On The Ropes Read Online Free PDF Page B

of here with brute force and my wiles alone. She possessed a strength I never would. I had a kinky enough heart to get off on the exhibitionism aspect of this with Gio, and even his bursts of anger in my direction didn’t cause me to fear him. He was a gentle giant, and he would never truly hurt me. But these men were a different story.
    If I went along with the scenario they’d set up, would Gio just be the opening course? Or would they all take their turns, whether he fought them or not?
    Don’t think about it. One minute at a time, that’s all. Breathe in, breathe out.
    “And only mine,” Gio added, “or I walk out of this room and keep going.”
    Marco chuckled again. “Without your little gattina ? Why, now, that’s not nice, leaving such a fluffy sheep to a bunch of hungry wolves like us.”
    “I’ll walk,” he said, and my skin prickled with goose bumps everywhere at once. I didn’t believe it—I couldn’t. Not only did we have heat and a kind of history, he was friends with Fox. He would never leave me to these men. He couldn’t.
    I would never believe it.
    Z stretched his arm along the back of the booth, lazy as could be. “And you think we’ll let you?”
    “Oh, you’ll let me, because you want me more than you want me spreading your secrets.”
    Marco examined his nails. “I never realized you wanted to die so badly, gumba . Puts a whole new spin on why you fight the way you do.”
    Gio braced his hands on either side of my hips, caging me in, and leaned toward Marco while I shivered beneath him from fear or arousal, or some sick combination of both. “I fight to win. And we both know you want me on your side, rather than against you. I’m an asset.”
    “You are,” he agreed begrudgingly. Then he sighed, glancing down at me. “Such a pretty little thing. A pet like this costs a lot to keep.” He raised his gaze to Gio. “Well, then, if we abide by your request not to touch her, we still need proof of your loyalty. Proof you won’t run out of this room and squawk to anyone who looks your way about what we forced you to do.”
    “No one’s forcing me to do anything.”
    “Play it that way then.” Marco lifted his manicured hands and let them fall. “It’s your choice, but you will make it. Now, Gio, before I run out of patience.” He waited a beat. “And she will pay the price for your hesitation.”
    He hauled in a deep breath, and his chest vibrated above my back. He was still draped over me, partially leaning over the table, protecting me as if I was bleeding out and he was saving me from being picked at by circling crows.
    It wasn’t that far from the truth.
    “You should’ve stayed away.” I could’ve sworn I felt his mouth brush my hair, the movement as light as air. “Why didn’t you just stay away?”
    I squeezed my eyes shut and reached back to grasp his hand, needing that tactile link. I didn’t have words left to tell him that I was sorry, not for dancing necessarily, but for putting us in this place. It wasn’t my fault, but my being there tonight had helped the dominoes line up in the way Marco and his cronies wanted. My foolish rebellion had aided them in harming not only me, but Gio too. His restrained anger and pain were palpable, their weight against my spine as heavy as his muscular body.
    They were using me against him, and I’d dropped right into their laps.
    “ Doleo ,” I said for his ears only, hoping he knew Latin. There was no reason to expect he would. The chances that he’d taken a class in high school as I had were slim.
    But he swore and gathered my hair in his fist, a gentle command to arch my back. I did, because what choice did I have?
    Except somehow he made it feel like I still did. That no one was there but us, and if I called a halt to this, begged him to go no further, he would abide my wishes. The risks he faced— we faced—wouldn’t be a factor.
    No matter what, I wouldn’t allow him to be hurt any more.
    “ Doleo ,” he