Page 47 of Tempting My Mafia Monster

“Someone’s in a bad mood,” Sean chuckled, glancing my way.

“Don’t look at her,” Monster growled, reaching for his combat boots under the bed.

Sean smirked. “I thought only no touching was part of our new arrangement.”

My gut twisted. I couldn’t stand that he was using Monster’s feelings for me to manipulate him. And from the twisted smile on Sean’s lips, he was loving every minute of it. Even more reason we had to escape his clutches together.

Monster finished tying his laces and stood up. “She needs shoes.”

I’d told him not to call me by my name in front of Sean so he wouldn’t realise that we’d been speaking to each other. I wanted Sean to think I couldn’t talk. It felt safer that way.

Sean’s face creased with confusion. “Why would she need shoes?”

“Because she’s coming.”

Sean folded his arms across his chest. “The cages are no place for a woman. Unless she’s being sold, of course.”

God, I wanted to kill him.

“She stays here. You’re there to fight in the cage, not every man who looks in her direction.”

I yanked the pale pink hood over my head as if that would give me some anonymity. But really, this was exactly ‌part of my plan. If I were at a public event and seen by someone who recognised me, they might reach out to my family for money in exchange for information on where I was. It was a long shot because few people in Italy even knew my face to my name, but it was worth a try.

“She goes where I go. I don’t leave her alone. Ever. That’s the new agreement,” Monster hissed, stepping closer to Sean.

It was subtle, but I noticed the slight shuffle of his polished shoes inching backwards and his hand pressed against his gun. Sean feared Monster, which was exactly why he had to keep him under control. It was all slotting into place: why I’d been put down here with him.

Sean believed I didn’t speak and therefore knew it was unlikely that I’d trigger Monster’s violence. He wanted us to build a bond so that he could exploit it. Maybe he thought Monster was growing restless or showing signs of rebellion. He knew he was lonely. That the ‌threat over his family’s lives wouldn’t always be enough. He needed Monster to care about something else.

“That’s problematic.” Sean rolled his tongue over his teeth as he held Monster’s gaze. I was still standing slightly behind him, so I had no idea what expression was on Monster’s face, but from Sean’s narrowed glare, it was one he didn’t like. “I’ll tell you what. She can come. But she watches the fight from the screen in the backstage room.”

“No,” Monster snarled, taking another step closer. “I have eyes on her at all times.”

“Don’t forget who the fuck you’re talkin’ to,” Sean said, his cold, calculating eyes turning to frost. Six soldiers stepped into the dungeon, all armed with guns and tasers.

“I know exactly who I’m talkin’ to, which is why I have eyes on her. You want me to fight tonight?” Monster asked, cocking his head and clenching his fists, though his voice remained eerily calm. “Agree. Or drag me away right now, torture me for hours, and throw me in the hole. I don’t give a shite. Just know, you’ll be the one losin’ out.”

Sean ground his jaw. The silence stretched. And then broke into his raucous, fake laughter. “Oh, you’re fun, Monster. I enjoy you immensely. Let her come,” he said, feigning dismissal with a shrug of his shoulders. “I’d like the company of a beautiful woman.”

Monster growled in warning. Sean laughed louder. “Make up your damn mind. She’ll be sittin’ with me in the VIP section if you want her to watch you in all your twisted glory.”

Monster peered over his shoulder, meeting my eyes. I nodded, telling him not to back down. Sean was only trying to provoke him. Reverse psychology at its finest.

“Touch a hair on her head, and nothing will stop me from climbin’ that cage and making you the next victim of my twisted glory.”

Sean chuckled. “My, my. She’s really brought out that fire in you, hasn’t she? And without utterin’ a word? Remarkable.”

“Let’s go,” Monster said, grabbing my wrist and walking us toward the door.

“Well, she can’t go like that,” Sean sighed, pointing at the tracksuit set and socks I was wearing. “Liam, find Megan and tell her to bring me somethin’ acceptable for the princess to wear. And heels.” Sean caught my eye briefly, seeing a glimmer of something I couldn’t hide, and quickly changed his mind. “On second thought, flats will be fine.”

One soldier disappeared out of the door. Another stepped forward with a set of handcuffs and hesitated a little until Monster slowly lifted his hands in front of him and allowed the man to restrain him.

“And for the princess,” Sean smirked. “Just a precaution, sweetheart.”

I held out my wrists and allowed metal to slam around them, locking with a tight pinch. Next came the leash they attached to Monster’s locked chain, which made my blood boil. It was a psychological method of torment and humiliation. They treated him like a dog, reminding him he was nothing more than a pet that had to obey.

“She can change when we get there,” Sean said.