Page 4 of Potent Desire
“Oh, so this is your doing then?” I laugh. I take the set of keys and look at them. I’m feeling both relieved and nervous by this development. A new car? It’s amazing, but having never really driven, I’ll probably bump it on something in a week.
“You’re a big girl now, and you deserve a couple of nice things,” Vik winks at me. Something about the way he said it makes me even more uneasy, but I chalk it up to my mind playing tricks on me.
“Thanks, Uncle Vik,” I give him a hug. I can’t help the excitement that spills from me.
Sudden sharp ringing echoes through the pool room. Papa pulls his phone out of his pocket, sighs, and says. “Sorry, baby, I’ve got to take this.”
He steps outside without another word, to answer the call, leaving Vik and me alone. My heart sinks at his sudden disappearance and all the joy that came with my gift goes with him. What a fool I was to think he’d give me more than a few minutes. As head of the mafia in Hannibal, there’s always a lot on his plate.
“Aw, Princess, what’s wrong? There’s no time for tears, it’s a day of celebration,” Vik speaks. In my disappointment, I didn’t even notice the tear that ran down my cheek.
“It’s nothing,” I say, shaking my head. “I’m fine.”
Vik steps closer to me, wrapping an arm around my shoulder. “No, no, don’t be upset.” He pulls me tighter, and I don’t stop him. I wrap my arms around his waist, and can’t control the flow of tears that stream from my face. He’s been good to me over the past few years, and it’s nice to have him comforting me…
“I’m sorry,” I whisper. “I just can’t help myself…”
“You don’t have to worry about it,” Vik says, rubbing my back with one of his hands. It’s soothing. Before I know it, though, the same hand moves lower, to the small of my back, before it grabs my ass.
Vik pulls me against him. He’s tall enough that his waist is at my belly. Something hard in his pants pokes at me. He presses his lips against my forehead. The hand which, moments ago, was resting on my shoulder, slides down my belly, grazing my breast, and heading south.
I give him a hard push, and Vik stumbles two steps back. I feel violated by his ass grabbing, but if he’d have gotten between my legs it would have felt so much worse.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” I roar, covering myself up. There’s not much on display as it is, with the long, flowing white dress I’m wearing.
“I’m sorry,” Vik says, lifting his hands in surrender. “I’m sorry. I just can’t help myself...” he echoes my words.
Vik takes a step closer to me, and I move back. He’s got a smug grin on his face, rounded out by those predatory green eyes. They flash a devilish hunger that sends shivers down my spine.
“Don’t you come anywhere near me,” I shout.
Vik knows my father; knows how powerful and dangerous he is. Still, he’s brave enough to try something so brazen? Well, he’s got another thing coming.
Before I can get another word in, I hear Dominic’s voice. “Is everything alright over here, Miss Romani?” He sounds angry, intimidating, and ready to tear Vik’s head off.
“Everything’s fine,” Vik replies. “Everything’s just fine. Now, how about you go back outside with the others, huh?”
I take a few steps back until I bump into Dominic, never taking my eyes off Vik. Whatever that was, it left me feeling sick.
“You just wait until my father hears about this,” I spit.
Vik bursts out into deep laughter. “Sure, go ahead and tell him.” He starts walking off down the hallway. “I’m sure he’s going to have a good laugh himself.”
Then it’s just Dominic and me, standing in the hallway. Nerves, fear, and fury are coursing through me.
“Where the hell is Papa?” I ask through gritted teeth.
“In his office,” Dominic replies.
Without another word, I make my way over to my father’s office.