“No. I have a private gym. I’m only here for you.”

  That wasn’t surprising to hear either. His actual workout regimen would probably break me within the first five minutes. He surveyed my face before breaking the pregnant silence.

  “Did you like my gift?”

  “Please tell me you’re joking.”

  His expression became shrouded. “I would never joke about something like this.”

  I stepped closer and lowered my voice. “You sent me a hand.”

  “Hm, yes. But did you recognize it? I was hoping you would.”

  The approaching footsteps grew closer. I took a step back just as a pretty dark-skinned woman rounded the bend. She gave us a small smile that Mateo returned with a grin, causing a noticeable blush to stain her cheeks as she jogged past.

  "What is wrong with you?" I questioned as soon as she was out of hearing range.

  He looked down at me clearly amused. "It was just a smile, Elena."

  "What?" Did he think I'd just gotten jealous? "I'm talking about that gift you sent."

  "Oh. Did you not like it?"

  I took a couple more small steps away from him. He remained where he was, watching me closely. “Why? Why would you have it brought to me?”

  “What would you rather have had?”

  My brow pinched. "You can't possibly mean I had choices."

  "With me, you'll always have choices." He stepped closer. "I also took the smaller parts of him.” He grinned and got a look on his face that made me think he was replaying the moment he dismembered the man in question, finding joy in it.

  Ugh. I was not broaching that subject. “Again, why did you have someone deliver that to me?”

  “Think of it as a token of my promised devotion.”

  “You could’ve sent flowers or a card,” I retorted.

  “Flowers wither and actions speak louder than words, but if you want flowers, I’ll build you a greenhouse. If that isn’t good enough, I can give you fields of them.”

  The sincerity with which he was speaking baffled me. This entire conversation made me wonder if I had somehow taken a wrong turn and entered the Twilight Zone. “Flowers may die but last I checked severed limbs aren’t everlasting. Did you expect me to store it as a keepsake, put it on a shelf in my bedroom?”

  “Of course, not. I would never allow another man in our room.”

  “Our room?”

  “Where you’ll be sleeping,” he replied without hesitation.

  I dropped my eyes to the tarmac and shook my head, repeating more to myself, “What is wrong with you?”

  He suddenly stepped forward, bridging the remainder of the gap I’d created. We were practically chest to chest. With a gentle touch, he grasped my chin and forced my eyes back to his. “A man put his hands on you. That’s what was wrong with me, Elena. So, I removed his fucking hands. I feel much better now.”

  I stared up at him at a complete loss for words. Rumors were one thing, reality another. He truly was unhinged in an exceedingly nonchalant way. It terrified me that I didn’t one-hundred percent fear that. And now I knew without a doubt that he was, in fact, having me watched. Those men at the club weren’t some average employees coming to handle a disturbance.

  Melody and Peyton were right. For some reason this man wanted me. He wouldn’t have looked at me twice otherwise or given me gift-wrapped body parts. But there had to be more to this than the physical attraction between us.

  “Mr. Escuro—.”

  “Mateo,” he swiftly corrected, releasing my chin. “I’m only Mr. Escuro to men under me and even then, it makes me think I’m trying to replace my father, who is alive and well.”

  “Okay…Mateo,” I tested out. “I think I missed something between the last time we spoke and now.”

  “You haven’t. I’ve decided not to wait and move things along.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “I had a thought that you might try to run away from me, but then I realized you’re too smart for that. You wouldn’t make such a reckless decision.”

  “I have no intention of running,” I replied.

  “That’s good to hear. Because if you did, I would have to chase after you and trust me, I always catch what I hunt.”

  His smile now held a menacing edge. I tried to brush off the unease creeping into my every pore, but it clung to me like a sinister shadow.

