The Proposition 2: The Ferro Family (The Proposition: The Ferro Family) Read Online Free PDF Page B

warn, but he doesn’t stop.
    He walks over next to me and drapes his arm over my shoulders. “Last night I told her that one night wasn’t enough. Sorry, I thought you already knew, and it’s not like it’d matter to you anyway because it’s all the same. I slept with her before, so what’s one more night, right?” Bryan’s voice turns razor sharp as he says the last few words. He releases me and steps toward Neil, so they’re close enough to punch each other. “You did say something to that effect, didn’t you?”
    Neil squares his shoulders. He won’t be told off by a Ferro. He think s Bryan’s a spoiled brat and gives him the most condescending look I’ve ever seen. “It’s not like you to want a woman more than once. Doesn’t that go against the Ferro code of honor-less actions? I’ve heard your sister—”
    Before Neil can finish the sentence, Bryan’s arm darts out. He grabs Neil by the throat and hisses, “If you value your life, you won’t finish that sentence.” Bryan’s twin sister seems to catch bad press way too often, which is horrible because she’s really sweet. They never run that kind of story though, it’s always stuff about the Ferro heiress and her brainless, chasteless actions.
    Bryan tightens his grip and then releases. Neil sucks in air and rubs his throat, but doesn’t look away. I want to scream at Bryan, but I don’t. Instead, I ask, “What do you want, Bryan?”
    His green eyes drift back my way and his gaze softens. “You.”
    He says it like I’m all he wants in the world, but I know that’s not true. I’m what he wants right now, for punishment or pleasure, I’m still not sure. Bryan holds out his hand. “Come on, I have our day planned.”
    I glance at Neil, but he won’t look at me. For a second, I think about saying no, but Maggie is standing there smilin g. I want to keep that happy expression on her face and to do that I need money. Taking Bryan’s hand, I slip my fingers into his warm grip.

CHAPTER 10
     
    I’m sitting across from Bryan in a little booth at a Friendly’s restaurant, out of all places. The irony doesn’t escape me. This is where happy people come to have food and ice cream, not deranged Ferro men and their blackmailed friends, or whatever I am.
    Poking at a fry, I finally ask, “What are we doing here?”
    Bryan hasn’t made any mention of sex since we left Neil’s this morning. Before we’d gone, I told Maggie to stay put, but she won’t. I know her. She’ll go back home after work and act like nothing happened and it’s going to get her killed. I’d been hoping Bryan would do what he wanted and toss me out again so I could stop her. I poke at the ketchup, before dropping the fry.
    Bryan doesn’t answer right away. He has that casual smile he wears on his face like life is so fun and he can’t get enough. Sometimes I want to slap it away. How can he act like nothing matters? He’s not the man I remember.
    He flashes his green gaze at me before grinning that beautiful smile that makes a small dimple appear on his cheek. I remember tracing the lines of his face with my tongue years ago, and paying extra attention to that little spot. It’s like he knows, because the slant of his mouth changes as if he’s thinking dirty thoughts. “We’re having lunch.”
    “I know that, but is this seriously why you picked me up this morning? Because you didn’t want to eat alone?”
    He pops a fry into his mouth and nods. The movement makes his dark hair fall over his brow. He sweeps it back with his hand and tips his head to the side while pointing a new fry at me. “You hate eating alone.”
    “That’s not the point.”
    “Then, what is the point?”
    “This wasn’t supposed to be a date! Sex, Bryan, you said you wanted sex and that’s it.” I whisper-yell at him, leaning across the table, but it doesn’t stop the waitress from cho osing that moment to reappear.
    Her eyes go wide as the grumpy expression on her fac e