Perhaps more so.

  He had the good grace to look away before I yanked down my panties. It was sick that all I was thinking about was how happy I was I’d worn red lace. How twisted were my stupid thoughts? I leaned across the desk, folding my arms under me, intertwining my fingers as I pressed my legs tightly together.

  Maybe he’d continued watching me. As soon as I was in position, he walked behind me. All the while, I studied the way he held the belt in his hand. He’d folded the thick strap in half, now tapping the rounded end against his other hand.

  I couldn’t stand this, nausea replacing the butterflies. When he was directly behind me, I lowered my head, taking raspy breaths.

  “Stretch out your arms and grasp the edge of the desk. You’ll need to hold on to maintain your position.”

  His frank words were no more startling than anything he’d said to me before, but I suddenly started shaking so badly my teeth were chattering. But I did as he commanded, my fingers stiff from being so cold. My father’s desk was so large that as soon as I wrapped my fingers around the thick wooden edge, my toes were no longer touching the floor.

  This was vulnerability at its most basic. The mystery man could do anything he wanted to me, and I could do nothing from this vantage point. What if he was a crazed killer? I’d be shit out of luck. That’s what.

  When he moved closer, I sucked in my breath, uncertain what to expect. Then the way he gently eased my top up further on my back, taking his time brushing the rough pads of his fingers down my heated skin before removing them almost forced a moan. I’d always been able to tell a lot about a man by his fingers, especially the tips. If they were manicured, the nails perpetually shining from a recent session, I knew that man wasn’t for me. I couldn’t stand pretty boys, especially those who spent more time at a salon than I ever would. That included every male dancer I’d worked with.

  But if they were rough, callused, then that meant they were hard workers, unafraid of getting their hands dirty. His were rougher than most, so much so his simple touch forced portions of my mind to go haywire. He had to be former military if he was running a security firm. At least that meant he was trained to kill if necessary and wouldn’t hide at every volley of bullets.

  When he tapped one side of my buttocks, I was pulled back to reality, tensing all over. He was purposely taking this very slowly, doing his best to heighten the apprehension.

  And I didn’t have to try to hate him for that.

  I sucked in my breath, hearing the slight creak of the loose floorboard under his feet as he took a step back, preparing to strike like a poisonous snake. Thinking of him in such a vile way made it easier to prepare for however the spanking made me feel. I’d known pain before, cuts and scrapes, a broken arm when I was five. I’d even been beaten up by a much bigger girl in high school, the deep bruising painful for weeks.

  But on every occasion, my father had been there to comfort me, the bully forced to attend another school district out of fear of what he’d do.

  No one was going to comfort me after this… whatever this was going to be.

  I didn’t need to wait long to find out.

  The hard crack of his wrist as he brought down the belt across my bottom was only the beginning. I was only stunned by the sound at first. Then the harsh sting unfurled itself across my sit spot with the ferocity of a wolf striking its prey.

  I jerked up, all the wind knocked from my body. I couldn’t speak or scream, the slight squawking sound reminiscent of an injured bird.

  Maxwell Powers didn’t stop there. He issued several more, one coming right after the other. The sting blossomed into pain, quickly swirling into pure agony.

  I screamed at the top of my lungs, hoping anyone in the house would hear my loud cry, coming to my defense. It certainly wouldn’t be my brother. He had his earbuds in, the music cranked up so loud he wouldn’t be aware of an explosion in the house.

  Panting, I couldn’t stop the single tear from trickling from the corner of my eye, falling as a huge drop on the surface of the desk.

  “Stop. Please, just stop.” I loathed anyone begging for anything, but the anguish was blinding. I’d never do well if taken and tortured. I’d break like a china doll. I’d need to harden my exterior or I’d be fair game in the very ugly war Maxwell had described in vivid detail.

  “I don’t think you’ve learned your lesson.” His voice was gruffer than before, dropping down a half octave, the sound skittering over my skin in unimaginable ways.

