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Dominico

The question has clearly made her uncomfortable, the openness from seconds ago gone as she clamps up. Knowing who she is from Basilio or a file is different than knowing who she is from Daisy herself. Or rather, Lily Valentine. Basilio's clear obsession with the woman can be seen by the new name assigned to her and its connection to her old one. Beautiful little flowers. So fragile. So weak. Though some might argue that the way Lily looks at me without fear could display the opposite of weakness. But it could also just be naivety.

I still do not think she knows who I am. And the way Basilio has been locking her away, shielding her from the outside world, I'm not surprised. He told her to stop reading newspapers as it would just upset her if she saw someone she knew in it, and he ensured that none were left lying around at the club. The numerous articles written about me were thus also hidden from her. However, how she hadn't read about me before entering this part of her life is also curious. At ten years her senior and in the news for most of my adult life, she should surely have read about me somewhere.

Basilio also arranged this very apartment we are in for her as there was no paper trail in terms of a lease agreement. The owner of the building is a friend of Basilio's. How he can even feel good about it is beyond me. This place is a dump. Though Lily's apartment was neat and tidy, with little trinkets all over the place, it was small, and some of her neighbors looked questionable when we came up here. I should know. Perhaps my visit here would keep those assholes at bay if they had bad intentions. I could see the recognition in their eyes when they scurried back into their apartments, doors locked behind them. Not necessary, really, with the way things would shortly play out.

On the other hand, Lily seemed way too pleased with her lot, even proud, as her hand swept her feeble belongings and cramped space. Basilio told me what happened six months ago and how she had come to be in this place. But his story was filled with holes—holes I currently had my guys trying to fill as they picked through information that would help shed light on little Lily Valentine's journey into the shadows.

It was proving more difficult than I expected, confirming my instincts. There was more to this story. Someone with money and connections was hard at work smudging her name and all information attached to her from existence while at the same time trying to find her. With the bounty being offered for her return, alive or dead, I was surprised she was still breathing. Ten million wasn't pocket change. It was done through a third party, effectively masking the true identity of who had made the offer, but it wasn't hard to guess. Luckily for her, the bounty had only been out for a few days, so our meeting may save her life for now. If who I suspected was behind it, Lily Valentine was a powerful pawn in a war currently underway in the shadows of society.

I just needed to understand why they were looking for her. Did she have information they didn't want getting out, or was the motive as mundane as a bruised ego? A jilted groom eager for revenge? Looking over at her, I can almost understand. There is something about this woman that even has me curious. The way her body reacted to me last night was no secret. The look on her face was easy to read, though in my circle, the innocence of confusion intertwined with the lust I saw was uncommon. And the blushes that often suffuse her cheeks. No women I know blush.

Lily finally rises from the table, her untouched coffee in her hands as she walks over to the sink and tosses it down the drain. The question I had asked her hanging in the air. No one in their right mind ever left a question I asked unanswered. They either told the truth or lied and died. Sometimes, even when they told the truth, they died. My mood or the message I was sending often drove the decision. The controlled rage that usually accompanies someone disrespecting me like this is curiously missing.

"So, where are we going?" Lily asks, her knuckles white as she grips her countertop.

I get up, approaching her until I am mere inches from her, so close she has to arch her neck to look at me. Her breathing hitches at our proximity, her thighs squeezing together. Her reaction to me has the blood shooting to my cock. Perhaps I could find another use for her while I find out what she is hiding. I lower my hand slowly, my rough finger grazing her perfect, plump pink lips. Her mouth opens slightly, allowing me to pop my finger into the wet entrance, her eyes widening in surprise.

"You know what you want to do," I murmur, my finger resting on her teeth and tongue. Red creeps up her neck, embarrassment battling lust as she finally pouts her lips, sucking on my finger as I slowly pull it out. The loud pop as it exits her mouth ricochets off the thin walls, my dick now fully stiff. That simple action has made me harder than I have been in months. Fuck, years even.

I lean forward, her body remaining where it is. My hands touch the sides of hers, and I, too, grip the countertop, my arms bracketing her in. We are so close that our breaths mingle, the mint lingering on her breath mixing in with a faint vanilla and jasmine scent. I'm tempted to run my nose along her skin, the smell intoxicating. Her eyes dart between my own, her racing pulse beating in her neck. Seconds go by as we stare at each other, the moment only broken by a loud knock on the door. Lily jumps, her hand palming her chest as her eyes fly to the door in alarm.

"What." I don't look away from Lily as Matteo, my bodyguard, enters the room.

"Boss, Dante called. That problem at Mirra, Jean Pierre has the information." He looks at Lily, hesitant to say more in front of her.

"Get Nero to sort it out." My eyes remain on Lily, who looks between myself and Matteo, her face still bright red with embarrassment.

"He is at the docks with Dante. A problem with one of our shipments." Fuck. Just when this was getting interesting.

Pushing away from the counter, I straighten up, the air between myself and Lily less charged, as seen by the large gulp of air she sucks in.

"Let's go," I say to her, heading for the door. She nervously clears her throat, grabbing a small sling bag and her apartment keys. As she approaches, I take her keys, her mouth forming an 'o' as she looks at the keys being transferred to Matteo.

"Matteo will lock up. Come, we don't have all day." I walk out of her apartment with Edoardo, my other bodyguard, slightly in front of me. She doesn't say anything, but I hear her footsteps behind me as we make our way downstairs and out of the apartment complex. Edoardo opens our door, his eyes scanning the streets for any threats. Thankfully, we lost the FBI surveillance team following us earlier, as I did not want my little flower in that spotlight yet.

She settles herself beside me in the vehicle. The windows are blacked out for privacy and security, and the glass is reinforced to protect against bullets. As we pull off, another car pulls up behind us, and Matteo exits the building with a couple of bags.

"Wait, isn't the other guy coming with us? He has my keys," Lily says, her body turning as her hands grip the headrest, trying to see out the back window.

She stills as I lean over her, turning in the small gap between us to face forward. Grabbing the seatbelt, I pull it slowly over her petite frame, my fingers deliberately grazing her nipple through the thin fabric of her clothing as I do. It pebbles at that mere touch, her body shivering in response. She looks at me like a small deer trapped in headlights, aware of its impending doom but mesmerized nonetheless.

I don't bother answering her, that question long forgotten as her eyes dart around my face, landing on my lips occasionally. Smirking, I pull back as she inhales deeply, her gaze suddenly locked on the window beside her. Her knees are squeezed tightly together, her hand rubbing her neck as she leans against the cool glass, her breathing ragged. It's more fun than I thought, getting her all worked up.

What my little flower doesn't know is that Matteo is currently collecting all her things from her apartment and moving them to my mansion on the East side. Little Lily Valentine would live with me for the foreseeable future until I can decide what to do with her. I heard Basilio had lost his mind at the news but had cleverly directed his anger elsewhere, aware of the repercussions should he not agree with my decision.

Looking over at my little flower, I can't help the excitement and twitch of my dick at the thought of having her close to me. Close enough to see what other reactions I could pull from her. Close enough to corrupt her innocence. This was my favorite thing to do. Introducing people to their true selves. Showing them that light could only exist if there was darkness. 

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