Daisy's POV 

The conference was huge. Big bright chandeliers hung from the ceiling, and people were everywhere. The kind of people who had power, money, and everything I didn't. I stood next to Vincenzo, trying not to feel small. My black dress was nice, but here, it felt plain. 

I had spent hours preparing for this moment. Marco had drilled me on protocols, how to stand, how to listen, and how to blend in. 

"You're not just an assistant," he had told me. "You're an extension of Vincenzo Marino. Every move you make reflects on him."

Vincenzo leaned down slightly to speak to me, his voice low. "I need to take care of something. Don't wander too far."

Before I could say anything, he walked off. He blended into this world like he owned it. Well, probably because he did. 

I stayed where I was, pretending to listen to the people around me. It was boring. Nothing they said made sense to me. I thought about how I'd gotten here. Just a while ago, I was a girl about to be engaged, living a life I thought I wanted. Now, I was an assistant to a man who'd just as easily kill someone like it meant nothing. 

My phone buzzed. It was a message from Sofia. 

"Enjoying playing secretary? I don't think Antonio would get back to you. You'll never belong in this world."

I deleted the message, my fingers pressing harder than necessary. I had no time for her mind games. But, if she already knew I was working for Vincenzo, then it wouldn't be long until my dad found me. I thought about asking Vincenzo for help but that didn't seem possible. I mean, why would he want to help me? 

After a while, my feet started hurting, and I got tired of standing. I decided to go find Vincenzo. What's taking so long? I thought the assistant was supposed to be everywhere her boss was.

I walked out of the conference hall, the sounds of laughter and clinking glasses fading behind me. The estate was massive, with expensive art on the walls of the long hallways. I wandered around for a bit, not sure where I was going until I found the garden. 

The garden was beautiful. The smell of roses filled my nose. For a second, I forgot about the party, and everything else. I felt calm. 

Then I saw him. 

Vincenzo stood at the far end of the garden. But he wasn't alone. Three men stood with him, and one man was kneeling on the ground. My heart started pounding as I got closer. I wasn't stupid, I knew what kind of man Vincenzo was. But this... this was different. 

I moved closer so I could hear what they were saying, trying my best to stay in the shadows. Of course, I didn't want them to see me, but I couldn't look away. I tend to be extremely curious sometimes. 

The man on the ground was crying. His face was swollen, and blood was dripping from a cut on his lip. He was begging. 

"Please, Mr Marino," he said, his voice shaking. "I have a family. Two kids. They need me. I'll pay you back, I swear. Just give me more time."

Vincenzo's voice was cold as he spoke. "I think your time is already overdue. Don't you agree?"

The man shook his head frantically. "No, no, I swear I was going to..."

"I gave you time. More than enough." Vincenzo said. "And you thought you could play me. You thought I'd forget."

"No, I wasn't trying to play you!" The man's voice cracked. "It was a mistake! I'll fix it! Just a little more time, that's all I ask."

Vincenzo tilted his head like he was thinking. "Don't worry about your family," he said. "They'll be taken care of. But you? Your time is up.  I'm sure they'll be better off without you."

The man screamed, begging for his life as Vincenzo pulled out a gun. 

"Please..."

The gunshot was loud, ringing in my ears. The man fell forward, his body hitting the ground with a thud. 

I gasped before I could stop myself. My hands flew to my mouth, but it was too late. Vincenzo's head snapped up, his dark eyes stared at me.

I panicked. Without thinking, I turned and walked away as fast as I could. I didn't run, I was too scared they'd come after me if I did. My heart was racing, my stomach twisting in disgust as I remembered how the bullet went through that man's head.

I made it back into the building, my heels clicking on the marble floor. I just wanted to leave. To get away from this place, from him. I think this was a dumb idea. There's no way I could get a man as ruthless as him to notice me. What if he realises what my plans are and then kills me too? No, never, I can't risk my life for this stupid revenge.

I felt a hand on my waist, causing me to flinch. 

"Where do you think you're going, little woman?"

It was Vincenzo. His voice was calm, but there was something in it that made my skin prickle. I turned to face him, trying to hide how scared I was. 

