4. Angelo
4
ANGELO
I have no idea what’s going on, but I’m starting to have fun. The only thing I can think about what’s going on is that my brothers are playing a joke on me. I wouldn’t be surprised; it’s exactly the kind of crazy thing they would do. Especially if they noticed I’ve feeling a little off lately.
Tugging my wrists against the steel, I smirk. The handcuffs are a nice touch, although a smidge too tight. I can’t help but wonder if this is an early birthday present or just a prank. Although my birthday isn’t until the fall.
Ah, well. Either way, I’m curious to see where this beauty is taking me and what her plans are for me. Maybe a night of hot, kinky sex is in my near future. I’ve never been into the BDSM lifestyle, but she’s making me reconsider.
“What’s your name?” I ask, turning in my seat so I can see her better. We’re in a Jeep and she just took her jacket back and slipped it on again. Moving fast, she starts the engine, turns the flashing hazard lights off and hits the gas.
After a brief hesitation, she says, “You can call me Butterfly.”
Butterfly? What the hell kind of name is that? Obviously, she wants to hide her true identity. But why? What is going on? I’m so damn curious, I can barely stand it. “Alright, you said once we were in the car you’d explain. So, what’s going on? You have my complete and undivided attention.”
Expecting her to tell me that my brothers hired her, she catches me by surprise when she says, “I’ll explain when we reach our destination.”
“That’s not what you said inside. You promised me some answers, Butterfly. ”
“Yeah, well, I lied. And I don’t believe I promised you anything.”
I’m not worried, so I sit back and just accept her terms. For now, anyway. Even though she’s fairly tall, I outweigh this beauty by probably one-hundred pounds. So I’m hardly concerned she’s going to overpower me. My gaze slides down to the stun gun on her lap. I wonder if it’s even real. Probably just a prop. I’m still convinced this whole thing has to be a big joke.
I’m considering calling Vin or Enzo and flat out asking, but I needed a little excitement in my life and, so far, I’m highly entertained.
“So, Butterfly, if you aren’t going to answer any of my questions, at least give me something. Where are we going?”
“Here,” she states, hitting the remote on the visor above her head.
I watch as a steel door begins to roll up and she pulls the Jeep into an underground parking garage. It’s dimly-lit and I squint through the windshield, trying to see through the gloom.
“And where exactly is here?” I press.
“Stop asking me so many questions,” she snaps.
“You gonna tase me?”
“Yes,” she grits out and I chuckle. I can’t help it. She tries to come off so fierce and it’s adorable. She reminds me of a harmless kitten extending its claws and hissing. Utterly harmless.
Guess I’m going to have to wait for answers. Although, I’m hoping that once we reach wherever it is that we’re going, there won’t be a lot of talking taking place. Some kissing, touching and fucking…yeah, okay.
I study her serious profile as she drives through the garage and pulls into a parking spot. It’s strong, but soft enough to still be pretty. Very, very pretty. All that long dark hair makes me want to grab and pull it. And don’t even get me started on her eyes. They look like two aquamarines and I want to dive into them and get lost.
She turns the car off and turns to look at me. “Here’s what’s going to happen,” she states in a no-nonsense voice. “We’re going to walk over to that elevator, take it up to the third floor and once we reach the apartment, I’ll take the cuffs off. Okay?”
“Sure thing, kitten.”
When she rolls her eyes and huffs out a breath, I grin. Damn, she’s just too adorable.
“Stay put and I’ll come around and let you out,” she says.
I do as she says and wait, watching as she walks around the car then opens my door.
“Move slowly and stay by my side,” she orders.
Damn, she’s bossy and it’s turning me on. Big time. This has got to be some kind of BDSM prank because she is extremely dominant. I can only imagine how that will carry through to the bedroom. My cock thickens in anticipation.
She grabs my arm, guiding me across the garage, and I can’t help but notice the way she keeps the stun gun pressed to my side.
“Is that really necessary?” I ask. Her only response is digging it into my skin. “Ow!”
“Behave.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
As we step into the elevator, I can’t pretend I’m not dying of curiosity. I have a million and one questions floating around in my head and zero answers. She immediately releases my arm and steps back once the door closes.
“Now what?” I ask, needing answers.
“Do you ever stop asking questions?”
“Do you ever start answering questions?” I shoot back, and her pretty face screws up in a frown.
“Stop annoying me and do as you’re told. Then maybe I’ll tell you what’s going on.”
Somehow, I don’t believe her, but I stifle the questions on the tip of my tongue. At least until we get into the apartment.
She walks me up to a door, unlocks it and motions for me to go inside. Why the hell not? With a shrug, I step into the small, dingy place and frown. If this is going to turn into some kind of sexual escapade, I’m surprised she didn’t take me to some fancy hotel suite.
“What is this place?” I ask, looking around.
“Sit.” She shoves a chair over and I look at it, considering the order, then meet her gaze head-on.
“Answers,” I demand.
“You’re a pain in the ass. There, that’s my answer!”
A laugh erupts from my throat. Damn, she’s magnificent. I drop down in the chair, legs sprawled, and lean back. I send her my most challenging, yet seductive look, and she holds my gaze for a moment before breaking the heated connection.
I think I’m being a pretty good sport about this whole abduction thing, but I’m beginning to lose my patience. I don’t want to waste time with all this verbal sparring when we could be doing so much more.
