Kingpin's Property, page 19
I cut my gaze away. “He didn’t have any leverage over my brother. Other than his considerable resources and influence that benefitted the cartel, which were obviously helpful in propping up Pedro’s leadership.”
“No amount of resources could compensate for this insult to you.” His thumb brushed over the brand, and I shuddered.
“It wasn’t an insult,” I said bitterly. “It was a punishment. One that Pedro thought I thoroughly deserved.”
“Punishment?” The growled word ripped from his chest. “Nothing you could have possibly done would warrant this.”
“Nothing?” I choked on a humorless laugh. “I only went and blabbed his deepest secrets to you in exchange for an orgasm. Secrets that you then used to undermine confidence in his regime as soon as my father died and left Pedro to ascend as his heir.” I tasted the acid in my confession, but I couldn’t suppress the lingering toxicity from my years of caustic rage. “I indulged in one night of fun with you in exchange for half of my brother’s cartel. I allowed my body to be used as a commodity, so Pedro made sure that I understood the gravity of the error I’d made.”
My gaze fixed on the crystal decanter by Stefano’s elbow, unable to meet his intense dark eyes as I finished my spiteful admission. “Miguel had always wanted me, and once you challenged Pedro and fractured our cartel, my brother needed all the most powerful allies he could get. My body bought Miguel’s unwavering support. It took me over a year to finally convince Pedro that I was of greater value to the cartel as a Ronaldo than as Miguel Armendariz’s whore.”
Stefano’s muscles solidified to iron around me, tension gripping his strong frame. I kept my eyes on the decanter, studying the amber liquid trapped within the cut crystal vessel rather than facing my enemy.
“You really do hate me.” He choked on the revelation.
My eyes snapped to his, drawn to the dark pools that swallowed me up and offered blessed release from debilitating fear. I cupped his cheek, studying the sharp line of his clenched jaw before running my thumb over the bitter slash of his lips.
“No,” I said on a soft sigh, marveling at the changes in me. “I don’t think I do hate you, Stefano. Not anymore.”
His brows drew together. “Why?”
I kept my palm flush with his angular face, anchoring myself to him. “Because you don’t hate me, either.”
Although his limbs remained locked up tight, his head turned slightly, leaning into my touch. “I’ve never hated you, Carmen.”
“I know you didn’t,” I murmured, explaining the full extent of his awful callousness. “You used me and then left me to face unknown consequences, and you felt nothing. It was worse than if you’d thrown me to the wolves because you loathed me; you simply didn’t care about anything other than your own survival.”
His jaw ticked beneath my hand. “You were right to hate me for that. I swear I didn’t know the truth about your relationship with Miguel. I didn’t know that you suffered because of my actions. I’m sorry, kitten.” His black eyes burned into mine. “I’m so sorry.”
I drew in a deep breath and exhaled slowly, mindfully releasing the last of my toxic emotions toward Stefano. “I believe you. And that’s why I don’t hate you anymore.”
I trailed my fingers through his dark hair, mussing the carefully designed, carefree style. He closed his eyes briefly, indulging in the simple pleasure of my tender touch.
“I don’t think you’d ever been truly sorry for anything a day in your life until you captured me. But I believe that you are sorry now.”
Stefano might not experience empathy, but the knowledge of how he’d caused me to suffer obviously pained him. He wasn’t a normal man, and I wasn’t foolish enough to believe that he was capable of having traditional romantic feelings for me. But he cared about me deeply, in his own insane way.
Most of the tension eased from his muscles, but his features remained pinched with strain. “I just want you to be happy, kitten. I don’t want you to be in any pain, and I’ve been the cause of so much of yours. I don’t understand why you’re forgiving me.”
I knew him well enough now to realize that he wasn’t experiencing guilt, but a close approximation: puzzlement and uncertainty about my forgiveness. He wanted it, but he didn’t logically understand why I would offer it.
