Claimed ruthlessly

Chapter - 7 Maeve

I looked around as the stunned silence stretched. All eyes were on us. All of them had a shocked expression on their faces. Who wouldn't be, if Rhys Luciano, the ruthless mafia lord who hates touch, touched someone.

No one knew he hated touch except his trusted sentinels. But there's a reason why they call me the brains of the Armani family. I am a woman who can get her hands on any kind of information. Computers and numbers are my thing.

Flirting Isn't.

He touched my hand and he kissed it.

He kissed it.

My cheeks are getting warmer at the undivided attention of the devil in front of me. I noticed that he was still holding my hand, while his intense stare was cutting through me.

He's not bad to look at though. Really not bad.

Infact he's hansome. Devilishly so.

He has icy blond hair and amber eyes that almost looked liquid gold in the lighting of the booth. And an intense stare. Perfect jawline and soft lips.

I wonder how it would feel against mine.

And god, he's huge.

I felt the intensity of the stares at us. It wasn't his this time. It was the attention of the whole room.

I cleared my throat and snatched my hands back and rested them.

"Nice to meet you, Mr Luciano." I said in a steady voice, surprisingly.

"Rhys" he growled.

I raised my eyebrows at his correction. Even my father called him Mr Luciano on the phone.

"Rhys," I corrected, and his eyes flashed with something I couldn't place.

"Maeve Armani" he muttered and nodded.

How can someone who works as a mobster look so goddamn perfect?

I flashed an awkward smile as he continued to stare at me with those beautiful amber eyes.

"Do you two want some time alone?" my dad asked us beside me. Which I totally forgot by the way Rhys was pinning with his intense stare.

Heat rose to my cheeks again, and I averted my eyes to notice the expression on everyone's face.

Dad looks curious and a bit wary.

Mom looks excited.

Mr Luciano, Rhys's father, looks surprised.

Aaron Luciano, Rhys's twin, has this smug look on his face.

Zenith Luciano, Aaron's wife, looks confused and curious.

My brothers, where are they?

I turned my head to search for them and found them glaring daggers at Rhys.

"Yes" Rhys answered.

Dad looked at me with a confused frown on his face.

"Sure" I said, and locked eyes with the devil who was going to be my husband soon.

Rhys placed his hands in his pockets and walked forward.

I flashed a quick reassuring smile at my brothers and hurried to keep up with him.

He gave me a side glance and slowed, as though he suddenly realized I couldn't keep up.

I was grateful for that.

He led us to the rooftop restaurant. My favorite place.

My eyes automatically lit up when I saw the little golden lights dangling above us. And vines.

The rooftop was breathtaking.

No one was there that time. I loved the peace it brought over me.

I turned to see him watching me as his face was slightly tilted with a curious expression on his face.

We spent a few minutes in silence, just staring at each other.

I was fumbling with words in my mind to say something.

What was I supposed to say to someone that doesn't understand my world?

To someone I am forced to marry?

I sighed and averted my eyes to the view of the city that was sparkling with lights.

I was always fascinated by the way the city looks. Of how it looks pretty and completely innocent and holds the dirtiest secrets.

"We're getting married" Rhys stated.

"Not by choice" I replied, as I turned to look at him.

His eyes narrowed in on me. I kept myself calm as he pinned me with his stare.

"Do you have an interest in someone else?" Rhys asked as his eyes darkened.

The question startled me. Do I have an interest in someone? I did have a few crushes, but never once have I dated. Although my mom wanted to set me up with successful jerks, I always dodged it with excuses. And I was not allowed to date. That's what happens when you have an overprotective dad and brothers.

But why was he asking me? And this question in particular.

"No" I answered and searched his eyes for a trace of emotion.

His eyes relaxed as he took his hands from his pockets.

My eyes immediately went to his huge, veiny hands. I wonder how it would feel on me.

I swallowed and turned away.

What the hell is happening to me? I was supposed to hate him for taking my freedom away. For marrying me without my permission.

Yet I couldn't bring myself to hate him.

This is dangerous.

My attraction to him is dangerous.

"I heard you're being chased by Vittale" he said and accentuated his name.

"Yes" I said as he looked at me.

"This marriage is a pact. A contract." I told him as his eyes darkened again.

"I am supposed to receive protection, and you will get a permanent seat on the council, and you will gain acces to the dowry." I said in a cold voice, and continued.

"I didn't want this. I didn't want to marry someone I didn't love."

I turned to look at him. He had a thunderous expression on his face.

His jaw clenched, and his hands were fists at his sides.

"This is a farce of a marriage," I sighed.

That did it for him.

The dam burst.

He growled as he pushed me against the wooden walls. I didn't have time to do or even think of anything. My breath fastened as my eyes widened.

His jaw was still clenched as he caged me with both his arms on either side of me.

There was still enough distance between us that I was grateful for.

One of his hands gripped my jaw as he forced me to look into his eyes.

He had a crazed look on his face. One that should have made me run the opposite way. But, for some sick reason, that just excited me more.

There's something seriously wrong with me.

"What are you doing?" My voice came in a soft whisper.

"Let's get some things clear, little mouse" he said through clenched teeth.

He took a step forward.

Now there was no distance between us. His chest made contact with my heaving breasts. The contact made my n*****s harden.

His other hand came around my waist, holding me in a possessive way.

"I will never do something you won't like or feel uncomfortable with." His deep, sin of a voice growled in my ear, In a way that made my thighs clench.

"You will be given everything you want and need with just a word." His eyes pierced me as his hand which was holding my waist explored my back.

The movement made my breath catch.

I can't let him take control of me. I won't. Even if I love it.

"What do you want from me in return?" I asked in a steady voice, knowing nothing came for free. There must be something he would want from me.

Whatever it was, I wasn't going to give in. And I made sure to let him know that by raising my chin in defiance.

He looked at me for a moment. No, stared, as his lips twitched.

"Why do you think I want something from you?" He asked in a challenging tone.

Oh, I was soft, but I wasn't naive. My dad didn't raise me that way. He didn't raise me to be the prey that every predator had eyes on. Oh no. He taught me to be the bait to lure the predator into my lane.

Then I devour them. Enjoying every moment of shock, pain and anger.

But I wasn't letting him know that.

"Isn't there?" I narrowed my eyes as I tried to ignore how his body felt against mine.

He leaned closer until his lips almost brushed mine.

"I want you to be mine and mine alone".

.