CHAPTER SIXTEEN

ADELINA

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I’m not sure if it’s because I’ve taken to walking around naked in my room or lying on the bed pleasuring myself, but Dante comes storming into my room two days later and looks like he’s about to explode.

“The fuck are you doing?”

I plunge a finger inside my pussy and moan, writhing on the bed and do my best not to smirk.

Two damn days it’s taken him to snap.

“I said what THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING?!”

My life is at stake here, so I had to do something. The asshole thought he could just keep me locked up like a toy.

If he can play dirty, then so can I.

I was left with no choice but to up the ante.

“I think you know what this is,” I moan again, because I’m seriously aroused and the black clad gangster standing in my doorway wearing a gun holster looking dangerous and sexy is not helping.

He crosses the room to stand at the foot of the bed.

“Are you here to watch or join in?” I smile like the sex kitten he wants me to be.

I’m not.

I will claw his eyes out if I have the chance.

I know what I’m doing comes with some risk. I’ve participated in our sexual play to date—for the record I want it stated that I did not consent, but that he...tricked me. I’m testing him to his limits right now. If he fucks me with his cock, rather than his hand, I’m not sure I’ll recover.

To be clear, I want him to fuck me like a madman right now. I am aching so badly I almost want to beg.

Two days.

Two days I’ve been rubbing my clit and pretending I’m some kind of OnlyFans pro.

I’m not.

I’m just fucking horny.

And a prisoner.

That my guard is Dante Baldassare—one of the hottest gangsters in the world—is my bad luck. Every inch of him is solid muscle, and his square jaw and blue eyes are intoxicating.

Even if they usually turn black while dealing with me.

“I told you there were cameras in here. My fucking men could have seen everything!” he grounds out.

I smile.

Except they didn’t, did they? It took me way too long to figure out that Dante would never let another man, or woman, watch me.

If there are cameras here, he’s the only one with access.

And I think, by the look on his face and the fact he’s standing here right now, it’s safe to say I’m one hundred percent correct.

“Did you stroke your cock while watching me, Dante?” I taunt him further.

He lets out a growl and rubs his jaw, looking like I’m one giant problem he just needs to get rid of.

Good.

Send me home, you asshole.

“Put your clothes on.” He hisses and turns away.

What?

I sit up. “Are you kidding me right now? You’re usually trying to get me out of them!”

My arousal fades as I stare at his back. But he doesn’t respond, he just continues to stare at the wall.

Fuck that.

I scramble off the bed, storm across the room, and slap him on the back. “Dante!”

“Get dressed.” He yells, not moving—not even a flinch.

The hell?

“Look at me!” I demand, standing behind him with not a scrap of clothing on. My pussy dripping and swollen.

“GET DRESSED Adalina!” He yells once more.

No way.

I walk around him and get in his face. “Stop ignoring me. What is wrong with you!”

I’m furious. How dare he.

I’m...offended.

Dante’s hands rest on his hips, and with his face inches from mine, he grounds out his response, barely restrained. “You’re playing with fire, Adelina. I deal with the most dangerous men in the world every single fucking day. Yet you get up in my face and demand I look at you.”

Yes.

“Well...you ignored me.” I almost whisper.

He blinks.

“What?” he asks, confused.

Stop talking. Do not let him know he got under your skin.

“You. Ignored. Me.”

More blinking.

Then his eyes dip down over my naked body, then up to mine. Before I realize what he’s doing, he tugs me almost right up against him.

Almost, but not quite.

Then in a husky voice, he says, “Because kitten, if I hadn’t, I would’ve fucked you so hard I would’ve broken something. Maybe you.”

My mouth drops open.

A glint sparkles in his eyes, and while he doesn’t smile, I know he likes my response.

“Now shower, clean that sexy pussy, and get dressed in the outfit right at the back of your wardrobe.” He runs a finger down between my breasts.

Then his thumb swipes over my nipple, and I whimper.

“Be ready at seven.”

Before I can ask where we are going, he strides away.

At the door, he stops. “Wear the mask.”

What the hell?

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I’M IN A funk after finding the red dress hidden away in a designer dress bag right at the back of the wardrobe. Around the hanger hangs a black masquerade mask with crystals.

They better be crystals.

Surely they aren’t diamonds...but I wouldn’t put it past him. Both our families are wealthy as fuck.

Anyway, it’s not the mask that bothers me as much as the neckline of the dress. Given Dante’s growing possessiveness, if I wear that dress out of this house—I’ll get to that in a minute—he will lose his mind.

The figure-hugging red fabric plunges down to my naval and has an open back.

He’s going to lose his ever-loving mind.

Who chose this damn thing? Someone who doesn’t understand Dante and how he feels about me.

Insanely possessive.

I’m no stranger to beautiful designer clothing, but this item is sending a message. I just wonder who it’s to.

Not me, I know that.

My father. It has to be.

Goddamn him. This is a dangerous game he’s playing, with me as the pawn.

A knock at the door surprises me. I turn away from the wardrobe where it hangs, holding the towel to my body.

“Ms. Baldoni. The boss sent us to help you get ready.” A woman in a black shift dress says, glancing at the two women behind her.

They’re carrying cases and I know immediately they are here to do my hair and makeup. Well, if I am to leave my prison and make an escape, then I might as well look beautiful while doing it.

I pieced together the dates and what this is.

The Syndicate Masquerade Ball.

A dangerous game indeed. One I fully intend to take advantage of.

I wave them in, sit in the chair one of them places in front of the mirror, and plan my next move.

My escape.