"I... I was just heading back," I said, my voice shaky. "I'm tired."

He raised an eyebrow, his grip on my waist firm. "Tired? Or running away because of what you saw?"

I froze. "I don't know what you're talking about, Mr Marino."

"Don't lie to me. Daisy." His hand moved to my chin, tilting my face up. His touch was soft, but it felt like a warning. "I hate lies."

"I wasn't... I didn't mean to see anything, I promise." I said quickly. "I was bored. I went for a walk. That's all."

He stared at me for a long moment, his eyes held mine. Then he chuckled, low and dark. 

"You're scared," he said. 

I nodded. What else could I do? I was terrified. 

"Good," he said. "You should be."

He leaned closer, his face was so close I could feel his breath. My heart was pounding so hard I thought he might hear it. 

"You came to me on your own, Daisy," he said, his voice soft but firm. "You could have stayed away after everything, but you didn't. And now that you've seen how I am, don't try to run. Because I won't let you."

I didn't know what to say. His words confused me and scared me. Did he mean he'd hurt me? Was it because I saw what happened earlier? But I'm not a threat. I wasn't planning to tell anyone, even if I did, there's nothing the police can do about it. 

"I don't understand, sir," I whispered. 

He straightened, letting go of my chin but not my waist. "Come. I'll drop you off at home."

"No," I said quickly, shaking my head. His eyebrows went up, and I rushed to explain. "I'm not going home. You can just drop me at the hotel where we first ran into each other." 

"You're still staying at the hotel?"

"Yes," I said. "I mean, just until I find an apartment."

He didn't say anything, but I could tell he was thinking. After a moment, he nodded. "Fine."

He led me to his car, his hand resting on my lower back. His touch was light, but it made me nervous. Or maybe it made me feel something else. No, what's wrong with me? I just saw him kill a man a few minutes ago. 

When we got to the car, he opened the door for me. I slid into the seat, my hands folded in my lap. He got in on the other side and instructed the driver on where to go.

The ride was quiet. I stared out the window, trying to calm my racing thoughts. What had I gotten myself into? 

But despite everything that happened tonight, I wasn't as terrified as I thought I would be. The only thing I thought about was the way he looked in the garden, calm and in control. The way he had touched my chin and held my waist earlier. 

I wasn't scared of Vincenzo Marino. 

I was fascinated by him. A part of me wished I could be as ruthless and commanding as him. Maybe my life wouldn't have been a complete mess. My father wouldn't have so much power over me. And I could kill everyone who hurt me.

"You're not afraid, Daisy," Vincenzo said suddenly. It wasn't a question. 

I looked at him. "Should I be?"

He laughed, q real laugh this time. "Most people would be terrified. But you, you're different."

"Different how?"

"Calculating," he said. "You're trying to understand, not judge."

I thought about my life. About Antonio. About Sofia. About everything I'd gone through. I remained silent, not knowing what to say. 

His eyes met mine in the rearview mirror. Something passed between us... understanding. Some kind of connection. 

---

That night in the hotel, I couldn't sleep. The image of the man in the garden kept replaying. I should be terrified. I should be planning on how to stay far from Vincenzo. 

Instead, all I could think about was what it'd be like if my father knelt in front of me while I put a bullet through his head.

Daisy was in the hotel room, getting ready for work when she heard a knock at the door. She paused, staring at it. It was too early for room service, and she hadn't ordered anything. 

"Who is it?" She called cautiously, walking to the door.

There was no response. Her heart raced. Maybe it was just the staff, she thought, trying to convince herself as she opened the door. But the moment it swung open, her blood ran cold.

Her father stood there, staring coldly at her. Three of his men stood behind him.

"Dad," she whispered, taking a step back. 

Before she could slam the door, he shoved it open with force, the impact sending her stumbling back. His hand came up faster than she could react, landing a hard slap across her face. Daisy fell to the ground, clutching her stinging cheek.

"You thought you could escape me?" He hissed, towering over her.

