Chapter 26
“What the fuck?!” Luca shouted, turning toward her fully now.
She swallowed, refusing to look away. “It’s not a stupid question. You kill people. You maim them. Is it really so ridiculous that I would assume that p>
Shame crossed his face. He bit his lip, hard. The feeling made him scowl.
“I have never had to fuck any woman by force,” he snapped. “Every single woman I’ve fucked has begged for it p>
“Are you sure?” Vee shot back. “Or do you just pay them to fuck you? Because honestly, who in their right mind would want to fuck a monster like you p>
His pride took the hit and bled. He let out a slow breath.
He turned in his seat to face her fully. “How about this,” he said calmly. “You point at any woman. Any woman at all. As long as she’s not underage, not married, and not collecting social security p>
“If she agrees to fuck me,” he continued, “I will do whatever I want with you tonight p>
“So you double win p>
His smile widened. “You didn’t let me finish p>
She crossed her arms. “Go on, Casanova p>
“If I lose,” Luca said, “I’ll let your sister go p>
Everything else faded. The anger. The fear. There was only that sentence.
“You swear?” she asked, suddenly breathless.
Luca lifted a hand. “On my name p>
Her heart leapt. She nodded quickly, excitement flaring so fast it startled her. “Deal p>
“Wanna kiss on it p>
“What? No.” She blinked. “We shake on it like normal people p>
“Sweetie,” he said patiently, “with a woman, a deal is only considered a deal when the mafia kiss on it p>
She narrowed her eyes. “That sounds like bullshit p>
“It’s very traditional bullshit p>
She knew he was lying. She could see it in the faint glint of amusement in his eyes. But her sister’s freedom burned brighter than suspicion.
“Fine,” she snapped. “One kiss p>
She turned in her seat to face him. Luca’s hand came up at her waist, drawing her closer until the console bit into her hip. He leaned in and brushed his mouth against hers, then deepened it with hunger.
Vee shoved at his chest, more flustered than she wanted to admit. “That should be enough kiss for a deal p>
Luca cleared his throat and shifted in his seat. He glanced down at his lap, the very visible outline of his arousal staring back at him, then swore under his breath. “Fuck He put the car in gear and drove off, focus returning to the road.
Vee folded her arms and stared out the window. The city gave way to Luca’s neighborhood, a pocket of wealth. Tree-lined streets. Low, tasteful lighting. Security cars parked subtly at corners. This was where money slept soundly.
That was when she saw an elegant woman stepping onto the sidewalk, framed by the soft glow of a streetlamp. She wore heels and a fitted coat that probably cost more than Vee’s entire wardrobe. Her Porsche waited obediently at the curb, sleek and expensive and very much hers.
“There!” Vee all but shouted, pointing.
Luca startled. “What p>
“That woman,” Vee said, already grinning. “Let’s see if she wants to fuck you. And you cannot tell her this is a bet p>
Luca arched a brow, amused. “You’re very confident all of a sudden p>
Vee leaned forward, eyes bright. “Women like that have standards. They don’t need men. They definitely don’t need you p>
A slow smile spread across Luca’s face. “Are you sure about this, Bambola p>
“Yes. Go p>
He parked the car smoothly and stepped out. Vee watched from the passenger seat, heart thudding with excitement.
Luca approached the woman with the easy confidence of a man who had never doubted the ground would hold him. He said something. The woman turned, took him in, and smiled.
Vee’s stomach dropped.
The woman laughed at something Luca said, a genuine sound, head tilting back slightly. She touched his arm. Luca leaned closer, his posture relaxed, charming.
Then the woman’s fingers traced down Luca’s chest.
Vee’s jaw fell open.
“Oh, what a slut?!” she muttered.
Luca glanced back toward the car.
Their eyes met.
The woman said something else, drawing his attention back, and he nodded, pulling a phone from his pocket.
Vee’s heart sank.
He was going to win.
She slumped back in her seat, crossing her arms again, this time defensively. “Idiot,” she muttered. “Absolute idiot p>
Luca smiled. He leaned in toward the woman, close enough that Vee could see the curve of his mouth move, hear nothing, and somehow understand everything.
Then he slid his card into the woman’s bra.
His fingers lingered just long enough to be obscene without crossing into vulgarity, brushing the soft rise of her breast. If someone dropped a cardboard box over them, Vee thought darkly, they would absolutely fuck right there on the sidewalk.
The woman blushed, genuinely blushed, pink blooming across her cheeks. She laughed, breathless, then reached into her bag and handed Luca her own card.
“You have got to be kidding me!” Vee snapped from the car.
Luca thanked the woman softly, then turned and walked back toward the car with infuriating ease.
He slid into the driver’s seat and handed Vee the card.
“CEO of Reinee Couture p>
Vee swallowed hard. She had no idea what the hell that meant but judging from the woman’s class, car and look in general, she deduced it was a big deal.
“I win,” Luca said calmly, pulling back onto the road.
Vee stared at the card. “What did you say to her p>
“Exactly what she wanted to hear,” he replied.
She scoffed, grasping at the last thread of her argument. “Well, you didn’t win. She doesn’t know who you are. Not exactly p>
Luca reached into the glove box without looking and handed her another card.
“I gave her this p>
Vee glanced down. “It just says Luciano Genovese,” she said, rolling her eyes. “That could be anyone p>
“Look at the back,” he said.
Vee flipped the card over, irritation still buzzing in her chest. Her eyes skimmed once, then slowed.