Page 55 of Mafia And Taken

I stilled as Alessio’s eyes glittered in the darkness, glinting as cold as steel. “Oh, and what do you thinkthis thingis?” His voice was dangerously quiet.

“I-I don’t know exactly. But maybe you see me as…as a plaything, someone to amuse yourself with until you get bored of your twisted revenge game and move on.” I wished my voice had come out stronger and that I sounded more confident when I spoke to him.

“If I thought you were aplaything, I wouldn’t have given you time to get used to me.”

The hunger in his eyes made me shudder.

“I wouldn’t have taken it slow with you. I’ve wanted you since the day I rescued you from the Bratva, but I’ve held off until you were ready.”

“Held off?” He made my hackles rise. “What, by forcing me to marry you? By forcing your way into my apartment and into my bed?”

“You didn’t seem unhappy last night when I was licking between your thighs and making you scream.” He gave a hard laugh. “Damn, I can see how my words are turning you on right now. Stop pretending you don’t feel this connection between us too.”

“I’m not going anywhere.” I had to stand my ground. “I’m not leaving my life, my job, or my grandmother.”

He took hold of my arms. “No,” I shouted, but he began to march me toward the door.

I tore myself out of his hold and looked around myself wildly. I was standing near the kitchen counter and grabbed a knife.

“What are you doing, Cate? Put the knife down.”

My breaths were coming in short pants. I looked down and saw that my hands were shaking, making the blade of the knife glimmer under the lights.

I knew Alessio thought I wouldn’t have the courage to use the knife.

He took a step toward me slowly. “Easy, Cate, I’m not going to hurt you.”

“Aren’t you? Isn’t that what you want?” As I spoke, I heard the frantic tones in my voice.

“That’s not what I want with you.”

I felt like I was falling apart. The FBI wanted to arrest me and Alessio wasn’t listening to me.

I was fighting to think clearly. And when Alessio reached toward my hand to take the knife, I surprised myself by lashing out.

He was too quick for me, and I missed. I lashed out again.

He grabbed me by the wrist and wrenched the knife from my hold. He yanked me toward him and twisted me around, making me cry out as he slammed my back into his hard male body, causing the air to whoosh out of my lungs.

I tried to wrestle free, bucking against him, but he was too strong for me, restraining me easily with one arm.

“Stop fighting me!” He showed me the syringe he held in his free hand.

“We can do this the easy way, or the hard way, Cate. It’s up to you.”

CHAPTER 21

ALESSIO

She gulped, her mind frantically trying to work a way out of this.

“You’re mine now and that’s never going to change,” I growled. “Do I need to drug you, or will you come with me now?”

I had come prepared with a sedative, but inside me had been the hope that I wouldn’t have to use it. There was no way I was leaving her behind and there was no way anyone was going to take her from me.

She hesitated, but registering the fierceness in my expression, her body slumped slightly, and she gave the smallest nod.

I didn’t let go of her as I marched her out of her apartment to the waiting SUV. Despite her agreement to cooperate, I had to force her toward the vehicle, strengthening my hold around her arms and pushing her forward.