  I cinched my eyes shut, telling myself he was a brutal monster in order to get through the horrible ordeal. Maybe he was right in that I needed to toughen up in more ways than one. Fine. I’d shift into an emotionless state, giving no one any satisfaction of knowing I was bothered.

  The next three strikes were just as brutal, but not a single peep came from my mouth.

  I heard the door being tossed open, two pairs of footsteps storming inside.

  “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” Gio had been my father’s righthand man, a true savage except when it came to me. The man was loyal to a fault and would lay down his life to protect mine.

  “Handling necessary business,” Maxwell told him, his tone now devoid of any emotion.

  “Don’t touch her,” Luis snarked.

  My face was likely as red as my bottom and I shifted to try to hide my nakedness, the embarrassment so intense stars had formed in front of my eyes. Why had Maxwell allowed the possibility of me being thoroughly humiliated by not locking the door?

  Maybe because they’d failed a test of security with me being able to escape so easily. I had a feeling I could no longer use that route ever again.

  Maxwell chuckled, walking ever so slowly toward them, the belt still in his hand. “Gentlemen. When I’m finished here, you’ll be next. Until then, I suggest you prepare yourselves for the questions that will be asked, including why the fuck the security is so bad a child could break into the house.” I was surprised that his last few words were riddled with rage, his voice cracking.

  Both Gio and Luis were Italians, born and raised in Brooklyn. They were as rough and mean as any of the men my father had employed, never backing down to anyone. Why weren’t they interfering, beating the man to a bloody pulp? Were they afraid of him? When they started to leave, Maxwell barked at them.

  “Stay right here, both of you. This won’t take long,” Maxwell added to fine tune the conversation.

  I could feel the weight of both men’s eyes on me. They did as they were told and I was instantly sick to my stomach, another wave of embarrassment roaring through my system. How could this monstrous man do this to me? I hated him.

  Maxwell took a deep breath, holding it as he turned around. “As I said, there will be new rules established. My rules. And everyone is expected to follow them.”

  His words remained furrowing into the back of my mind as he resumed the spanking. Every time the leather sliced against my aching skin, I jerked up from the desk, gasping for air. I was angry and frightened, so lonely the ache erupting from deep inside festered, growing exponentially.

  I could hear the rapid breathing of the men as they watched my humiliation. I’d never be able to look them in the eyes again.

  With every brutal crack of his hand, I fell further into an ugly abyss, tears threatening to form in my eyes. No. I refused to give the bastard the satisfaction of seeing me cry. The spanking seemed to go on forever, my heart beating rapidly from the intense agony.

  Only when Maxwell stopped long enough to caress my skin, the rough pads of his fingers tickling, I realized a significant part of the ache was for an entirely different reason.

  I was completely aroused, so much so the burn deep in my core threatened to explode. As my pussy clenched and released, I dug my nails into the expensive wood of the ornately crafted desk. There was no point in trying to focus, the incredible sensations tingling every cell and synapse in my body, stealing my breath.

  And while I reminded myself that he was unattainable, completely off limits, the initial crush was already finding its way into becoming something else.

  Something much more dangerous, filthy, and everything that I shouldn’t want.

  But exactly what I desired.

  Pure sin.

  Still shaking, I kept my eyes closed, doing everything I could to ignore the feelings, but Maxwell made that as impossible as everything else.

  “Five more,” he said and the deep brusqueness of his voice was enough to make me shudder.

  Don’t think this way. He’s an asshole. He’s taking away everything you love.

  While I tried to convince myself of everything going through my mind, I knew better. He was right about the security. And I knew my father’s enemies would do anything to hurt me. Oh, God. This was horrible.

  After two additional strikes, I almost jumped off the desk. He pushed his hand against the small of my back and that was when I heard his heavy breathing.

  “This will be over soon, and I doubt we’ll need to revisit the situation.”

