VINCENZO'S POV
I woke up with hair all over my face, making me frown. Pushing it away, I saw the woman I slept with last night, and irritation hit me instantly.
I shoved her off me. She sat up immediately, rubbing her face.
"Get out," I warned.
The moment the words left my mouth, she grabbed her things and ran out. I hated seeing those women in the morning, it always pissed me off.
I got up and walked into the bathroom, stepping under the shower. As the water ran over my body, my mind drifted to last night. The Russians had finally agreed to work with me, which pleased me. Moscow and I had been friends since high school.
After showering, I brushed my teeth, dried my hair and body, and wrapped a towel around my waist. I walked into my dressing room, put on a suit, and strapped my wristwatch on.
When I stepped out, Jason was waiting in the sitting room.
"I thought you'd take forever to dress," he said sarcastically.
"Did you call Matteo?" I asked, ignoring his comment.
"He said he'll meet us at the restaurant."
"Good."
We got into the car, and I asked about one of our businesses.
"How's the hotel construction going?"
"Good," he replied with a smile. "It'll be done in a month."
I nodded. I trusted Jason and Matteo with my businesses. We grew up together, Jason's father was my father's right-hand man, and Matteo's father was my father's most trusted bodyguard.
Later, I was at the VIP booth of my restaurant when I saw her.
Beautiful. Innocent. With the most striking brown eyes I'd ever seen.
"What's your name, kitten?" I asked.
"Helena."
Even her name sounded soft. Angelic. I wanted her maybe because of her innocence, maybe because something about her pulled me in. Either way, she was going to be mine.
The moment she left, I told Jason to find out everything about her.
Call it fate or coincidence, I didn't care. I discovered her father owed me a massive amount of money, money he would never be able to repay. Worse, I found out Helena was the one struggling to cover his mess.
So I made a decision.
I would take her as replacement for his debt or call it freeing her from him.
When I arrived at their house, her father opened the door nervously.
"Sirr please come in."
"What brought you here, sir?" Antonio asked shakily. "Is it about the money? Please, give me one more week."
I looked around the house. No photos of his wife. No photos of his daughter.
"Sirr" he interrupted again.
"Where's my money?" I said coldly. "Don't play games with me, you know what I can do."
"I promise to pay," he begged.
Then I heard the door open.
She walked in.
My kitten.
"We meet again, kitten," I said, watching her blush and tremble.
When her father refused my demand, I pulled out my gun. Helena begged, her voice shaking, and I told her the truth, give herself to me, and her father lives.
She had no choice.
The moment she agreed, I knew it.
She was mine.
————
HELENA'S POV
"Come here," he commanded.
A small sound escaped my lips, but I stayed rooted to the spot. Gathering courage, I looked up.
"Come here," he repeated, his tone harder. "I won't say it again, kitten."
I stepped toward him slowly, stopping a short distance away.
"Strip."
"No no," I whispered, my eyes burning with tears.
He stood up, closing the space between us. His presence was overwhelming. I kept my eyes down but that was a mistake.
He grabbed my jaw and forced me to look at him.
His fingers brushed my cheek as his other hand tugged my clothes down. I covered myself instinctively, trembling.
He pulled my hands away and kissed me.
My heart pounded as his grip tightened in my hair. I tried to resist when he pushed for more, but my body betrayed me. His touch sent sensations racing through me, leaving my mind spinning.
I wanted to pull away but I knew it would be useless.
When he finally pulled back, his lips moved to my neck, leaving marks that made my breath hitch. My body reacted before my mind could catch up.
"When I tell you to do something," he murmured, "you obey like the little kitten you are."
I nodded without thinking.
"Words," he snapped, gripping my jaw.
"Yyes," I whispered.
His breath brushed my ear.
"Now," he said lowly, "I want you."
My mind froze.