Page 43 of Sinful Negotiations

Tessa removed his hand from her chest and sat straighter. “No, I won’t.”

His other hand touched her hair, fingers tunneling through the length. “I am not this awful person you have conjured in your mind.”

“You’re an arms dealer who kidnapped me in exchange for my uncle’s debts. You had your men shoot the man I care for and kill his colleagues. You locked me in this place while showering me with stupid dresses and fine dinners.” Tessa glanced over her shoulder in disdain. “You’re a fucking asshole.”

His cold laughter made her shiver. “How I enjoy that mouth, and the things you say. It makes my dick hard, Tessa. Did you know that? How easy it would be to take you right here.”

“And add rape to your long list of sins.”

Her chair suddenly whipped around, and he leaned over her, gripping her chin with one hand. Green, smoldering eyes bore into her own, and she flinched under the intensity. When his mouth lowered to hers, she tried to turn away, but he held her still.

With his tongue, he traced her upper lip. “Kiss me, Tessa. Kiss me, or I take the necklaces. Show me what a good girl you can be.”

If she ever got the chance, she’d slice this man’s dick off and shove it down his throat. The necklace couldn’t leave her. It was her only hope. Her lips parted and his tongue swept inside. It was the first time he’d forced any type of intimacy, although he’d alluded to it. The only thing she had on her side was his desire for her, and she’d use it against him. Hesitantly, she lightly swirled her tongue with his. Marco groaned, deepening the kiss, and relaxing his hold on her face.

It was only a kiss, she told herself. It was a way to escape and torment her captor. It wasn’t a betrayal to herself or to Aidan. It was a way to survive. The one thing Aidan taught her was desire could be a powerful tool if used correctly, and shevowed to make Marco squirm, crazy with longing, and careless. Maybe, just maybe he’d make a mistake.

When the kiss ended, he hovered over her mouth. “I want more, Tessa. I want you to long for me, as I long for you. I want your heart and won’t stop until I have it. You will come to me in time, and you will love me.”

Her gaze didn’t waver from his as he backed away, but she knew she was in deep trouble. If she were honest, the kiss stirred her. Marco was sexy as hell, attentive, and had showered her with anything and everything a woman could want, but it was a lie. Everything in her life was a lie.

Chapter 37

“Embezzlement, misappropriation of funds, bad investments, and a contract with Marco Dentzi. Tessa’s aunt is a drug addict. The list goes on and on, and the company is bankrupt. He’s been funneling an enormous amount of money into an account in the Cayman Islands. It also appears he’s been moving dirty money for Marco Dentzi. His board members don’t know either. I already spoke with one.”

Aidan accepted the file and flipped through the contents. The evidence would ruin Tessa’s uncle. The man owed a significant debt to a dangerous man. This is why he wanted the merger. “Has he been arrested?”

The handler sat back in the hospital chair. “He and his wife are both in custody, and his company seized along with all bank accounts. He wanted access to Cross profits. Basically, he overspent, his wife’s drug habit dug a deeper debt, and it appears he stole from Dentzi.”

“How has he been carrying the company?”

“Bad loans and lies. Several loans were coming due soon. With everything that’s happened, I’d say Dentzi found out Chandler took what didn’t belong to him. You know Dentzi would retaliate. The financial report in the file tells everything. He deliberately kept the information out of sensitive hands, so he could continue the embezzlement. I would say he knows about your family history, profits, and wanted access to cover his ass. He has the financial history of Cross Enterprises.”

Aidan closed the file in his lap with a sigh. “It doesn’t make sense. Why Tessa?”

“That’s the big question. We haven’t been able to track Marco Dentzi. He blips off the radar without warning and surfaces at random times.”

“I want to see Chandler James.”

“You’re not ready for that yet, and you’ve been removed from the case.”

Aidan tossed his head back on the hospital bed with a groan. After several surgeries, four weeks of therapy, and being in and out of consciousness, he’d lost track of time. “I have to find her.”

“You’re too weak. Lexxa is working the case and they’ve put together a team. Rumors are someone is undercover and close to gaining access to Marco’s world.”

“Who?”

“That, I couldn’t tell you. I’ve been removed from any current operations as well.”

“I want to see Lucas.”

“The boss is pissed. You got involved with her, Aidan.”

He’d crossed the line with Tessa, and it had caught up to him, but he couldn’t let this go. “Lucas doesn’t know the full extent unless Lexxa told him. Ask him anyway.”

Two days later, Lucas Terrin, head of his FBI division, strolled into his room with a frown. “Word is you wanted to see me.”

“Took you long enough. I want back on the case.”