"I was... wasn't trying to escape. I swear," Daisy stammered, her voice trembling. 

"Liar!" He barked, kicking her hard in the stomach. The force of it left her breathless, and she doubled over in pain.

She tried to crawl away, her fingers clawing at the carpet as tears blurred her vision. But her father grabbed a fistful of her hair, yanking her up.

"Strip her," he ordered his men coldly. 

"No!" Daisy screamed, her voice filled with desperation. "Dad, please I'm sorry! I made a mistake!"

Two of his men stepped forward without hesitation, their hands roughly ripping her shirt apart. Daisy sobbed, struggling against them, but it was no use.

"I'll teach you not to make any more mistakes," her father sneered, taking the whip one of his men handed him.

"Please! Don't..."

"Hold her down!"

The men pinned her to the ground, her struggles weakening as the first lash of the whip landed on her back. She let out a pained scream, her body jerking involuntarily. By the second lash, she stopped fighting, accepting her fate and reminding herself that he'd stop when he was satisfied. 

He struck her twenty-four times. The agonising pain soon turned to numbness, her back was bleeding. 

"The next time you try to defy me, you'll be back in the basement," he said coldly, tossing the whip aside. 

Daisy shuddered at his words. The mention of the basement brought back suffocating dark memories. 

"No, please," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "I'll never run again."

Her father smirked, pleased with her submission. "Good. Now, you're going to make yourself useful. I heard you're working for Vincenzo now. Keep working there. Do whatever it takes to keep him in our family's good books. And don't you dare cause trouble for Sofia, or go anywhere near Antonio."

Daisy didn't respond. She couldn't. Her body ached too much to speak.

"Fix yourself up," he spat, adjusting his expensive cufflinks. "You don't want to be late for work." 

He paused at the door, glancing back at her crumpled form. "And Daisy? Make sure no one hears about this little... incident. And by no one, I mean Vincenzo."

The door slammed with such force that the walls seemed to shake. Or maybe that was just her. For several long minutes, Daisy couldn't move. Her body felt like it was on fire. The metallic taste of blood filled her mouth where she'd bitten her lip to keep her from screaming. 

When she finally managed to uncurl herself, her tears had left dark spots on the beige carpet. A hysterical laugh bubbled up in her throat. She'd have to pay extra for staining the hotel's carpet. The absurdity of worrying about that, of all things, caused her to sob uncontrollably. 

After a while, she crawled to the bathroom. She sobbed when she saw her reflection in the mirror. She had become bruised, battered, and utterly defeated. She cleaned herself as best as she could, covering the fresh marks on her face with makeup. By the time she left for work, she looked composed. But inside, she was shattered. 

---

At work, Daisy moved through her morning routine like a ghost. Her body screamed in protest with every step she took. The bruises on her back hurt like hell, but she forced herself to push through. She had planned to quit working here today, but now it seems she has no choice.

"Good morning, Daisy!" Isabella stopped by her desk with a steaming cup of coffee. "You look a bit pale today. Is everything okay?"

Daisy forced a smile, grateful for the layers of makeup and clothing concealing her bruises. "Just didn't sleep well. You know how it is."

"Tell me about it. These deadlines are killing me." Isabella said, studying Daisy's face. "Are you sure you're alright? You seem... different."

"I'm fine," Daisy said quickly, perhaps too quickly. "Just need more coffee."

Isabella nodded, unconvinced, but walked away. "You should get something to eat as well."

Daisy released a shaky breath, remembering her father's words. Keep working there. Do whatever it takes. 

She decided to take Isabella's advice and get some food in her system. Vincenzo's voice came through her desk phone before she could go.

"Daisy, I need you in my office. Now."

She sighed, muttering under her breath as she stood up. Every movement sent a fresh wave of pain through her body, but she couldn't let it show. Not here.

When she entered his office, Vincenzo was at his desk, flipping through some documents. 

"Sir?" Daisy stood in the doorway of Vincenzo's office. 

He looked up from his computer. "Come in. Close the door."

Daisy did as instructed, her heart racing. 

"You've been distracted today," he said. "Three typing errors in the Anderson contract. That's not like you."

