Chapter Seven

MAXIMO

My rough skin slid against her soft flesh as I undid the handcuffs on her wrist, and a strange feeling went through me as I saw the red bruise around her wrists.

“I’m not hungry,” she said snappily and a surge of annoyance welled up inside me.

“You won’t speak when I don’t ask you to,” I said, gripping her chin roughly.

She stared into my eyes and I could only see anger and pure hatred in her hazel orbs.

I internally scoffed. It was nice to see that she still had some spark in her. Breaking her would be much more fun than I thought.

She remained silent as I dropped the handcuff on the floor and dragged her up. I caught a whiff of her sweet fragrance. A mixture of strawberry and vanilla wafted into my nostrils and I instantly clenched my jaws tightly.

“You know, you seem really weak for a Don,” she said. “You’re not as frightening as I expected a whole ass mafia don to be…”

I made a low growling sound deep in my throat as I grabbed her neck.

“What did I say about speaking?” I snarled, tightening my grip on her neck.

“Oops. I forgot,” she said as a certain look crossed her eyes.

I knew what she was doing. She was trying to provoke me. And it was working.

Without thinking, I lifted her body and threw her over my shoulder.

“What the fuck?” She hissed and I rewarded her with a smack on her almost exposed ass.

“Ouch…”

I slapped her ass again, this time a little bit harder than before. She flinched, but finally got the cue as no sound escaped her lips.

My hand tingled and I refused to register the way her skin felt soft against my hand. I climbed down the stairs with a quiet Aria bouncing on my shoulder.

I barged into the dining room and a growl almost escaped my lips as I saw Lorenzo and three other men seated by the dining table.

I almost forgot I invited them to dinner to discuss something important.

My hand immediately moved to cover the exposed flesh of Aria’s ass and I saw Lorenzo arch an eyebrow at me.

I got to the beginning of the table where my seat was located and dropped Aria to her feet. She looked at me with a scowl on her face. As she opened her mouth to say something, her eyes widened a bit as she spotted the other men that sat on the table with us.

I took my seat and as she moved to find a seat, I dragged her and placed her directly on my lap, facing her toward the table with her back to my front.

A smirk appeared on my lips as I heard her sharp intake of breath.

“What are you doing?” She hissed in a low voice.

“Eat,” I barked harshly, trying to ignore the way her body felt soft and warm against mine.

I felt Lorenzo’s eyes fixed on us but I ignored his stare. I grabbed the steak knife, cut the piece of meat and put it in my mouth.

As I chewed, I noticed that Aria hadn’t started eating yet. She was just busy staring at the food in front of her like it was poison.

Irritation swept through me, especially as the sweet fragrance from her red hair wafted into my nose. I hated that she had an effect on me. She was my fucking prisoner.

Without thinking, I placed my left hand on her thigh and slowly dragged it up. She let out a soft gasp as my hand went under the flimsy dress she was wearing.

“W-what are you doing?” She whispered.

“Are you going to eat? Or should I make you eat?” I said into her ear, slowly trailing my finger further up her thigh.

Goosebumps erupted on her skin and she adjusted her position on my lap, making me instantly hard.

Lorenzo was saying something to the man beside him, but my mind wasn’t there. The only thing I could focus on was the heat that emanated from her core.

I watched as she shakily grabbed a fork and stabbed it into her potato, before bringing it to her mouth. As her lips circled around the fork, I imagined them around my…

‘Fuck! What is wrong with you Maximo?’ My mind screamed at me.

I swiftly removed my hand from underneath her dress and she released the breath she had been holding.

“Don’t piss me off. Eat your food,” I hissed in a low voice.

She complied, taking a forkful of vegetables into her mouth.

The table broke out in what seemed like a normal conversation between my men. But while they talked, I noticed the curious glances they shot at Aria. My jaws clenched and I had the sudden and irrational urge to order them to stop looking at her.

Aria remained tense on my lap as she quickly ate her food, probably so that she could be away from me as quickly as possible.

“Che cazzo stai facendo?” What the fuck are you doing? Lorenzo grit out in Italian.

My hands balled into fists as I stared at my brother. I knew he was asking a reasonable question, but the question unnerved me because I didn't even know the answer.

“Quello che voglio.” What I want. I replied back in Italian.

Lorenzo stared at me for a bit before shaking his head and focusing back on the food before him.

My attention went back to Aria and I realized that for the first time since I met her, she was quiet.

“Given up already?” I asked in a taunting voice.

She scoffed but remained silent.

I gritted my teeth and grabbed some strands of her hair, tugging them behind.

“I asked you a question, Red,” I spat, unable to stop the silly nickname from slipping from my mouth.

“Where is the fun in that?” She asked, repeating my own words to me.

Amusement rose up inside me, but I forced it down by clenching my jaw.

“Maybe I have been too lenient with you,” I whispered in her ear and she shivered.

“Just kill me already. You have a knife with you, and I’m sure your men would be pleased…”

“I don’t please anyone but myself,” I said in a low voice.

She exhaled a breath, and I could see the pained expression on her face.

“What about this is pleasing to you?” She asked in a firm voice.

“Be patient. I haven’t gotten to that part yet,” I growled, the threat hanging around us like a dark cloud.

I pushed her off me.

“I believe you have eaten enough,” I hissed, signaling for Maria to come and take her.

The moment Aria was led out of the room, the tension in the air seemed to double.

“What the hell just happened?” Lorenzo asked, anger evident in his tone.

I smirked.

“I don’t answer to you or anyone,” I gritted. “I am the Don. I’ll do whatever I fucking want to do.”