  His hand reached out to tuck a loose strand of hair behind my ear, a gesture that should have been comforting but instead felt like a warning. I inhaled sharply as his body grazed against mine, causing me to fight against a shiver. I was only wearing my black sports bra and matching shorts, which Mateo seemed to take full notice of. His gaze traveled down my figure, following the path of his hands as they traced over my bare skin. The sensation was like a burning imprint on my body. I had to resist the urge to lean into him, unsure of this intense attraction between us. This feeling was unlike anything I had ever experienced before.

  “You’re joining me for dinner tonight," he murmured.

  "Why?"

  "We have a deal to finalize, don't we?"

  "Is it necessary for us to eat together in order to do that?"

  "It is," he confirmed, tracing the outline of my lips with his finger. "And afterward, I plan on spending all night making you come."

  I blinked, feeling the heat rise in my cheeks as I pulled away from his touch. "I don't recall signing up for any of this," I protested, my voice shaky.

  He flashed a sly grin, his eyes dark and smoldering. “Dinner?” he questioned. “Or me fucking you until you can’t walk or remember your own name?”

  “Both. But mostly the second one.” I wasn't naive, but I was still a virgin and couldn't fathom sleeping with this man. Despite how my body reacted to him or how good-looking he was, I wasn't ready for that kind of intimacy. The thought alone was overwhelming and intimidating, considering his vast experience compared to mine.

  He laughed, clearly amused that I was growing flustered. “If this is all it takes, anjinho, imagine how you’ll feel by the end of the night.”

  I started to voice my concern but his grip on me tightened, silencing me. "You don't need to say anything else," he said firmly. With one hand still on my waist and the other covering my mouth, he continued, ". “You don’t need to say anything else. All you need to do is walk to and from the car. You don’t even have to concern yourself with what to wear. Not that you’ll be wearing it long.”

  I glared and he applied more pressure to keep me silent. "A nod that you understand will suffice."

  I grudgingly bobbed my head. He removed his hand from my mouth and stepped away. "I'll send a car for you."

  With that, he simply turned and resumed his jog. I remained where I was until I could no longer see him, then headed in the opposite direction, my head spinning and worry setting in.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  When I returned from my jog, the house was silent; neither my grandmother nor my uncle had returned yet. I was relieved by their absence. I ascended the stairs thinking about Mateo's declaration, that he’d be having dinner with me tonight—without specifying a time. How was I supposed to explain that to my uncle and grandmother? I didn't care what they thought, but I dreaded their inevitable barrage of questions. I hardly had the answers myself. I had yet to know why this man had taken such a vested interest in me. I could only take his words with a grain of salt.

  As I approached my bedroom, a sense of dread gnawed at me. Entering, I silently prayed that the stench of burning flesh had finally dissipated. I had disposed of the severed hand Mateo had sent to me by tossing it into the fireplace, unable to think of any other way to handle it.

  Returning it to him was out of the question and touching it any more than necessary was unthinkable. Thankfully, the smell was gone—an experience I never wished to endure again. But now, on my bed, another satin-wrapped gift box awaited me, its presence unmistakably linked to Mateo. A wave of unease washed over me as I stepped further into the room and closed the door. How had his messenger managed to place it here before my return?

  Then again, if he was having me watched they could've come right in after I left. With cautious steps, I approached the bed, eyeing the box suspiciously. My heart pounded as I reached out and picked it up, feeling its weight. I gave it a gentle shake, listening intently. There were no unsettling sounds, no telltale signs of another gruesome surprise. Relieved but still wary, I carefully set the box back down on the bed. I hesitated for a moment longer, then began to untie the satin ribbon, my fingers trembling slightly.

  Another wave of relief washed over me when no severed parts appeared. Inside was a stunning black dress, elegant and meticulously designed by Alexander McQueen, the tag still attached, indicating its exorbitant price. Alongside it was a pair of heels, their signature red soles gleaming. Nestled beside them was a small note card with a simple but commanding message: "Be waiting outside by 7.

  A quick glance at the clock revealed it was already 4:30. Setting the card aside, I carefully lifted the dress from the box, still in disbelief at the unfolding events. I knew that getting entangled with him would irrevocably alter the course of my life yet again, but at this point, the choice felt like it was out of my hands.

