Chapter 1

1

MATTEO

I watch the blood circle down the drain as the warm water runs over me. It does nothing to help ease the tension I feel throughout my body. I swear, it's always one thing or another. Can I have one Saturday night without having to deal with this bullshit?

I turn off the water and grab a towel to dry off. When I step out of the cold metal shower, Sergio is standing there with a fresh suit for me to wear. He's already removed the blood-stained suit I was wearing. I take the fresh one from him.

"Everything has been cleaned. I just need to know where you want us to drop him."

"Don't drop him anywhere yet." Sergio's brows lift. "If they know I got my hands on one of their men, it might spook them." This will give me a few days. I'm sure they'll notice he's missing at some point.

"Rat squealed like a pig." Sergio spits on the concrete floor.

That was an understatement. My head still throbs from the headache the little shit gave me. I can't be too mad, though. I got more information than I could have hoped for from him. I knew a war was coming. It was only a matter of time.

The O'Haire family had been getting too close to another family that should be my ally. The Rossis. They all have some big balls on them. Did they really think I wouldn't notice? That I'd just stand by and allow them to do whatever they wanted?

Once upon a time, my great-grandfather would have called the Rossis family, but those days have long since passed. I sometimes forget they even exist. Their territory is not big enough to give a shit about. I let them be out of respect. That ends today.

The head of the O'Haire family is slowly losing his mind; the alcohol has taken its toll. His next in line, Aidan O'Haire, is downright insane. Add in that Irish temper and he can be unpredictable. I'm sure warming up to the Rossis was his idea. I knew I'd have to handle the O'Haires soon enough. I just didn't bank on them trying to tie themselves to the Rossis.

Aidan is a greedy fuck, not only for money but also power. He has no right to possess or manage such power. It appears that he is not as stupid and arrogant as I had previously believed. He's aware that he is unable to fight me alone. He made the first move, and now I'll finish him.

"What is your plan?" Sergio asks.

"I want more information." I get dressed. I thought the days of marrying one family to another out of loyalty were over. It was something I sure as hell avoided.

"You really think a wedding will unite them?" Sergio asks, having the same thought I'm having.

"The O'Haires don't play well with others." They tend to keep to themselves. I stay out of their city, and they stay out of mine. Or at least they used to. It appears they might be weaker than I realized. What other reason for this sudden desire for more?

"Maybe they'll kill each other and do us all a favor."

"Maybe," I agree. I think they eventually will. The thing is I'm not willing to wait and see how big their path of destruction will be in the meantime. "But not before they try to kill me." I know without a doubt that the moves they're making are to target me.

"Try," Sergio repeats, clenching his fists at his side. I should have let him go a few rounds with the rat. It would have been like old times. Sergio's been at my side for ten years. Loyal as they come. Obviously, since I trust him with my life. Let's just say he can be uptight with my security. So much so that I get annoyed by it sometimes, but I know I shouldn't take his loyalty for granted. They don't make good men like him anymore.

I check the mirror to make sure I don't have any blood on my face. It's always easier to come to my club's basement to clean up. If I don't have to, there is no point in tracking blood home. I don't need Emma to start getting after me about bringing my work home. She is the only one who can get away with giving me a hard time. Most grown men piss themselves if I ask to meet with them.

"I'll be in my office."

"I'll come with you." Sergio falls behind me. He's more on edge than I am.

"They might be stupid, but not enough to come here," I remind him. My men are all over this place. It is one of a handful of clubs I own. This one is right in the heart of the city. That's why I keep my office here. "Check on Nikolai." I haven't seen or heard from him in a few hours. That is never a good thing. The kid tends to get himself into trouble without even trying.

"He's around."

"Of course he is." Where else would an eighteen-year-old kid be on a Saturday night but at a club he could get himself into?

The second I open the door from the basement, the thump of music hits me. My headache is getting worse.

People move out of my way as I make my way toward my office, passing the main bar. I need a shot of whiskey. It's the only thing that will relieve the tension. Then I need to find out when this fucking wedding is going to be. I'm guessing my invitation got lost in the mail. Not as if that will be stopping me from attending.

A flash of red catches my attention, making me pause for some reason. I turn, wanting to find it, but it finds me first. A soft body collides with mine. I grab hold to shove it back, but instead my fingers lock around a set of delicate shoulders, not letting go.

The woman tilts her head back, making her wavy red locks fall to the side to uncover her face. Two bright, innocent green eyes stare up into mine, knocking the air out of me. For a long moment, I swear I forgot how to fucking breathe. It's like I've taken a punch to the gut. Her shiny, plump lips form an O shape. I can see the faint trail of freckles she tried to conceal across her round, full cheeks and nose. She's the most beautiful creature I've ever seen. I'm mesmerized by her.

"Hi," she chirps, breaking me out of my momentary trance. Where the hell did she come from, and how did she get in here? "It's kinda crowded in here, and heels aren't my thing. You saved me. I would have face-planted if you didn't have such good reflexes." She lets out a small, adorable giggle. When the fuck did I ever think a laugh was adorable? What is happening to me?

Does she not know the danger she is in right now? I suppose not. It's not as though I pluck girls out of my club to ravish. With her innocence, it wouldn't be ravishing, it would be ruining. Yes, that's what I want to do to her.

"Well, ah—" She licks her lips, her eyes darting around. Oh, little rabbit, it's too late now. Your destiny has already been decided.

