I’m jolted out of my indignant spiral when the Ferris wheel lurches and begins to move.What…
Peering down, I spot Benny Four on the operator’s deck.Maybe he saw me climb up here forever ago and finally decided to check on me.
“I’m fine, Benny Four!”I call down.
No response.
My cabin continues its slow descent.Down…down…until I’m at the bottom.And only then do I understand.
The king is here.Hands in his pockets, radiating heat and quiet threat like always.
On the totem pole of bone-chillingly terrifying men I’ve encountered in my lifetime, Stefano’s at the bottom.But his presence is lethal in a way that feels intrinsic, instinctual.An aura he has no control over.The darkness that clings to him is heavy and baleful.
You don’t need to know him to fear him.You just need tofeelhim.
“Well, well.What a bitter surprise,” he mutters, tone dry.“Lo’s been looking for you.Got my hopes up.Thought maybe you finally granted me my wish and crawled back to whatever pit you came from.”
“Funny.That wasn’t your wish two nights ago.”
He tips his head, side to side.“Eh.I’m fickle like that.Today I like you.Tomorrow, I want to gut you.”
From the operator’s deck, Benny Four coughs out a nervous, gravelly laugh.“Aye.That’s the boss for ya.”
Stefano steps forward, slips his hands from his pockets, and unlatches my cabin before climbing in beside me.His large frame gobbles up the limited space, his heavy heat hitting me like a third limb, wrapping around me in an overpowering hug.Inescapable.
And,of course, he smellsmaddeninglygood.It’s ridiculous that, no matter the place or time, healwayssmells delicious enough to lick.This is a very busy man.He runs a freaking empire.At this hour, he should at least have the decency to be a little musty.
“You don’t think your overgrown self would be more comfortable in a cabin of your own?”I ask, pressing into the cold metal to put any distance between us.“You require a lot of…spatial demand.”
“Or…” He lifts his arms.“You could just sit in my lap.”He waits.And when I don’t move, he arches a brow.“No?Too shy?”
I glance pointedly at his crotch.“Nah.Just worried I’ll hurt the tiny bits behind that zipper.”
He chuckles, low and unbothered, then calls to Benny Four, “To the top.Stall.”
Benny Four nods.
The cabin lurches and slowly circles to the top, then halts to a stop.Leaving us to the midnight-blue blanket of stars spread out before us.
I keep my eyes trained above, giving him nothing.
After a few beats of silence, he says, “So...what, you’re sulking?”
“Your brother is an asshole.”
His answering scoff is crisp.“Were you under the impression he’snice?”
I shift my gaze to him.“Why do I get the feeling you approve of what he pulled today?”
“Probably because I do.”
“Why?”
His broad shoulder brushes mine as he shrugs.“Because I’m an asshole, too?”
“Try again.”
“Maybe I don’t like you hanging around those fuckers,” he forces through clenched teeth, as if the words are splinters in his throat, a struggle to get out.“Maybe I don’t like them touching you.Looking at you.And…and fuckingbreathingon you.”
