian wasn’t an option. The latter would have been if he wasn’t leaving the country, but he was chasing his own ghosts apparently. His text to Juliette and I was literally,*I’ll be back. Going to hunt some ghosts.*Whatever the fuck that meant.

I started to feel like Juliette and I were kept in the dark in a lot more matters than just criminal activities.

“How?” Davina demanded to know.

I jumped out of the Jeep, then combed my fingers through my hair, hoping to look somewhat presentable, but probably failing miserably. I was tempted to ask the three of them how I looked, but I knew it would raise suspicion so I opted not to.

My eyes traveled over the three of them. “Just trust me.”

I heard their gasps behind me as I walked towards the sleek black car but ignored them all.

Basilio DiLustro could get us out of this mess. The question was, what would it cost us?

Or me.

My hands grew clammy as I made my way to his car. I performed in front of millions, and yet, I had never been so nervous before. I pushed my fingers through my curls one more time, then smoothed them out. I just hoped in the process I didn’t smear soot all over my damn head.

When I reached the car, I noted he wasn’t alone. All I could see of his passenger were long legs and a three-piece-suit. Basilio was in a three-piece black suit too and under the sunshine of the warm May day, he looked even more striking.

A frisson of recognition ran down my spine as our gazes met. Something amusing and dangerous danced in Basilio’s gaze, tempting me to fall under his dark spell. My heartbeat sped up and I smiled. Though I wasn’t sure why. There was nothing happy about the current situation or talking to a man with the worst reputation in New York.

I liked him. I mean, how could you not with that gorgeous, full smile and dark eyes that could consume your soul.

Tousled, coal black hair. Sharp cheekbones, strong jaw. Overall gorgeous face. Beautiful mouth with an arrogant smile. Brooding, dark expression as he watched me. His whole persona screamed ruthless power and his sex appeal oozed all around him. I could practically taste it. And for the first time in my life, I wanted to let myself go so this man could catch me.

I mentally slapped myself. This had to be the swoon effect that girls always talked about.

“Hey,” I greeted him, my voice slightly breathless.

“Hello again,” he said.He remembers me!I thought giddily, then immediately mentally reprimanded myself. No time for swooning now.

Though as his eyes raked over me from head to toe, my cheeks instantly flushed.

“Umm,” I shifted from foot to foot. My nerves were a tad bit tattered. I never had issues talking to boys, no matter how cute they were. They were either too shallow, too wild, or just too demanding. And I never had time for any of it or those qualities.

Yet, this one… Well, he was hot. Anyone with two eyes could see it. But it was more than that. The way his dark eyes watched me, like I was his already, had my heart fluttering like a butterfly caught in a jar.

“Yes?” A corner of his lips lifted and amusement shone in his eyes. Then as if he revealed too much, he schooled his expression and ran a thumb across his bottom lip, his eyes darkening even further. I hoped that didn’t mean he was mad at me. I haven’t even done anything yet.

Okay, here we go.

I took a deep breath and exhaled.

“I know who you are,” I started.

One heartbeat.

“You’re at an advantage then,” he said, smoothing a hand down his tie, in an absentminded move. “All I have is your first name. Star.” My brows knitted. I didn’t recall giving him my name. “You imitated your mother’s voice,” he reminded me.

Ahhh. His words were deep and soft, and a strange kind of warmth traveled through every inch of me. But the way he watched me made my cheeks blush.

“It’s only fair if you tell me who you are.”