“I’m tired of being angry,” I admitted the weary truth. “I’m tired of being scared. You promised that I can be safe with you, and I want that. You’ve proven that I can trust you. I’m choosing to be with you, Stefano.” I offered him a wry smile. “Even if you keep insisting that I don’t have a choice, I assure you that I do. You would be well aware if I did not choose you.”
One corner of his mouth ticked up in a crooked smile of his own. “Yes, I understand that you’re capable of being quite naughty when you’re feeling obstinate, kitten.” He trailed his fingers through my hair, and I nuzzled into his hand, openly welcoming more. “I much prefer you like this.”
“You’d better learn how to keep me in a good mood, then,” I teased. “Don’t worry, I’ll train you to take very good care of me.”
He barked out a laugh, genuinely delighted. “I’m pleased you’re so amenable, little pet.”
He captured my lips in a fierce kiss, a thorough, seductive promise that I wouldn’t regret choosing him.
Chapter 21
Stefano
“You’re home early,” Carmen commented, glancing up at me from her reclined position on the couch. Bandit was a fluffy black shadow on her belly, and she had to nudge him twice before he reluctantly hopped off and permitted her to rise.
“You don’t sound disappointed,” I remarked, goading her. “Did you miss me already, little pet?”
She rolled her eyes and sat upright, setting her book aside. “I’m surprised. You’ve only been gone for a couple hours. Usually, you’re not back until close to dinner time.” She shot me a saucy grin. “Maybe you’re back so soon because you missed me.”
I chuckled, warmth flooding my chest. Ever since Carmen had admitted that she wanted to be with me last night, I’d felt an unprecedented level of pleasure. My entire body felt oddly light, and my pleasant mood took no effort to fabricate.
“I definitely missed you, kitten.” I closed the distance between us and dropped a quick kiss on her lips. “But I’m here on more official business.”
Her gray eyes flashed, wary. “Involving me?”
I settled beside her on the couch, caressing her cheek to soothe her. “Yes, involving you. Last night, Arturo Flores was quite vocal in criticizing my strategy with you,” I reminded her. “After sleeping on it, I’ve decided that he’s right. My tactics were miscalculated, and I’m going to change my approach.”
Her posture remained assertive, but anxious tension lingered around her mouth. “How so?”
I placed the gold gift bag I’d brought with me down on the floor by my ankles, enacting the scene I’d been planning since Carmen had fallen asleep in my arms last night.
“As Arturo so helpfully pointed out,” I continued, “Miguel Armendariz is rallying Ronaldo men to support him by framing himself as your white knight. He is using you as a symbol for the cartel, and I have made a woeful mistake in degrading your proud legacy.” I removed the black velvet box from the gift bag and placed it in her lap. “I intend to undermine his efforts by honoring that legacy.”
Her hands rested on the box, eyeing its size and shape suspiciously. “This had better not be another damn collar,” she warned.
“No,” I reassured her. “I think this will suit you far better than a collar. Open it, kitten.”
She obeyed, and her lovely eyes flew wide when she revealed the delicate, gold tiara I’d selected for her.
“I propose an alliance,” I announced. “I see no need for my cartel to destroy yours when we could simply merge. No one else needs to die, and there won’t be any further disruptions to our business running smoothly. If you agree, I’ll move forward with plans for your official coronation. I think a very public announcement should eliminate any subversive chatter doubting the genuine nature of our relationship.”
Her fingers trailed over the rubies and diamonds that accented the gleaming yellow gold, her touch covetous. But her eyes remained keen on my face, assessing my offer for any hidden agenda or conditions.
“And what is the nature of our relationship?” she pressed. “Am I your pet? Or your queen?”
A vicious grin split my features. “Yes.”
I allowed her to absorb the weight of the intentional ambiguity. Public uncertainty about the exact power dynamic between Carmen and me would work to our advantage. When I’d destroyed her family’s estate, she’d been taken as my prisoner, but soon, she would be presented as my equal. I could hear the whispers already…
Has Duarte gone soft? Has Carmen managed to control him?