"I apologize," she said quietly. "It won't happen again."

Vincenzo leaned back in his chair. "No, it won't. I'll be leaving early today, and I'll finish the rest of today's work at home."

"Oh," Daisy said, a little surprised. "Does that mean I can leave early as well?"

Vincenzo finally glanced up, raising an eyebrow. "You'll be coming with me."

Her stomach dropped. "Why? I mean, do I have to?"

He leaned back in his chair, his eyes narrowing. "Don't tell me you've forgotten your job description. Stop wasting time and get your things."

Daisy opened her mouth to argue but thought better of it. She left the office with a sigh, muttering to herself about how demanding he was, compared to her father.

Vincenzo watched her leave, his gaze lingering a little longer than it should. Something was off about her today. She was quieter than usual, her movements were stiff, like she was being careful. He frowned, wondering if she was sick. 

---

When they arrived at his mansion, Vincenzo immediately called for the maids.

"Prepare something for her to eat, and attend to every one of her needs." He ordered. His voice was calm, but the authority in it sent the staff scurrying off.

Daisy blinked in surprise, watching how everyone scrambled under his command. He didn't even raise his voice, yet they looked like their lives depended on pleasing him.

"You look tired. Go rest," Vincenzo told her. "I'll be in my office. I'll call you if I need you."

Daisy nodded, grateful for the chance to sit down. But as Vincenzo turned to leave, she felt her vision blur.

The next thing she knew, the world tilted, and she was falling. 

Vincenzo heard the thud and turned around; his heart skipped a beat when he saw her lying on the floor. 

"Daisy!"

He rushed to her side, lifting her into his arms with ease. He turned to the nearest guard and yelled, "Get the doctor. Now."

The guard bolted without a word. 

Vincenzo carried her to the guest room, his jaw clenched. As he laid her on the bed, he noticed how warm she was. She was burning up. 

"What the hell?" He muttered, frowning as he took in her appearance. She was wearing layers of clothes, completely inappropriate for the warm weather.

He carefully began removing the outer layers, intending to make her more comfortable. That's when he saw it, the red stain on the back of her shirt. Blood.

He froze, panic rising in his chest. With shaky hands, he peeled the shirt off her back. What he saw made his blood boil. Her back was a mess of bruises and open wounds, some fresh, others old but reopened. 

"Who the hell did this to her?" He growled, his voice low but dangerous. 

---

The doctor arrived shortly after and began examining her. Vincenzo stayed close, his arms crossed.

"She'll be fine," the doctor said after checking her vitals. "She passed out from exhaustion and stress."

Vincenzo's jaw clenched. "And the bruises? Look at her back."

The doctor pulled up her shirt and gasped. "This... looks like a whipping. These wounds are fresh... probably from today. Who did this to her?"

Vincenzo didn't answer, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white.

"She'll need these medications," the doctor said, scribbling on a prescription pad. "Make sure she rests and avoids any strain."

The doctor packed up, but as he glanced at Daisy, he couldn't help but say, "She's stunning. Where'd you find someone like her?"

Vincenzo shot him a deadly glare. "Get out."

The doctor chuckled nervously. "Relax, I was just complimenting her."

"Out," Vincenzo said, his tone leaving no room for argument. 

"Fine, I'm going." The doctor raised his hands in surrender. "No need to get so protective."

---

Daisy stirred not long after. Her eyes fluttered open, meeting Vincenzo's concerned gaze.

"W... what happened?" She asked weakly. 

"You fainted," Vincenzo said. "Why didn't you call in sick today?"

"I couldn't." She whispered. 

"You should have," he said firmly. "Now, tell me... how did you get those bruises?"

Daisy stiffened, realizing she was in a different shirt. "Did you... change my clothes?"

"Yes," he said bluntly. "There's nothing to be embarrassed about. Not in front of me. Now answer me, who hurt you?"

Tears welled up in her eyes, but she looked away quickly. "I can't."

"Daisy," Vincenzo said, his tone softer now. "You don't have to protect anyone. Just tell me who it was. Give me a name."

