The Carrero Contract - Selling Your Soul (Mafia Romance)

Alexi, for the first time, looks slightly uncomfortable, eyes flicking to his lap and a tiny frown, a moment of something I can’t read before they come back up to meet mine.

‘Agreed … to a certain extent … I need you to still represent me and my name, Cam, which comes with restrictions.’ His voice is equally soft, quieter as he responds and the moment seems as far away from business as possible. As far away from Alexi and Camilla conversations as it could be. Another lengthy pause as I let his answer sink in and find my inner strength once more.

I can never let him reel me back in, not with soft looks and tender tones. I know all his tricks.

‘I know how to be discreet and how to behave, trust me to know how to do this without your direction. I am not part of this deal. I will be my own person and I can walk at any time. If you make me feel like you did, in any tiny way then I won’t hesitate to leave you.’ I feel like I am signing my life away, this heavy weight of doom hanging over me trying to warn me of a stupid decision, but I was never that good at listening to my gut; Always running towards danger.

He has the upper hand and all the things in the world I want. I am tired of surviving. I want to come back and stop running from the world in general. It was easier when I was here, wrapped in the Carrero empire’s safe bubble. I miss knowing what that could feel like. I miss my life.

‘If that’s what it takes, then fine … Anything else?’ He doesn’t seem so happy anymore, yet he’s not angry either. Agreeable even if it’s begrudged, but I sigh with relief that he’s not picking apart these demands in the way I was expecting him to.

The Alexi I know isn’t this easy to negotiate with, and isn’t so reasonable when it comes to positions and toys. He’s a born Dom and this must be killing him.

‘You don’t get to touch me, in any way, shape or form, from here on in … at all.’ I spell it out as basically and clearly as I can. No touching means no chance of ever weakening me back to his way of thinking. It’s my only real defence when it comes to dealing with him.

Alexi this time does react; that eyebrow flicker, the little tightening of his jaw, a visible flinch and disbelieving half laugh, half snort. He doesn’t like this one. My guts tighten, heart skips a beat and I hold my breath—on edge and waiting.

He looks away across the room and the second flinch of his jaw hints that he really is not happy about that little demand, his mind running through it, over, under, and around, probably tying the fucker up and poking it with sharp things. I won’t back down on this one for anything.

I don’t want him to ever touch me again and with this one thing in place there is no danger of ever falling back under his spell. No sex, no punishment, no way to hurt me.

No control.

tied up in one little

no,’ I add in afterthought, finding courage, and Alexi looks a little madder for a moment. Eyes narrowing at whatever he’s glaring at across the room, turning it to stone with the power of that frown, before he turns back to me with a heavy sigh and a little shake of his head. As though he is really battling to be okay with this.

should take all of this as a warning and just forget it.

borders on severely agitated, but he agreed and I let out the breath I have been holding tight in my lungs as warmth floods my body. He may be an

don’t care if

the one to raise brows this time; fighting my corner, fuelled by nerves and a deep sense of unease. I know I am playing with fire but my sanity depends on this. Alexi looks both pissed and impressed at the same time and shakes his head lightly in disbelief.

can do about it. He starts tapping the bar with his thumb, a little frustrated tell that informs me I am under his skin already

pen would suffice, but I know you like being dramatic for effect.’ I’m not playing ball and backing down for his moods this time—Sassy all the way. Camilla

me, but this time I know what, and who he is, and exactly what he is capable of and I won’t be burned twice. Alexi has another thing coming if he thinks I’m the same

me for all I have?’ He sounds sulky, proper little boy in a bad mood, and for the first time in a long time I feel smug about his tone of voice. A smile curling across my lips unintentionally and I

sort out a wardrobe and such. I got robbed after all. If you hadn’t put me in a position where I had to sell all that I owned I wouldn’t need to buy more, so pay

a double take at just how easily this one was to get out of him. I shrug with one shoulder, internally surprised and a little smug about this victory too. He isn’t even

everything and it’s a small price to pay in

hair is on that list … brown isn’t your colour,’ he adds as he watches me tuck it into my bra at the side of my left breast, his eye lingering on the cleavage I exposed in doing so. I ignore it, and he quickly averts his eyes to scan my hair instead, which is in a bedraggled ponytail and I

upkeep, Dahling, but don’t worry, red has always been my colour and will be one of the first things I spend your money on. Nice to know you agree.’ I wink, a good old Walters trait and smile cattily, falling easy into my old role and rooting out the mannerisms. It feels

too perch an elbow on the bar and lean into it while still facing him, finding it ridiculously easy to fall back into old behaviours now I am back here. I missed being this girl, she’s

your colour, and I miss it. The limit is ten grand, let me know when you need it paid and I’ll do it. Let’s call it business expenses; I need you to look like the hostess, not a waitress. Buy whatever you need to bring her back. It’s Camilla I’m paying for … Not Meghan!’ Alexi gets up and makes a move to walk past me, stopping when he gets level and turns to me so

the base of a very heavy pot, and I quit before he fired me.’ I get a little inkling of pride when I say it and can’t help smiling wider when he breaks into

did what?’ He half laughs, half questions me and I just shrug, a moment of

his hands to himself. Take note, New York … I learned how to finally deal with men and wandering hands; would be a shame to scar that pretty nose