Does Carmen truly have power, or is this Duarte’s ruse to discourage Ronaldo resistance?
If he’s just using her, can Carmen be persuaded to turn on Duarte?
We would present a united front, and anyone who was foolish enough to try to use us against each other would simply expose themselves as a two-faced threat to our regime.
Her lush lips curved in a wicked smirk. “Very clever. I don’t suppose you’d like to share the real answer with me, would you?”
I beamed at her. “I’m sure we’ll have countless arguments over it. Why spoil all that fun by coming up with a definitive answer today?”
Her delighted giggle was as intoxicating as the finest Champagne. “You are thoroughly insane, Stefano.”
“I think you’re wonderful, too.” I brushed a kiss over her forehead. “Does this mean you accept the terms of our alliance?”
Her brows rose. “You mean the fact that there are no terms? Sure, why not?”
I curled two fingers beneath her chin, lifting her face to mine. “There are no terms because I need you to trust me,” I said in a more serious tone. “I won’t insult you with a tin crown. If I tried, you would turn on me at the first opportunity. I want you, Carmen, and I will do whatever it takes to keep you. Do you understand? No matter if you wear a collar or a crown, you’re mine, and I will not let you go.”
Her smile took on a sardonic tilt. “You make caring about my happiness and treating me with respect sound like such dire machinations. Don’t worry, Stefano. I don’t want to escape.”
Despite her lighthearted banter and easy smile, something about her attitude didn’t quite satisfy me. I was putting everything on the line for her, risking my empire in order to secure her devotion. While she appeared genuinely pleased with my offering, she still spoke of my gesture in strategic terms. I found that I craved something more…profound.
A wicked plan formulated in my mind, a solution to rid myself of the unpleasant, hollow sensation in my chest. If I desired Carmen’s deeper surrender, all I had to do was enforce her submission. When she came apart beneath my hands, she showed me just how much she really needed me, proving the intensity of our connection. I’d already conditioned her body to respond as I wished. If I wanted her to express her feelings for me more openly, I would simply work on training her to do so.
I grasped her dainty fingers in mine, guiding her to stand and follow me. She clutched the tiara in her other hand, clinging to the symbol of power I’d offered her.
“Come on, kitten,” I urged, leading her toward the master bathroom, where she could observe her jewels in the mirror. “Let’s try it on for size. I want to make sure you’re completely satisfied with your crown.”
“Don’t you think this might be a little over the top?” she asked, even as she eagerly accompanied me to inspect her new adornment. “You have a penchant for the dramatic in how you represent yourself, but I’m known for subtlety. Presenting me to everyone wearing a literal crown is a little heavy-handed, even for you.”
“I think the gesture has just the right amount of eccentricity,” I countered. “Staging an overt coronation provides the opportunity to host a party with a guest list that includes your allies and mine. Everyone who accepts our invitation will be guaranteed safety and a place in our new joint regime, no matter what actions they may have taken since Pedro’s death. The specifics of our power dynamic will confuse them, but it is an overt, public statement of my respect for you and your organization. Miguel Armendariz’s efforts to use your degradation in order to bolster his own power will be effectively destroyed.”
My hand flexed around hers, tension gripping my muscles when I mentioned the bastard who had hurt my sweet kitten. My fingertips tingled at the nauseating memory of finding his initial carved into her delicate skin, an indelible reminder of how he’d violated her.
My fault.
Something dark and vicious clawed at my gut, a sickening sensation that I didn’t care for at all.
She paused and turned toward me, her soft gray eyes tight with worry. Carmen didn’t try to hide her fear from me anymore; I’d effectively broken through her wall of rage that she used to shield it. The sight of her distress sharpened the shredding sensation in my stomach, and I tasted acid on my tongue.
“You won’t invite him, will you?” she asked, her spine resolutely straight despite the hitch in her tremulous question. “I agree with your strategy that everyone invited to this party should be granted immunity from repercussions, no matter what actions they’ve taken in the last few weeks. But not Miguel. He won’t be extended an invitation, right?”