But Daisy shook her head, biting her lip to hold back her sobs.

Vincenzo exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. "Fine. Don't tell me. But whoever it is... they'll have to answer to me."

She looked at him, startled. The intensity in his eyes made her believe him. He couldn't be doing this because he was her boss, right? But why? Why did it bother him if she was getting hurt or not?

"Rest, you'll stay here from now on." He said gently. 

"What?"

"I'm not letting you out of my sight until you tell me who laid hands on you," Vincenzo said firmly. 

"But I have to go home."

"I wasn't asking you to stay, that was an order."

There was a brief knock on the door, and Maria, the head housekeeper approached with concern etched on her face. I'm sorry to bother you sir, I just wanted to ask if she would like some tea. Perhaps something to eat?

"She needs soup," Vincenzo told. "Something light but nourishing. And bring some pain relievers."

Maria's eyes widened slightly at his tone. "Right away, sir."

"You can't keep me here, sir." Daisy said as soon as Maria left.

"That's not debatable. Someone hurt you, Daisy. Someone thought they had the right to..."  He stopped, jaw clenching. "I protect what's mine."

"I'm not yours," she said softly. "I'm just your assistant, not some property to be owned."

"You're under my employment, which makes your safety my responsibility. End of discussion."

"Rest," he said, standing. "We'll talk more when you're stronger."

As he left, Daisy stared at the ceiling, tears sliding silently down her cheeks. She was trapped again, but this time... this time felt different. But she wasn't sure if that was good or terrifying.

Daisy's POV

I woke up disoriented, my hand instinctively reaching for the unfamiliar silk sheets. For a moment, I panicked until I remembered where I was. Vincenzo's mansion. My back still ached, but the pain had reduced compared to yesterday. The events that took place yesterday played through my mind. My father's visit, the whipping, fainting in front of my boss, Vincenzo discovering my injuries... It was a lot to take in.

The bedroom was massive, and everything about this place screamed wealth and power. Of course it does, I was in the Don's mansion. 

A soft knock interrupted my thoughts. "Miss Daisy?" Maria's gentle voice called through the door. "Mr Marino requests your presence for breakfast."

I glanced at the clock on the wall. 7:30 am. It was too early to face him, but I didn't have much choice. "I'll be right down," I replied, wincing as I sat up. 

The walk-in closet stopped me in my tracks. Rows of designer clothes hung neatly, all in my size. These weren't here yesterday. I ran my fingers along the expensive fabrics. Silk blouses, tailored pants, designer dresses. The thought of Vincenzo arranging this overnight, of him knowing my size, made my cheeks flush. I picked out a high-necked cream blouse and black pencil skirt, carefully selecting pieces that would cover my bruises. 

The mirror revealed dark circles under my eyes. I applied makeup, making sure no traces of yesterday's breakdown were visible. I smiled at my reflection. The woman staring back at me looked composed and professional, exactly what I needed everyone to see. 

As I made my way downstairs, I followed the sound of voices to the dining room, stopping in the doorway.  The room was massive. Vincenzo sat at the head, but he wasn't alone. Two men in black suits stood around him, speaking in low voices. 

"The Colombians are getting restless," one was saying, his Italian accent thick. "They want answers about the shipment."

"Tell them to wait until I'm ready," Vincenzo replied coldly, not looking up from his tablet. "They'll get their merchandise when I say they do." 

"And if they don't like that answer?" The other man asked, his hand resting casually on what I suspected was a concealed weapon.

"Then remind them what happened to the last people who questioned my timeline." He finally looked up, he found me hovering in the doorway. His expression softened a bit, or maybe I imagined it. "Daisy. Come, sit."

There's something about the way he says my name... I hate to admit it, but I love how it sounds, rolling off his tongue. 

The men turned to stare at me, their faces unreadable. I walked to the chair Vincenzo indicated. It was right beside him, not across the table. 

"Leave us," he ordered, and they disappeared. The room suddenly felt bigger without them. 

"I can come back later," I offered, uncomfortable with having interrupted their business. The kind of business I'd grown up around, one that often ended in violence. 

