I don’t give a fuck about the man as my eyes zero in on the black and white photo of Laurie Barnes.
Adriano: I want her address, what car she drives, which gym she belongs to. Everything.
Rosie: Say pretty please with a cherry on top.
Adriano: Please, Rosie.
Rosie: That will have to do. Give me a few hours to get all the info.
As I stare at the photo, a dark hunger spreads through me like a lethal force and something in me clicks into place with terrifying certainty.
She will be mine.
I’ve spent years taking what I want, crushing anyone stupid enough to stand in my way, and right now, all I can think about is getting closer to Laurie Barnes.
Is she the kind of woman who submits easily and obeys every command, or does she like to be in control?
What does a day in her life look like?
The boyfriend is a minor problem I can easily make disappear.
I’m well aware my reaction to her isn’t normal.
Maybe it’s because of the way she looked standing outside my club, too beautiful for the ugliness of the world around her.
I don’t know, but there’s just something about her that hooked itself into the darkest part of me and refuses to let go.
La mia farfalla.
“Adriano?” Little Ricky grabs my attention. “What’s going on with you today?”
“I want her,” I admit to him. “I don’t care what it takes, but I’m going to make Laurie Barnes mine.”
“Okay then.” He lets out a sigh. “Want me to tell one of the men to bring her to you?”
I shake my head. “No, I want to watch her for a while so I can learn as much as possible about her.”
Little Ricky is quiet for a minute or so before he asks, “I get she’s beautiful, but a pretty face has never been enough to make your head turn. What’s it about this woman?”
“I can’t explain it.” I glance out the window, not taking in the passing scenery. “I saw her twice, and now I can’t get her out of my fucking head.” I suck in a deep breath before releasing it slowly. “It’s like the second I looked at her, she connected with the possessive side of me, and it decided she belongs to me.” A smirk pulls at my mouth as I meet Little Ricky’s eyes in the rearview mirror. “And as you know, once I want something, I take it.”
Turning his attention to the road ahead of us, he nods. “I get it. Kinda like me and buffalo wings. I can’t get enough of that shit.”
A chuckle rumbles from me while I shake my head. “Yeah, nothing can come between you and your wings.”
Chapter3
Laurie
While Heather left to have her nails done, I’d taken a chance and snuck out of the office for fifteen minutes to look at a room that’s available to rent.
Taking time off from work was nerve-racking enough, but then those men appeared out of nowhere outside the club, and the massive one slammed me against the wall.
My shoulder blades feel tender from the force he used, and angry red marks circle my neck. I have no idea how I’m going to explain it if someone notices.
And I almost got run over.
Ugh, today is not my day.