"I'll get you a drink." I trail my fingers down her bare arms, wanting to feel more of her softness. When I reach her hand, I take it. "Come," I order, not waiting for a response. I don't need one. This is my club, hell, my fucking city.

"Heels!" she squeaks, almost falling again. I grab ahold of her, pulling her to my side.

"Champagne," I bark at one of the bartenders and nod toward my upstairs office, which overlooks the whole club, before I practically drag the small thing toward it. I ignore the quick, hidden glances I receive from a few of my men. I can't blame them; this isn't something they've ever seen me do.

It's not till we're in my office that I release my hold on her. The door closes behind us. I'm finally able to relax a little, knowing she's trapped now.

"Whoa." I watch as she does a small spin. The dress she's wearing, which hits mid-thigh, flares out, exposing more of her to me. The small peek of more skin is more erotic than it should be. I bet she has on more clothes than any other female inside this club, but she's the only one that grabbed my attention.

"This is pretty cool." The little temptress peeks around my office with curiosity. "Do you like own this place or something?" she innocently asks.

If this were any other girl, I'd call her a fucking liar, but I can tell she really has no clue who I am. Good. It must be my lucky day because I'm sure that information would surely send this little rabbit running. I enjoy striking fear into most people, but I don't want her to feel that when she's near me. And I definitely don't want her to go anywhere.

"Yes." She goes over to the windows that line one wall to look down at the people dancing. I lean up against my desk. "Are you old enough to be in here?" With a shy smile, she peeks over her shoulder at me. I grip the side of my desk. I cross a lot of lines, but that's not one that I will. But I could be patient if I had to be.

"Depends."

"Tell me you're at least fucking eighteen," I grit out.

"Yes." Thank fuck.

The door alarm goes off. I open it and take the bottle of champagne from the cocktail waitress, as well as only one of the glasses.

My little rabbit watches me as I open the bottle and pour her a glass. "Come here," I order her. A smile tips on her lips, but she comes to me. Good girl. I hand her the glass.

"Thank you." She takes a small sip. I can tell from the small scrunch of her nose she isn't a fan, but she tries to hide it.

"Not a fan? I can get you something else."

"It's okay." She sets the glass down. "I hope it wasn't expensive." Her teeth sink into her bottom lip.

"No." It's not a lie. To me, it's not, but to anyone else, a few grand for a bottle of champagne is. I reach out and pull her bottom lip from under her teeth, hoping to replace it with my own.

What's this girl done to me? I'm not acting like myself, but I don't care. The headache I had earlier is gone, and now there is only her.

"Are you going to kiss me?" She steps closer. I don't understand how she can be both shy and bold at the same time. But yet again, I don't care. I want her. It's been so very long since I truly craved anything. She's too much of a temptation to resist.

"Yes." I grab her hips, pulling her into me. As my lips claim hers, her soft body melts into mine. I try to be gentle so as not to frighten her away, but the moment my lips meet hers, it's all over. A possessiveness I never knew existed takes over.

I thrust my tongue into her mouth, my hands going to her ass to lift her off her feet. I turn to sit her on the side of my desk, sending half the items on it to the floor. Neither one of us cares. The deeper I kiss her, the more she starts to kiss me back. She's tentative at first, but lust soon takes over her too. Her delicate fingers are now going for the buttons on my shirt.

"Does the rest of you taste like sugar, little rabbit?" The thought of getting my mouth on other parts of her consumes me. I've lost both control and my mind, and I couldn't care less. My only focus is her and how I can have more of her.

"What?" When my mouth leaves hers, she gasps. I don't bother to answer her. I drop to my knees, spreading her legs.

"Pull it up," I bark louder than I mean to. She gives a small jump but does as she's told. What a good girl she is. I can smell her arousal. I don't bother removing her panties. I need my mouth back on her. I pull them to the side and take what I'm after.

Her cunt's sweet taste fills my mouth. I lick and stroke her with my tongue, wanting to get her wetter so there is more for me to have. Her tiny body is responsive. It doesn't take but a few strokes to her clit before she's coming for me. I don't stop. I demand another orgasm. I send her over the edge for a second time, and my office is filled with her soft moans. A sound I plan on hearing a lot more of.

I want more, but my cock is harder than it's ever been in my life. It's almost painful. As I stand, I pull her panties off. She watches me with those innocent green eyes as I undo my belt quickly. I'm so eager it should be embarrassing, but I don't give a fuck.

I come down over her, taking her mouth as I pull out my cock between us. "I've never done this before." She speaks against my lips as I align the head of my cock with her opening.

"And you never will again," I tell her as I sink inside of her in one thrust. A small scream leaves her, ripping through me and making me freeze. The realization that she was referring to sex strikes me like a blow to the face. I was sure she'd meant hooking up with a man she didn't know. I knew my little rabbit was innocent, but not that innocent.

"Fuck." I start to pull out, but she wraps her legs around me.

"Don't stop; this is why I'm here." I'm too caught up in my lust and need to process what she means. What I do hear is Don't stop . That's all I need.

I pull out and thrust back in. Over and over. She's so damn tight I'm not going to last. I reach between us, wanting her to come with me. For her pussy to lock around my cock and milk my release.

It only takes a little pressure on her clit to get what I'm after. My girl is a hair trigger for me. Her pussy locks down on my cock. I thrust all the way inside, spilling my release into her. I bury my face in her neck, taking pleasure in what I've done. I knew exactly what I was doing. She is now mine.

Too bad for me, my little rabbit lives up to her name, slipping right out of my hold.