The Carrero Contract - Selling Your Soul (Mafia Romance)

I have seen him snorting lines with his men when the refurbs were full swing and they were kicking back for the night. ‘’It’s like that? She’s not allowed to fuck me but you won’t touch her, and she’s not allowed to do a line with us but yet watch us do it right? Sure she’s just your hostess Al? Seem a little bit possessive of your plaything over there.’’ Gino is goading him and I can’t tell if he’s trying to wind his brother up or angling for a real fight.

My inner nerves tighten and I sit a little stiffer, caught right up against Alexi as his whole body language ups an aggressive gear. ‘’It’s like that!’’ Alexi snaps back and I literally freeze with the change in him. I thought twins were meant to be close but right now they are two subtly hostile bulls going head to head with a lot of raw static in the atmosphere around us. He mentioned his brother was close to him so I don’t know if this is all down to substance abuse or not.

‘‘What if I just take her, walk to your room and screw her right now?’’ He seems almost buzzing with amusement at that statement and I blanch at this seemingly charming man who has now grown two heads. Guess the apple didn’t fall far from the tree and he has Alexi’s prick side too. No angel about it, these two are mischievous demons alright.

‘‘I think I would have a say, don’t you?’’ I butt in snappily, annoyed with the arrogance that he could just have me, but Gino dismisses me with a snort and a laugh, and I am wondering if he is as nice a guy as I thought he was. Bad blood must run in their DNA for Alexi to be the way he is and I’m not so sure Gino doesn’t contain some of the psycho genes too. I completely misread him, something I seem to do with these Carrero men.

‘‘Try it.’’ Alexi drops his tone and slides his arm from over my legs, sits back and starts tapping his thumb on the hand hooked over the couch behind my head. I can do nothing but sit in terrified silence, watching this unfold, completely aware of the tension around me.

Alexi is poised, despite his visually casual pose and I don’t doubt he would jump to action if Gino touches me. I wouldn’t touch me if I were Gino. Alexi may be leaving me open to try, but I am breathing in the waves of hostile testosterone coming from him. He is loaded and ready to spring to his feet in the glimpse of an eye and I know the boy has some serious fighting skills.

He trains with his boxer cousin two days a week and has competed in amateur fights for charity. I saw the photos and news clippings in his office. He’s a street fighter by nature.

I take a long slow breath to try to calm my hammering heart, caught like a deer in the headlights. A twin stand-off. Sizzling atmosphere and I glance between them like a nervous teen contemplating what a tug of war chew toy looks like after two wolves are done fighting over it—that’s me right now.

I feel sick and my body goes weak with the loss of adrenaline. Gino laughs again and lifts his drink and raises it in the air in a ‘‘touché’’ gesture and sits back down, much to my utter relief. Obviously knows which brother contains more violent tendencies and ability to enforce his wishes.

‘’Relax princess, this is what we call marking your territory with a pissing competition. My brother is drawing a line where you are concerned and it’s a strong one.’’ Gino is smug, Alexi looks scarily blank and I know it means he’s not impressed. When he closes down to a deadpan demeanour, he’s usually hovering over the abyss of rage.

possession thing. I wonder how hard it’s going to be to cut loose when I no longer have his

and get over it, you know holding out only makes it more intense. Give in to it, get her out of your system and then let me play with her.’’ Gino is smiling at me and I swear to God I feel like I may throw up or throat punch him with the way he’s talking as though I

Mr American nice guy, he’s unhinged and twisted and reminds me of so many men in my past. I’m practically pissing myself,

a little breathing space to exhale. Motioning to the bottle in the centre of the table as his brother leans forward and pushes it to him amicably. Despite all the weird whatever this is, they are still passing each other booze and

have an open relationship and I want to sample Red's flavour. Hell, Alessandra would get in on the action if I asked her too. How about it Red? Do you want me to fuck you?’‘ Gino grins like an idiot and cocks his head to one side as he looks

it down and he jumps up swiftly, glaring at his brother and says not one word. Just this terrifying silent mass of man looking like he wants to rip heads off as he breathes heavily and penetrates Gino’s skull with that colourless gaze. Gino continues grinning like a lunatic as my heart pounds through my chest. I swear I think I just had a heart

like this; he has way more control than

seems intent on pushing his buttons to the core and I have no idea why someone would be that stupid. Clearly sadism and masochism run in the family. That or a lack of IQ. You would have to be all kinds of stupid to play this

that again.’’ The air crackles and Gino slowly stands up, matching his height and build and just seems completely unfazed, pushing his brother in the shoulder and throwing me a dazzling smile. Just as

his last possession … right over his bed. Woke up in intensive care three weeks later. Some

I don’t care. Inside I am a trembling mess and I can barely breathe. I’m shivering but not from cold, although my body has shut down in fear and I do feel

finally, obviously knowing his brothers signals way better than I

is about to lose his grip on humanity and turn into a weapon of mass destruction. ‘‘You’re right; been on one all day. Too much coke and booze and not enough sex. I’m heading off … enjoy opening night. See you around Red, it was my absolute pleasure.’’ Gino moves away from Alexi and skirts

if this is standard cooling off time between two clearly unstable boys. Gino just throws a wave and a chuckle and pulls his silver box of fun out as he opens the door. Obviously not done

he watches his brother leave and jump when he catches me by the arm and hauls me to him furiously. So fast and with so much strength I almost bump noses with him and I yelp, banging into his torso

nasty edge, losing that cool and his eyes are dark grey and terrifyingly wide. The warning in his statement is loud and clear, nothing veiled about it. He’s obviously had a lot of coke himself and I nod mutely. Trembling with the way he’s

in your brother. Not my type.’’ I whisper it hoarsely, breathing hard, genuinely afraid of him right now. I’m not mad enough to play with that kind of fire.

hold, don’t fight or move but stay locked to that hard stare, going limp in