  He was so methodical, his voice even. That made me want to hate him even more. After he delivered the last three, I pressed my face against the cool wood, blinking to try to keep tears from falling.

  His breathing labored, he finally backed away, addressing the soldiers. “You can leave now. I’ll come find you when I’m ready for our discussion.”

  The tone of his voice was gruff but without hesitation, both men followed his orders.

  “You did very well. You can get dressed.”

  I had no idea how long it took for me to push myself up from my father’s desk. Heat remained on my face and neck, likely just as red as my bruised bottom. I glanced over my shoulder, grateful he’d turned away. I was shaking all over, struggling to yank the dense fabric over my hips. When I was finished, I had no idea what to say to him. “What now?”

  “Now, you’re going to go to your room until I have the opportunity to talk with your father’s men and go through the house. I’ll also need to talk to Francesco.”

  “He won’t talk to you.” I turned around to face him, frowning from the way he had a smirk on his face.

  “I assure you that your brother will talk to me. He has no choice.”

  “Did anyone ever tell you that you’re an arrogant bastard?”

  His smile widened more than it had before. “All the time.”

  CHAPTER 5

  Maxwell

  Fuck.

  I watched Raleigh walk out the door with her head held high, anger rushing into me. What in the hell was wrong with me? Yeah, she needed discipline but that way? I raked my hand through my hair, trying to develop a quick plan. With the security this shitty, I’d need to do something quickly. First things first. A discussion with the two Neanderthals who’d barged into the room.

  I moved through the bottom level of the house, paying attention to every window and door, scanning for security cameras. There was a basic system, the keypad located at both the front door and the one leading to the garage. As far as cameras, there were none inside on the ground level that I could find. The security room was small, likely a former laundry room and as I stood in front of the monitors, I shook my head. The system was basic as well, a typical design used by almost anyone, not sophisticated enough for a man like Tony who had so many enemies. I heard footsteps and immediately reached for my weapon.

  As Luis stormed into the room, he eyed me with disdain, a smirk crossing his face. I didn’t like this asshole and he didn’t like me. That was a good basis to start from. “How many men surround the house at all times?”

  He took his sweet time answering me, sizing me up with his angry gaze. “Just two of us, sometimes one depending on what Mr. Arturo wanted.”

  “You’re assigned to Raleigh?” I could tell by the look of surprise the lovely woman had lied to me.

  Snorting, he rubbed his mouth and nose. “She’s far too much of a handful.”

  “It’s interesting to me that you’re being disrespectful. And only two guards is unacceptable.”

  “You don’t know jack shit and stop telling me what I can and can’t do. Carmine told me your name, but who the fuck are you?”

  I turned to face him, taking a deep breath before answering. “I’m Maxwell Powers, head of the Powers Security Firm and the man who’s now in charge. And yes, Mr. Capelli, you will follow my orders to the letter. Period.”

  He studied me as if I’d grown another head, laughing after a few seconds. “I think you need to get the hell out of here.”

  I walked closer, taking my time. “That’s not going to happen.”

  As he bristled, fisting his hands, my patience was tossed out the window.

  “I suggest you stand down or I’ll find a replacement.” My statement was frank and clear.

  When he was stupid enough to take a swing, I snapped my hand around his fist, cocking my head. He seemed shocked I’d managed to stop him mid action, but that didn’t prevent him from tossing his other fist into my abdomen. That was all I could take, issuing two brutal punches in a row. Luis tumbled backward, slamming into a wall of computers.

  He came at me with everything he had, throwing wild punches, only one of them connecting. When I wrapped my hand around his throat, tossing him against the wall, I could tell he was shocked. Even though he outweighed me by a good fifty pounds, I could easily break his neck with a single snap of my wrist.

  And he knew it.

  “Now, I’m going to take my hand away and you’re going to back down. Do you hear me?”

  His eyes burned with hatred, and he continued struggling. That only forced me to dig my fingers into his skin. “Fuck you.”

