The Carrero Contract - Selling Your Soul (Mafia Romance)

Mico sighs heavily.

‘He’s not going to do anything to you, I swear. Trust me. I wouldn’t have brought him if I thought he was going to hurt you in any way, and he knows that if he scares you, I will break his face.’ There is something in Mico’s tone that says he isn’t lying to me and I silence my insta-response of no and sit for a moment trying to calm myself down.

‘Why can’t he just leave me alone?’ I sulk weakly, sounding fragile and quiet. Sighing and hating how tired all of this is making me. The hours ticking away and I still have to try and sleep before I need to get up for work. At this rate that’s not going to happen and I cannot even face the thought of a ten-hour shift on little sleep and a raging fever.

‘Because he spent four months trying to find you and he wasn’t about to let this opportunity slip by.’

That shuts me up and I blink up at the door, disbelieving what I heard, and not sure if it’s a ploy to make me more open to talking. He didn’t act like someone who was pleased to have found me. He acted very much like the same sadistic arse he has always been. Annoyed one of his toys lashed back.I doubt it’s true … unless he has another reason or changed his mind about my debt.He can’t. He wiped it clean, he cannot backtrack now.

We have nothing to talk about.

‘I’m going.’ Mico taps the door as a way of signalling goodbye and I panic, jumping up to chase him impulsively and not stay here alone with Alexi. Yanking the door open and high tailing it after him, breathless once more with tight insides as sheer fear overtakes me. Except I come smack bang into Alexi’s chest and do an ever-graceful toppling act backwards onto my arse; arms frantically waving as I land with a thud. He wasn’t expecting me to come dashing out either, and he stumbles back from the collision before righting himself and walking to where I’m splayed on the floor like an immobile infant. Heart bouncing through my chest and bum bruising instantly from impact … I’m winded and sprawled out like an invalid.

He reaches out a hand to me in a gesture to help me up, but I lift my foot and shove it away before rolling to get up on my own. Mico throws me an exasperated look as he disappears out the door, and I am left alone with Alexi and the guy still screwing and doing God knows what to the door frame. He is taking a very long time and trying hard to ignore this weird dynamic we have going on.

‘I’m sorry.’ Alexi moves back to give me space and I just lift my chin higher and walk past him, acting like I couldn’t give a toss that he is still here and trying not to rub my arse as I do so. I won’t give him the satisfaction of knowing that actually hurt me.

Old Camilla showing an inkling of herself when caught in his presence. I am ruffled, breathless and inwardly aching in every way from being poorly and exerting too much energy already, but he doesn’t need to know it.

‘What do you want?’ I have no space for niceties and no energy to spend on playing polite with the arsehole in my apartment. It’s already been proven we rub each other the wrong way and this will only end badly.

but my pride won’t let me. I shouldn’t care … I don’t care … it means nothing. Just changed his mind about my debt and letting a possession loose before realising he didn’t want to. That’s all it will be. He hates to lose. I have no illusions about who and what he is

a weird calm to him that’s trying to have an effect on me. I’m not stupid though and I know he likes to play with

I can’t deny that he still

skin goose bumped and insides in knots from him just being near me again. I hate him all the more for it. That all it takes is getting close and I lose all control of bodily reactions around him. Clearly still feel something for

Idiot!

that I would want?’ I turn on him, determined not to look weak when he’s in my face again. It’s the last time I lose all ounces of self-respect in the presence of this man and I’ll be damned if I do it again. I will never let myself sink so low for anyone, and he won’t see me vulnerable

‘Your job back.’

into numbness. He has his eyes locked on me, standing

be the single most ridiculous thing I have ever heard in my life. Into comical hysterics so intense I instantly bend double as tears fill my eyes and struggle to breathe through snorts. It’s not the most ladylike way to laugh at your enemy, but it’s genuine and it feels good to do it right in his face. My ribs are aching with the sudden exertion and he just stands stock still, staring at me as though

on, but he still says nothing at all and I have to compose myself to be able to talk, standing upright while holding my side. I take shallow breaths to calm myself and wipe my eyes with the back of my hand, flinching at the pain from my

escapee tears from giggling so hard, but he is persistent in that starchy serious

reaction with a sombre looking cute boy frown and a weird softness around his eyes. I’m not sure I like the way he is looking at me or the drastic change of tactic which rouses suspicion. It completely sobers me as I get an inkling of something being off with

pissed. This version in front of me suddenly seems

It’s Alexi after all!

back AT the club. I need you to fix it.’ He swallows subtly, but I get the feeling that he is actually being serious in this and it’s not a joke at all. There’s no hint of malice or smugness from the tone or face. His demeanour … the way he’s not stopped staring at me since I turned around and is annoyingly following my every movement as though his eyes are glued to me, it all screams lack of sarcasm and every ounce truth. Alexi cannot seem to tear his focus from mine, scanning me searchingly for a real answer. Waiting for it to sink in

want; I might actually want to sit and talk about this. I hate that he also knows it’s the one thing that can still spike my attention, even after what happened between us. That club was my baby, my heart and soul, and the thought that they have fucked it up somehow jars me—a tiny

thing, but it was mine. I built and nurtured it and honed it to perfect running. It was something I had pride in and cared about, and he’s here because they have

to ignore the sweaty, clammy feeling in my hands or the way my heart is trying to escape through my chest the longer I am exposed to his intense staring. It’s like he