I cupped her cheeks in my hands, cradling her delicate face. She felt so fragile in my gentle hold, and for a moment, I questioned my entire strategy. My little pet would be so much safer if I simply kept her locked in a cage, shielded from everyone but me.
But Carmen would hate me if I truly robbed her of all autonomy. I’d already been responsible for her imprisonment with Miguel, even if I hadn’t been aware of what she’d suffered as a consequence of my actions.
I silently vowed to never be responsible for her pain ever again. Carmen would be happy with me, and that meant I had to expose her to the risks of the outside world. She would be utterly miserable if I forced her to remain in complete isolation, unable to use her formidable mind to accomplish anything of significance.
“Armendariz will not be invited to your coronation,” I swore, stroking the regal lines of her cheekbones with my thumbs. “I intend to make a statement about how insulting his accusations are. This event will alienate him from all of his supporters. Everyone who has been tempted to listen to his lies about wanting to rescue you from me will see quite plainly how much I value you. After this, he will have no allies and will be marked as our enemy, when everyone else has been offered clemency and a secure place within a profitable organization. He will be isolated and friendless. I anticipate that he will be dead within days.” I stared into her lovely eyes, willing her lingering fear to dissipate. “He will never hurt you again, kitten. I won’t let him.”
She drew in a shuddering breath and released it on a shaky nod. “Okay. Thank you, Stefano.”
Her genuine relief and gratitude mitigated some of the clawing discomfort in my gut, but it wasn’t quite enough. I craved more from her; a deeper admission of her need for me. I provided her with protection, with pleasure. I’d made myself essential to her, and I wouldn’t be satisfied until she fully expressed her devotion. Carmen would never leave me, and it was time for her to confess that irrevocable truth aloud.
“Let’s see how your crown fits, pretty pet,” I urged, grasping her shoulders and directing her to turn away from me, so that her back pressed against my chest. My eyes locked on hers in our reflections in the mirror, and I plucked the tiara from her fingers.
Moving with slow, ceremonial purpose, I lifted the crown high before lowering it onto her head. The small golden combs at either end of the precious adornment sank into her glossy, raven hair, loosely securing her symbol of power.
She took a long moment to stare at the stunning goddess in the mirror, tilting her head slightly so that she could study the glittering diamonds and rubies as they flashed beneath the vanity lighting.
I lowered my mouth to her throat, pressing a kiss against her soft skin before whispering in her ear. “What do you think, kitten? Does being my Queen suit you?”
Her eyes were bright where they met mine in the mirror. “Stefano, I…” She blinked rapidly, attempting to suppress her emotions. “Which is it?” she issued a breathy demand. “Kitten or Queen?”
A dark chuckle rumbled from my chest, and I nipped at her shoulder in mild rebuke. “I already told you that we aren’t going to settle on a decisive position today. The only thing that truly matters is that you’re mine, Carmen. Whatever label you want to put on your role in our relationship is up to you, but the essential truth will not change: you belong to me.”
A shiver raced over her skin, and she opened her mouth to protest. I wrapped my hand around her throat, squeezing firmly enough to silence any attempt to refute my declaration.
“Do not let your crown slip, no matter what,” I warned in the low, silky tone that made her tremble. “I won’t be finished admiring my lovely queen for a long while yet.”
The golden combs would help keep the tiara secure in her hair, but without it being properly pinned in place, my pet would have to focus very hard on staying still to prevent the crown from slipping off. I intended to make it a particularly difficult challenge for her.
I tugged at the tie that secured her black silk robe, pleased to find that my sensual pet had chosen to wear nothing beneath it but a scrap of scarlet lace to cover her pussy.
“Were you planning on seducing me, naughty girl?” I rumbled, my palms skimming her belly as I parted the robe.
She licked her lips, and her pupils dilated. Her gaze remained fixed on mine in the mirror, and I savored the sight of my possessive hands on her delicious body.