"No." His voice left no room for argument as he poured coffee into my cup himself, dismissing the hovering staff with one look. "You need to eat. The doctor said you're undernourished."

"Thank you," I flushed, staring at my coffee. "You don't have to take care of me, sir."

"Clearly, someone needs to." His voice had that dangerous edge again. "Since you won't tell me who hurt you."

Before I could respond, his phone buzzed. "Change of plans. We need to go to the office. There's an issue with the contracts."

---

When we arrived at the company, people stared as we walked in together. I could almost hear what they were thinking. Why are they coming in together? Didn't they also leave together yesterday? I kept my head high, pretending not to notice how Beatrice from accounting leaned over to whisper to Emanuele, or how Diane quickly averted her eyes when I caught her staring. 

"Mr Marino," Marco approached urgently. "We have a situation in the parking garage."

"Handle it," Vincenzo said dismissively, his hand resting on my lower back as he guided me toward his office. 

"Sir, they're trying to force their way in. The Colombians..." Marco's voice dropped lower, but I could still hear him. "They're demanding to see you. They say the shipment was compromised."

"I said handle it. I have other things to take care of." Vincenzo's voice could have frozen hell itself. "That's why I pay you. And Marco?" He paused. "Make sure they understand the consequences of showing up unannounced."

Marco nodded grimly and walked away, already speaking nonstop Italian into his earpiece. I caught phrases about "backup" And "clean up crews," making my stomach turn. I knew what that meant. 

"Mr Marino!" A female voice sounded from behind. I immediately recognized Victoria, our head legal counsel, and one of the women who had cornered me in the bathroom some time ago. Her perfectly made-up face twisted in disdain as she looked at me. "We need to discuss the De Santis contract. In private."

It took a lot of effort for me not to scoff. I tried to step away, to give them space, but Vincenzo's hand pressed more firmly against my back, keeping me in place. "Anything you need to say can be said in front of her. That's why she's my assistant."

The way he said "my assistant" made my stomach twist but in a good way. Victoria nodded and followed us into his office.

---

The meeting was tense. Victoria kept shooting me venomous looks whenever Vincenzo wasn't watching. I stood by his desk, taking notes as they discussed the contract. 

As we exited his office twenty minutes later, Victoria waited until we were out of the office before stopping at my desk.

"I see you've begun to show your true colours, slut," she hissed.

"Excuse me?" I stood, facing her.

She gave me a cold glare. "Everyone knows you went home with the boss yesterday, and now you're arriving together. Which means you spent the night at his place." She said, drawing everyone's attention. "So tell us, dear, what other services did you provide besides filing? You were probably missing Antonio so much, and the closest you could get was his dad. Such a sad story."

The mention of Antonio made my blood boil. "How dare you..."

"I was right about you in the bathroom that day, wasn't I? You couldn't get the son, now you're going after the father instead." She stepped closer. "Here's a bit of advice, stay away from Vincenzo, you little whore. He can never fall for someone like you." 

My face burned with anger. But before I could speak, a shadow fell over us. 

"And how would you describe someone like her, Ms. Ricci?" Vincenzo's voice was calm but deadly.

"Mr Marino... I... I was just..."

"You're fired." He said simply. Even I was not expecting that.

"What? You can't-" Victoria's perfectly maintained composure cracked. 

"I can and I just did. Clear out your desk. You have ten minutes before security escorts you out." He turned to address the now-silent office. "Let me be very clear, and let this serve as an example. Anyone who disrespects my assistant disrespects me. And I don't tolerate disrespect."

Victoria's face was filled with rage. "You can't just fire me because of this little slut. I've been with this company for five years! My father-"

"Your father," Vincenzo cut in, his tone made everyone flinch, "will be very interested to hear how you've made him lose a contract because of that statement. Tell him I said it was nice doing business with him. While it lasted."

Her face paled further, understanding the consequences of her stupidity. Without another word, she spun on her heel and stormed off.

---

I followed Vincenzo into his office, my heart still racing from the confrontation. He was already on the phone when I got there, speaking in Italian as he paced his office. 

