“I say let the Bratva have the city. They can’t possibly be any worse than Falcone. The city will be better off without the bastard.”

“Perhaps,” Growl said with a shrug. “But that’s your answer. And as long as Falcone hopes for New York’s support and as long as your mother does as he says, she and your sister will be safe.”

“But what if New York refuses to help Falcone?”

“Then Falcone will probably threaten to kill your mother and sister. That could change Luca Vitiello’s mind. Though I doubt that he’ll risk New York for an aunt he doesn’t know only because Falcone threatens to kill her. Luca has almost as much blood on his hands as I do. He can make hard decisions.”

“But if that happens, my mother and sister will die!”

“It’s a possibility.”

“And even if Luca agrees to help, Falcone will keep my mother as a prisoner and my sister as leverage. They won’t be better off than me.”

Growl’s face tightened, but he nodded in agreement. “Their only chance is to escape from Las Vegas. If they go to New York, Luca will probably take them in. His wife will certainly convince him.”

New York. That was the solution to everything.

“When can I see my mother? I want to talk to her to make sure she’s doing okay.”

Growl raised his eyebrows. “Do you think I lied to you? She’s doing as well as possible considering everything, believe me.”

“I do,” I said. “But I need to see her. Please.”

Growl sighed. “It’s not that easy. Falcone keeps a close eye on her. He won’t be happy if you go to her.”

“There has to be a way,” I said imploringly.

Growl shook his head. “I don’t know why I’m even telling you all this. This could be treason. I’m working for Falcone.”

“Or perhaps he figured you’d tell me and he hopes it’ll make me easier to control. He can’t truly believe you won’t mention anything to me,” I said. Growl looked doubtful. He was slipping away again. I wasn’t sure how to bind him to me. The only time he’d let down his guard at all was when we’d had sex.

I scooted a bit closer to him, but I’d never had to use my body to get what I wanted. I could tell Growl hadn’t stopped admiring my body from the moment he’d come in. He still wanted me, so last night hadn’t been enough. If only I knew how to seduce him. I wasn’t sure what to do at all. My body was definitely already imagining how it would be to feel his touch again. I tried not to let thoughts of appropriateness ruin this for me. But I’d always been taught to act reserved and like a lady. Seducing someone wasn’t something my mother would have ever condoned. I faltered, my eyes tracing Growl’s muscles straining against his thin T-shirt, then lower to his strong thighs bulging against his jeans. My belly filled with warmth at the sight. I had already slept with him. This was easy now, I tried to tell myself.

Growl must have seen something in my expression because he let out a low groan and pulled me toward him, claiming my mouth for a kiss. When he pulled away, he rasped, “Do you even know what you’re doing?”

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Cara

Did I know what I was doing? God, no, I didn’t. The only thing I was sure of was that my body wanted him, had wanted him from the first moment we’d seen each other, and now I could justify my desire with something else. He was my only chance to get what I wanted, and if that required using my body to get it, I was willing to do so. He kissed me again, harder this time, and began tearing at my shirt. I wanted to protest but before I could he’d ripped it apart, leaving me in nothing but my bra. And then that was gone too, and he sucked my nipple into his mouth. I cried out in surprise, and barely had time to catch my breath when Growl staggered to his feet. Confusion shot through me. Was he leaving? Had I done something wrong? I’d thought he wanted me even more than I wanted him.

I peered up at him, feeling shame rise up in me, but then I saw him remove his shirt, revealing inch over inch of muscles and tattoos. My gaze dipped as his hands fumbled with his belt and shoved his pants down. His cock sprang free, already big and glistening at the tip. Warmth spread between my legs at the sight despite the soreness I was still feeling.

With his cock standing at attention, he moved closer. It was on eye level and I finally had an idea what he had in mind. Nerves fluttered in my stomach. I wasn’t sure if I could do it and if I’d like it at all. Growl didn’t give me much time for uncertainty though. He stopped right in front of me, his cock only a few inches from my face. He smelled clean, and part of me wondered how he would taste. Growl had seemingly enjoyed what he’d done to me yesterday, especially my taste. I peeked up at him again.

His hand raked through my hair and came to rest on the back of my head. He pushed me forward lightly until my lips brushed his tip. This was wrong, wasn’t it? Growl saw nothing in me but a thing to give him pleasure. For a moment my instincts told me to lock my jaw, but then I let him slide into my mouth. He tasted slightly salty but not in a bad way.

Lust flashed in his eyes.

My own body flushed with elation, and a new wave of heat gathered between my legs. I shouldn’t want, shouldn’t enjoy this. This was wrong on so many levels but as Growl’s movements became harder, as his length slid in and out of my mouth faster, my hands grabbed his butt on their own accord. His muscles flexed under my fingers, hard and unrelenting.

His thrusts became jerky, and then he released into me with a low groan. I had trouble swallowing around him, but he didn’t stop pushing into me. He slowed gradually, still shuddering. His eyes met mine and I shivered at the possessiveness in them. I tried to pull back but his hands kept me in place. After a moment, he slid his length out of my mouth inch by inch. It was still hard but smaller than before. He took a step back, and my face became unbearably hot as shame washed over me at what he’d made me do, at what I’d done, even enjoyed doing. God. If my mother knew. If anyone knew. I knew what Trish and Anastasia would say about me. They’d call me a dirty slut. My conflicted emotions made me feel like I had a split personality.

Suddenly the taste of him made me feel dirty. I could hardly stop myself from spitting on the ground. Rough hands pulled me to my feet and flush against his body. Before I had a chance to react, he thrust his tongue into my mouth, tasting me, tasting himself.

My knees became weak as he explored my mouth. Didn’t he mind tasting himself? I thought men would find it disgusting. He sucked my lower lip into his mouth, then released it. “Your mouth tastes fucking perfect with my cum in it,” he growled.

Embarrassment washed over me again, but Growl knew no mercy. He unzipped my jeans, and shoved them and my panties down before he thrust a finger into me. I gasped first from discomfort, then something else, something incredible. He curled his finger deep in me, and I could feel nerve endings inside of me I’d never felt before. Growl added a second finger, then began sliding them in and out slowly, and I was ashamed at how easy his path was, wet and hot and eager. Giving him pleasure had turned me on. Was it normal to be that turned on by something so dirty? My forehead fell against his strong chest. I couldn’t hold it up anymore, couldn’t even stand on my own legs. The sensations held me in their stronghold. Growl’s thumb flicked over my nub of nerves, again on the edge of almost being painful, and my whole body reverberated with desire.