  When I added more pressure, he started to cough but lowered his arms like a good boy.

  I backed away, never blinking.

  The dumb asshole made the royal mistake of throwing two more jabs, one catching me in the gut. My swings weren’t particularly savage, but he was tossed several feet away from the momentum, another loud crash floating through the room.

  “Whoa. Hold the fuck on!” Gio snapped as he raced into the room. “What the hell is going on?”

  “This fucking asshole thinks he’s in charge,” Luis bellowed, pushing off the steel rack, already prepared to try to hit me again.

  Gio stepped in the middle, holding out both his arms. “Mr. Sciascia told us he was coming. He’s the real deal.”

  The real deal. I’d been called dozens of things in my career but this one was new.

  “What the fuck are you talking about?” Luis’ demand made me grin.

  Gio nodded. “I’m serious. Mr. Sciascia said we need to trust him.”

  “Bullshit!” Luis crowded my space.

  I pulled away my jacket, allowing him to see my weapon. His eyes opened wide then he finally backed down.

  “Now that we know the real deal,” I said, “we need to talk methods of protection and I’ll need a full accounting of security for the house and every operation. In addition, I want a tour.”

  Gio swallowed hard. “I’ll take you.”

  “Then get five more soldiers to guard this house while I am gone. Make certain they’re armed. Do you understand?” I glared at Luis, trying to determine if he would accept my orders. If not, he’d be tossed aside like trash.

  He said nothing.

  “Just fucking do what he says, moron,” Gio snapped.

  Luis tossed him a look then snarled before reaching for his phone, walking out of the room.

  Gio sighed, shaking his head. “He’s a hothead but he’s good at what he does.”

  “He damn well better be because that display almost cost him his job.” I returned my gaze to the monitors. “The security system is shit. I’m having some people bring in what’s needed.”

  “Okay. I tried to tell Tony, I mean Mr. Arturo that he needed an upgrade but he wouldn’t listen.”

  “That carelessness with security cost him his life. I refuse to allow his children to be harmed. That’s my number one goal in taking over.”

  “What else?”

  I chuckled; the fact I couldn’t answer that right away wasn’t lost on him.

  “You’re really the godfather?”

  “Yep. I am. That means nothing to me at this point. I’m doing a job.”

  He scratched his head. “Those kids ain’t gonna see it that way.”

  “They’ll come around. What can you tell me about the men in the Arturo employ?”

  “We have forty-five give or take. All highly trained. They man the casinos and nightclubs mostly.”

  “And the weapons you sell?”

  He seemed surprised that I knew about them. “Um, we have a warehouse that nobody knows about.”

  “Somebody does. How many men guard it on a twenty-four-hour basis?”

  Now he seemed uncomfortable. “Well, none unless we have a deal in process.”

  “But you store weapons there.”

  “Yes.”

  “Then I guess we need more soldiers. From here on out, there will be six men on this house and four on the warehouse.”

  “That will take some time.”

  I moved closer, standing at least four inches taller. “Then get started. I will be a part of the hiring process from minute one. Understood?”

  “I guess.”

  “Not good enough. Let’s try this one more time. Do. You. Understand?”

  I could tell his anger was increasing. He stretched his neck, obviously thinking about ignoring my command. “Fine.”

  “You’re going to show me the operations. A grand tour of every facility.”

  “The men don’t know you and won’t like it.”

  “I couldn’t give a shit. After today, they will know who and what I am.”

  “You’re a hard ass, aren’t you?”

  It was the second time someone had used the expression. “Oh, I’m so much more. You don’t want to find out.”

  His jaw clenched. “We’ll leave when you’re ready.”

  “Not until the soldiers get here. I assume they are soldiers.”

  The fact he shrugged told me just how much of a nightmare I had on my hands. Perfect. This wasn’t just a shitshow. It was a goddamn firestorm waiting to happen.