"Si, fate in modo che capiscano," he growled into the phone. Make sure they understand. I guess the issue with the Colombians or whoever, is still not solved. 

I stood awkwardly by his desk, watching him pace. I know it's weird but I think he looks breathtaking when he's angry. Dangerous and powerful, like a caged predator.

The room fell silent when he hung up. 

"You didn't have to do that, sir," I said quietly, forcing myself to meet his gaze. "Fire her, I mean. It'll only make everyone hate me more."

He stopped pacing, turning to face me, making me step back a little. "Yes, I did." He moved closer, and I found myself stepping backwards until my butt hit his desk. "No one disrespects what's mine."

My breath hitched. "I'm not an object. What would everyone think of me now? Two people already got fired because of me and I haven't been here for long. They'll start to gossip again."

"Who cares what anyone thinks? The only thing you should be doing right now is telling me how you got hurt."

"I do care what they think," I swallowed hard, trying to ignore how his closeness made my pulse quicken. "And me being hurt has nothing to do with you."

"It does." He said simply, his thumb tracing the line of my jaw. 

"Why?" The word came out barely above a whisper. 

"It seems I haven't been making my intentions clear." His eyes held mine for a moment before he pulled me closer, one hand sliding into my hair as he crashed his lips against mine. 

Time seemed to stop for a moment. His lips felt soft against mine. My body betrayed me by melting into his touch before my brain could catch up. His kiss was nothing like Antonio's. This was raw, possessive, and almost desperate. 

I quickly realised what we were doing and pushed against Vincenzo's chest, breaking away. I could still feel the pressure of his mouth on mine. 

"Sir," a voice interrupted from the doorway, making me jump. Marco stood there, his expression completely neutral. "The Colombians have been handled. But there's another situation. The Russians are asking for a meeting."

I expected Vincenzo to move away from me but he didn't, his body still caging me against the desk. "Tell them tomorrow night. The usual place." I shivered at the sound of his voice. "And Marco?" His voice hardened. "Make sure our friends in the parking garage learned their lesson about showing up uninvited." 

"Already done, sir. They won't walk right for a month." Marco's lips twitched in what might have been satisfaction. 

"Good." Vincenzo dismissed him with a nod, then turned back to me. His hand came up as he traced my bottom lip with his thumb. My lips were still sensitive from his kiss. 

I ducked under his arm and fled, my heart was pounding so hard I could barely breathe. 

My phone buzzed almost immediately with a text from Vincenzo. "Go home early today. Marco will take you."

"I'm not going to your place." My fingers shook as I typed back. 

"First, tell me who hurt you." He responded instantly. 

I stared at the screen, unable to reply. I couldn't possibly tell him that my father, the man he did business with had whipped his daughter bloody. That I was only here because I wanted to get back at his son but now I can't leave or continue with my plans because my father threatened to put me back in the same basement where I was always abused and treated like a sex toy for his business partners. 

"My place it is," he sent another text when I didn't respond. 

I groaned in frustration, dropping my head into my hands. What have I gotten myself into? I'd wanted to make Antonio regret leaving me. Instead, I had somehow caught the attention of his father... a man even more dangerous than my own. Sure, that was the plan at first. But right now I don't want any more problems.

The worst part is, when Vincenzo kissed me, I'd forgotten about revenge completely. For those few seconds, all I thought about was him. His touch, his taste, the way he made me feel both terrified and safe at the same time. 

I touched my lips, still feeling his lips on mine. My father would kill me if he found out what I've been up to. And Vincenzo... did he really want me? Obviously not. He probably hasn't had sex in a while and that's getting to his head.

My phone buzzed again with another message from Vincenzo. "Stop overthinking. What's done is done. Marco will pick you up at 5."

I stared at the message, wondering how he knew exactly what I was doing. Was I that transparent to him? I should be scared of him seeing through me. I mean, I went to him for a job right after his son dumped me. He probably thinks I have an ulterior motive. After all, isn't that what I'd wanted? To cause chaos in the Marino family?