  I sat my cell phone down on the bed and stared at my reflection in the mirror with a frown. “Aren’t you guys supposed to talk me out of this?”

  “We’re supposed to talk you out of bad decisions, not smart ones,” Melody replied.

  “Have you not heard anything I’ve said?” I replied, frustration creeping into my tone.

  “Listen, babe, Mateo Escuro doesn’t casually tell a woman he’s taking her to dinner.”

  “He doesn’t do dinner, period,” Melody added.

  “Mel’s right. He just jackrabbits them into the headboard and then they disappear.”

  I turned away from the mirror and toward where my phone sat on the bed, my heart skipping a beat. “I’m sorry, what do you mean they disappear?”

  “Exactly that. He fucks them once or thrice and then they’re gone,” Peyton said bluntly.

  “What Peyton means,” Melody clarified, “is that he doesn’t date exclusively. The few women he’s been seen with aren’t from here. They’re all models or something he collects when gallivanting around the world.”

  Even though I knew I shouldn't let their words affect me, I couldn't help re-evaluating myself in the mirror. Doubt began to seep in as I compared myself to these other women. I was a far cry from ugly, but I also wasn’t on their level and lacked their confidence.

  “So, he’s never been engaged? That’s unbelievable. He’s in his mid-30s.”

  “None of them have. It's what makes the Escuro men so elusive and desirable. Any woman who captures a ring from one of them will be immediately catapulted into a life of luxury and security,” Peyton explained. “And just an FYI, you’re just as gorgeous as any of those other women."

  “If not more so,” Melody added.

  I appreciated their attempt to soothe my insecurities, but the doubt lingered. Melody's voice softened as she shifted the subject. "Have you taken your medication today?"

  I nodded, then remembered they couldn't see me. "Yeah, I took it," I assured her. Checking the time, I saw it was already 6:20, and my nerves twisted tighter. "I have to go soon."

  "Remember to share your location with us," Melody urged. "And don't let him take your phone."

  Right. I wasn't sure how I'd prevent that exactly, but I'd worry about it later if I reached that bridge. "It'll be in my clutch."

  "Condoms. Bring them with you and make sure he wears one," Peyton layered in.

  "Excuse me? I don't even have those, and that won't be necessary."

  "She isn't sleeping with him, Peyton. Jesus," Melody interjected.

  "Hey, I know the guy sticks to premium outlets, but still, better to be safe than sorry. You remember what else we said?"

  I couldn't forget it. They'd been lecturing and advising me for the past forty minutes. "I know to be careful. And I know he isn't a nice guy. The last part is a given."

  One of them scoffed.

  “El, listen, he was brought up by one of the most despicable and revolting men of our time. He's currently in the process of inheriting an empire from this same vile man. He's involved in everything from laundering to kidnapping, trafficking, and drugs. That’s just some of the obvious stuff. And the police either work for him too or are too chicken shit to get involved. Saying he's not a nice guy is an understatement," Peyton drawled.

  Now probably was not the best time to mention that he had given me a hand as a sign of, how did he word it? Devotion.

  "Just to play devil's advocate, most guys around here don't fit the description of 'nice.' They operate by the rules of the underground. My father may not be handing out hands as gifts, but he's a crooked lawyer who for sure has blood on his. He does love my mom and me though," Melody pondered aloud.

  "Yeah, Mel's right. Your dad was a ruthless boss. And you know my dad is good at hacking; he's probably gotten a few families killed. So, we're both right."

  “I hate we can’t creep and watch over you. You’ve got to be careful, Elena," Melody pled.

  “And whatever you do, don't be swayed by his dreamy eyes, charming dimples, and giant dick,” Peyton warned.

  “Seriously?” I huffed exasperated. “I get it. I know to be careful,” I assured them just as I heard voices drifting up from below.