“Let’s cut to the chase. I know my brothers hired you and if we’re going to have some fun, let’s get going, shall we? Not to be rude, but less acting and more fucking, okay, kitten?”
Her aqua eyes widen. “You’re a cocky SOB, you know that?”
“Yep.” I smirk and let my gaze rake lazily down her body. She’s slim and tall, and I love it. I want those legs of hers wrapped around my waist. Or, better yet, my head. “Speaking of cocks…”
“Cock-y!”
“Since you’ve seen mine, how about now you show me yours?” I tease. Well, I’m sort of teasing. Because the truth is I’d love to see what she’s hiding beneath all those fitted black clothes. I can only imagine how amazing her body probably is and I want to explore every lovely inch with my mouth.
“Wow. You really don’t quit.”
“I’m just trying to figure out why you’re wasting time when we could be?—”
“I have to make a call,” she interrupts. “Sit tight because I will be watching you.”
I smirk. “Tell Enzo I said hi.”
She gives me a funny look and then walks into a small, dark room. With a sigh, I drop my head back and look up at the ceiling. There are cracks all over it, the paint is peeling and it looks kind of grimy. This is a weird place to have a rendezvous.
Unless…
I sit up straight and stare down at the handcuffs.
Unless I really was just kidnapped.
“Huh.” I suppose stranger things have happened. But why? If this isn’t a prank and this woman dragged me here then I have way more questions than I did before. Pushing up out of the chair, I walk over to the room she’s in, ready to listen in on her conversation so I can try to piece whatever is happening together.
Her pretty blue eyes meet mine and she lowers her phone. “He’s not answering,” she murmurs, more to herself than to me.
“Who?”
She shakes her head, brow pinching in confusion. “He always answers.”
“Who always answers?” I press. Maybe I’m wrong, but she looks almost…scared. “What the hell is going on? Look, either start talking or I’m outta here. I’m tired of playing games.”
Just as I’m about to turn around and leave, Butterfly shocks me by reaching under her jacket, around to her back and pulling a gun. She levels it on my chest, her aqua eyes flashing.
Fuck me. That gun looks awfully damn real.
“You’re not going anywhere except back in that chair. Now!”
When I hesitate, she motions with the barrel for me to back up and go into the other room.
“Don’t test me,” she warns. “And do not underestimate me or you will regret it.”
Deciding to follow her instructions rather than get a bullet to the heart, I curse under my breath and stalk out. Back in the living room, I drop down into the wooden chair and stare at her defiantly. Clearly, there’s been a mixup. For a hot minute there, I thought this was going to be a hot night.
Boy, was I mistaken.
Still though, I’m crazy curious about who this beautiful, badass woman is and why she kidnapped me. For a ransom maybe? My family is insanely wealthy. Before I can think too hard about it, she approaches me with a key in her hand.
“Don’t try anything stupid,” she warns me and tosses the key over.
I catch it then stick it in the lock and turn. At least I can take the handcuffs off. I undo one wrist and I’m about to undo the other when she shakes her head.
“Uh-uh. Attach that one to the chair. I can’t have you running off now can I?”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” I growl. Staring down the barrel of the gun, though, convinces me to follow her order. I toss her a glare then snap the empty cuff around the chair’s arm. “Happy?”
“Not really,” she says with a little shrug. “Are you?”
The question catches me off-guard. Who is this woman? She’s utterly fascinating, and I find myself leaning closer and studying her closely. I want to get back to the light-hearted teasing, but she looks so serious.
“Why am I cuffed to a chair? Are you going to do dirty things to me?” I ask and waggle my eyebrows.
“You wish, casanova.”
“Really no need to tie me up, kitten. You have my consent.”
I notice a muscle flex in her cheek and her eyes narrow.
“I sort of thought this night was headed somewhere else entirely, but now I’m pretty sure I’m wrong. Care to enlighten me as to why I’ve been kidnapped?”
“You haven’t been kidnapped. You’re merely in a state of transition.”
“Huh?” What the hell is she talking about?
“Once I hear from my boss and find out where you’re to be delivered, we can all move on from this clusterfuck.”
“Delivered?” I echo and arch a brow. “Elaborate, please.”
Her gaze drops to the cuff snapped around the chair and she must think it’ll hold me because she says, “I’m a bounty hunter and there’s a price on your head.”
For a moment, I’m speechless. First off, who the hell would put a price on my head? Does that mean someone wants to assassinate me or what? My ass squirms uncomfortably against the hard wooden chair and I frown, thinking over the situation. I am a Rossi and my family is one of the most powerful in this city. If someone wants to take us down, I’m a pretty good target, I suppose. Especially if you’re wise enough to send a beautiful woman to grab me. Because, let’s face it, I’m not gonna put up much of a fight.
“Who put a price on my head?” I ask, searching her face for answers.
She shrugs a shoulder. “Maybe the man you swindled.”
What in God’s name is going on? “I haven’t swindled anyone.”
“Sure, you haven’t.” Her dismissive tone implies she doesn’t believe me.
“Listen, Codename Butterfly,” I say, “there’s clearly been a mixup here.”
She merely arches a dark brow.
“Whoever you think I am, I’m pretty sure is wrong.”
“I know exactly who you are, John Grady,” she states without hesitation.
Who?
Ha! I knew it!
“Yeah, that’s not me,” I tell her with a triumphant grin. “Sorry to tell you, but you captured the wrong man, kitten.”