Scarred Seductress

Do you Dare

The men rose to their feet, a thick wave of silence spreading across the lounge as Matteo’s figure entered, armed guards flanking him on either side.

Selene pressed her gaze down, her shaking fingers clutching the sides of her dress.

“Boss…” one of them greeted as Matteo passed, heading for his office inside. He paused and turned—and that was when his eyes caught Selene.

He chuckled first, dryly, then shook his head and paid her no mind, his eyes trailing to the man approaching him.

“We didn’t know you’d be coming tonight…” the man said, lowering into a bow.

“s**t…” Selene cursed under her breath. No doubt Matteo owned the place. How had she been so careless? She had literally walked into the lion’s den on her own legs.

Matteo ignored him and turned, about to continue on his way when the man cleared his throat.

“She says she belongs to you… that she’s your woman.”

Matteo’s eyes snapped to Selene instantly, the sound of that stunning him beyond words at this woman’s audacity.

Selene forced her gaze up to meet his. She swallowed into nothing.

“But we can tell she’s lying, Boss… just say the word and she’ll be punished for daring to lie with your name,” the man insisted.

Matteo let out a dry chuckle, shaking his head. The men caught his expression and chuckled too, the realisation settling among them—no doubt Selene was just bluffing.

“She dares to lie with your name?” another growled.

“She needs to be taught a big lesson, Boss… only that way she’ll serve as a warning to the rest of the whores watching who would dare attempt such,” he growled, and the angry men concurred with cheers, some scoffing at Selene’s audacity, others shaking their heads. She had just signed her own death warrant.

“Say the word, Boss…” the men pressed.

Selene sighed quietly in defeat, tears gathering quickly in her eyes as panic surged through her. She couldn’t think of anything—and no one she knew had the power to save her from a man like Matteo. She was as good as done if a miracle didn’t happen.

“What do you say, Boss…” another asked.

Just as Selene lifted her tear-streaked eyes, they landed on a familiar figure wading into the lounge, his eyes popping wide when they settled on her.

Air seized from Selene’s lungs when she saw Damien standing there, his eyes darting from her face to his father’s and then to the men around.

“She claims she’s your father’s woman,” a voice sneered, snapping Damien’s eyes even wider.

Matteo’s lips curved into an evil smile, his gaze sliding from Damien’s shocked face to Selene’s pale one. No doubt they had something between them—killing Ricardo had proved it—but now he was convinced it ran even deeper, and he was about to put an end to it.

“What do you suggest we do to her, Damien…”

Damien looked away, boiling beneath his composed expression, his fists tightening at his sides.

Matteo signalled, and Damien followed him inside. Matteo turned and led the way—Damien tore his eyes away from Selene and followed.

“See that, slut… you don’t matter to him at all. He won’t even decide your fate,” the man who had dragged Selene in scoffed, tugging at his belt as his eyes resumed roaming over her.

Selene took a slow step back, cold sweat breaking across her forehead.

“I get to do anything I want with you…” he snarled, just about to lurch toward her when Matteo cleared his throat, rooting him in place.

He looked up quickly—Selene too—her eyes settling on Matteo’s cold ones.

“Are you coming or not?” he directed at her.

Selene gulped into nothing as she watched him turn around, stunned.

He walked into his office.

The man growled bitterly, knowing better than to touch her.

Selene couldn’t believe it, her lashes blinking rapidly as Matteo’s words replayed again and again in her head. Then panic spiked within her, the realisation overshadowing the slight relief settling in her chest.

Damien was in there with him.

Matteo had no reason to save her unless it benefited him. What was he planning to do to her? Matteo was no angel—he was more like a devil. What awaited her in that office?

“You don’t keep the Boss waiting,” the guard beside her snarled, his eyes trailing over her condescendingly.

Selene forced a quick nod and pushed her suddenly heavy legs into motion, her pulse spiralling out of control as fear, uncertainty, and dread erupted inside her.