  I withheld a sigh, knowing I needed to go down and face the first obstacle of the night—my uncle and grandmother. I ended the call after one last round of assurances. Seeing it was now 6:40, I couldn't delay any longer. I grabbed my clutch and gave myself one last once-over in the mirror before heading toward the door. Bracing myself, I stepped out of my room and began making my way downstairs.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  As soon as my heels touched the first stair, the conversation beneath me ceased, as if I wasn't meant to hear whatever was being discussed. I gripped the railing and continued, wishing I could walk right out the door without a word, but regardless of my opinion of my uncle, it wouldn't be right to do that to my grandmother.

  I reached the bottom of the staircase and took a deep breath before making my way into the informal living room. My uncle's stern gaze met mine immediately. He had what could have been his eleventh or twelfth glass of wine gripped in one hand. I’d picked up on his drinking habit very early on.

  "You're going out?" His tone was more of an accusation than a question.

  "Yes," I replied evenly, trying to ignore the ways his eyes crawled all over me. "I have plans tonight."

  My grandmother turned toward me, a worried crease forming on her forehead. "Elena, dear, are you sure this is a good idea?"

  I nodded, forcing a reassuring smile. "I'll be fine, Grandma. It's just dinner."

  My uncle's expression hardened. "With whom?"

  I paused, knowing their reaction to the truth would not be pleasant. "An old acquaintance."

  "An old acquaintance?" His voice held a hint of disbelief. "Since when do you have connections in this part of the city?"

  "I have friends here," I responded, trying to keep my voice steady. "I'll return later. Don't wait up."

  My uncle gave a smirk, his eyes glazed over and making me suspect he had more than just wine to drink. “If you're not careful, you'll end up like your sister, Elena. Gone and remembered as--.”

  "That's enough of that," my grandmother interjected.

  "And what will you be known for, Uncle?" I gave him a slow once-over. "This?"

  His smirk vanished as a shadow of something sinister flashed in his eyes. "Be careful how you speak to me, girl."

  "What are you going to do if I don’t?" I challenged, frustration coursing through me. This man was a pitiful excuse for a human being. Every time I looked at him, all I saw was my father and it made me sick. I resented the fact that he was living in my parents' house and had done nothing to prevent their reputation from being tarnished. I hated he’d done nothing to find my sister but had the fucking audacity to speak on her name. I could see why she loathed him and made sure she never crossed his path.

  When he didn’t speak, just stared at me with a slackened face, I turned to leave, my heart pounding in my chest.

  As I reached the doorway, my grandmother called out softly, "Just be careful, Elena."

  "I will," I promised, glancing back at her with another forced smile, avoiding my uncle's creepy gaze. I needed to get the hell out of this house. Keeping my pace casual, I headed for the front door. The timing couldn't have been better. Just as I pulled it open, a shiny white sedan pulled into the driveway.

  It came to a halt as I approached, and a man I didn't recognize stepped out. His hair was neatly tied back in a ponytail, and though he wasn't much taller than me, his muscular build and immaculate suit made an impression. A gun was visible on his hip, and despite the hour, he wore sunglasses.

  "Good evening, Miss Castello," he greeted me with an air of respect, his accent thick as he opened the rear passenger door.

  "Evening," I replied hesitantly.

  "I am here as a humble servant of Mr. Escuro. I will drive you to his location."

  Who spoke like that? Humble servant? How fitting for a man known as the King of Vice. "Okay..." I trailed off, carefully maneuvering into the backseat, taking in the car's luxurious interior.

  The leather seats were immaculate and plush, exuding the scent of a new vehicle mixed with a hint of cologne. As the car drove away, I took one final glance at the house. It was no surprise that my grandmother's silhouette could be seen in the window. I hoped she wouldn't fret too much while I was gone. The gravity of the situation I was about to enter into was starting to sink in, and all I could do was hope that Mateo's intentions, whatever they may be, would somehow coincide with my ultimate goal of finding Eva.