Page 54 of Captured Obsession

Andrei follows at my back, and I feel sandwiched between them as we descend the stairs and step toward uncertainty.

The moment my gaze meets Romi’s, she tries to step forward, but Dante holds her back by the elbow, stepping in front of her protectively. Ara’s face hardens as she holds her chin up higher beside Luca. And that’s when I see it. The man Nikolai has been describing to me. The Italian mafia boss. How had I thought Luca was just another businessman in New York? And now I even view Ara somewhat differently. I always considered her cooler in nature, someone who kept her cards close to her chest. But that was there before her meeting Luca.

And I encouraged her to take initiative while Luca was courting her.

The men are well-dressed in tailored suits and crisp long-sleeve shirts.

Nikolai grabs my hip, and my heartbeat picks up as he presses my back to his chest, his other hand lazily wrapping around my throat and the necklace, holding me in place.

Then his warm breath is against my ear. I can sense his possessiveness. “Remember,mishka, you have your part to play,” he whispers. “Even though we both know the thought of forcing you to scream will make youfucking blush, I have no intention of harm coming to you.”

A hot flush runs over my body, and my stomach sinks low with heated need.

No, no, no. I cannot be affected by this anymore.

“Such the gentleman, using me as a shield,” I snap, curling my nails into his hand at my throat and trying to draw blood. The others carefully assess us as we whisper.

Nikolai’s lips touch the nape of my neck, and I freeze as my friends watch on in horror. One of the masked men reaches inside his jacket, and Luca holds his hand up, indicating for him to stop. My heart hammers when I realize he was most likely going to pull out a gun.

“I’m fond of a welcoming party,” Nikolai calls out, “but you seem to be quite far away.”

Luca steps forward, casually pocketing his hands, looking completely composed and unbothered, and Dante follows close on his heels as they come to meet us in the center.

“If you’re good,mishka, I might reward you later for it.”

“You’re such an ass,” I mutter, and his hand firms on my hip as he pulls me in tighter, and my breath hitches when I feel the bulge in his pants. How can he get turned on in a situation like this? He really does have a death wish.

“We can’t help what we’re into, right? Besides, Ithink you enjoy putting on a show.” His whisper is like a drug hitting my brain and causing a low hum to start between my legs. “Especially when you get to scream.”

Dante and Luca look me over briefly, and I’m embarrassed that they’re probably seeing my flushed expression. Then again, that’s most likely why Nikolai is winding me up like this.

However, when the two men turn their attention to him and Andrei, Nikolai shifts me to his side, his hand resting possessively on my hip, and I know through this wordless action he’s letting us all know he’s not handing me over.

“Your boss wishes to do business with me. I have no intention of listening to demands. Especially ones delivered by a messenger,” Luca states icily. Then his gaze moves back to me. “Are you unharmed?”

I can sense he doesn’t sincerely care about my well-being. But when I look past him to Romi and Ara, who are now guarded by the five men wearing masks, I realize it’s because of them that I’ve gained importance to him.

“I’m okay,” I tell him.

“The Wolf is a coward for not accepting my first invitation to conduct business in Italy,” Luca bites, seeming to feel more inconvenienced than anything else. Is this bluffing, or has he always been this cold?

Andrei goes to speak, but Nikolai holds his hand up to silence him. Dante stares at me, and it unnerves me. This whole time, I thought he was adoctor, when he’s probably a killer just like the rest of them.

The cool air whips at my hair as Nikolai slips an envelope from his pocket, keeping his movements slow in an effort not to trigger Luca and Dante. “The Wolf has requested I deliver this personally. These are the beginning of his negotiations for a fruitful working relationship with regard to the expansion of the fight rings.”

Luca sneers, and Dante says, “Your boss is a fucking idiot if he thinks we’ll ever agree to letting him work in our territory.”

Nikolai’s smile is savage, and Dante mirrors it, which is even more terrifying. Was he always this scary? I’ve never seen this side of Dante before. I glance at Romi, who is watching the exchange carefully.

This is the man she fell in love with?

“I don’t tell him how to run his business. I’m just the messenger after all, right?”

“And the man who kidnapped someone my wife considers very valuable. Ordering that was The Wolf’s first mistake,” Luca says as he takes the envelope.

“It might be a good time to let you know that the diamond necklace around Sienna’s throat is an explosive device. If anyone tries to remove it or if something were to happen to us, then… Well, you know what happens.” Both of them zero in on my throat, and I swallow hard. Nikolai continues, unfazed by the crippling tension. “But let me assure you, I’ve treated her with the utmost respect. Isn’t that right, little doll?” He squeezes my hip, and my mouth goes dry as the two intimidating men before me glare at him.

“I’m okay,” I find myself saying. “I don’t want anyone else getting hurt, so the sooner this can be dealt with, that would be most convenient.” Because that’s the truth. And if I can prevent harm coming to anyone I care about, I will.