A Deal With The Devil

Valentino’s smirk hadn’t faded, and Antonia knew he was still reveling in the way he had touched her—how he had pulled her into his space, owned the moment, and let Andrew fume on the sidelines.

But she wasn’t here to entertain him.

She was here for Ramona.

Antonia crossed her arms, leveling him with a sharp look. “Killian,” she repeated. “Tell me about him.”

Valentino let out a soft chuckle, shaking his head as he sank back onto the leather couch. He stretched lazily, his gaze flickering up at her, amusement still playing at the edges of his mouth.

“You always get straight to the point,” he mused. “I always liked that about you.”

“Stop stalling,” Andrew snapped.

Valentino’s eyes flicked toward him—disinterested, barely acknowledging his presence. Then, just as quickly, he turned back to Antonia, as if Andrew was nothing more than background noise.

“You want to know about Killian?” he murmured, swirling the whiskey in his glass. “Fine. But first, you should understand something.”

Antonia didn’t respond. She just waited.

Valentino leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “Killian isn’t just some mafia king you can track down and negotiate with. He doesn’t deal. He owns.” His eyes locked onto hers, dark and gleaming. “And when he takes something, mi amor, he doesn’t give it back.”

A cold knot formed in Antonia’s stomach, but she refused to let it show. “Ramona isn’t something. She’s someone. And she’s not his to keep.”

Valentino chuckled, shaking his head like he found her adorable. “See, that’s the problem with you, Angela. You think the world works on rules. You think you can just demand something and people will listen.”

His fingers traced the rim of his glass. “But in our world, possession is law.”

Andrew took a threatening step forward. “Where is she?”

Valentino finally looked at him, tilting his head. “You really are impatient, aren’t you?” He sighed, exhaling slowly before turning back to Antonia. “You’re lucky I like you, mi cielo.”

Antonia’s patience was running thin. “Do you know where he’s keeping her or not?”

Valentino studied her for a long moment. Then, setting his drink aside, he leaned in, voice lowering.

“I know Killian very well,” he admitted. “And if he took your friend, it’s because she’s valuable to him.” His smirk deepened, his fingers tapping against his knee. “And trust me, he doesn’t let go of things he finds valuable.”

The words sent a shiver down Antonia’s spine.

Andrew’s fists clenched. “That’s not an answer.”

Valentino shrugged. “It’s the only answer I have.”

Antonia’s nails dug into her palms. She could feel the weight of his words settling over her, sinking into her bones.

Killian wasn’t just another crime boss. He was something else entirely.

Something worse.

And Ramona…

She was in more danger than they had ever imagined.

Valentino sat back lazily, his dark eyes drinking in Antonia like she was something to be savored. He looked like a man who had already won, even though the game had just begun.

“You know,” he murmured, fingers tapping idly against his glass, “I always wondered if you’d come back to me, Angela.”

Antonia stiffened at the name. A name she really wanted to forget. “Don’t call me that.”

“But it’s the name you gave me,” Valentino smirked. “The first time we met, when you served me that drink at the club. Angela. Pretty little liar, weren’t you?”

Andrew frowned, looking between them. “Wait—what?”

Antonia shot him a look. “Not now.”

Valentino chuckled, eyes gleaming. “See? She knows when to listen.” He leaned forward, elbows on his knees.

“It was one night,” Antonia corrected. “That’s all it was to us.”

Valentino tilted his head, lips twitching. “To you.” His voice was soft, dangerous. “Not to me.”

Antonia swallowed, forcing herself to stay still under the weight of his gaze. “We’re not here to talk about the past.”

“No,” he agreed, swirling his whiskey. “You’re here because you need something. An audience with Killian.” He smiled. “And lucky for you, mi amor, I know exactly where he is.”

Antonia’s pulse kicked up. “Where?”

Valentino smirked. “Now, now… You know it’s never that easy.”

Andrew exhaled sharply, stepping forward. “Enough with the games. Just tell us what you know.”

Valentino barely spared him a glance. Then, in a slow, deliberate movement, he reached for Antonia’s hand, pulling her toward him once again.

Andrew stepped forward again, voice laced with fury. “Let her go—”

Antonia cut him off. “Andrew, stop.”

Valentino grinned, his thumb stroking across the inside of her wrist. “You still don’t know who I am, do you?”

Andrew glared. “I know exactly who you are.”

Valentino’s smirk didn’t fade, but his grip on Antonia’s wrist tightened ever so slightly. “Do you?” His voice was a whisper of amusement, of warning.

Antonia felt Andrew tense beside her, his fury barely restrained. She exhaled, leveling Valentino with a steady look. “Please… don’t hurt him.”

Valentino’s eyes flickered, and for a second, something unreadable passed through them. Then, just as quickly, it was gone, replaced by something dark and amused.

“You’re lucky I like you, baby,” he murmured, his fingers grazing her pulse before finally letting go.

Antonia exhaled, stepping back. “If you want me to help you get to Killian…” Valentino trailed off, tilting his head. “What are you willing to do for me?”

Antonia’s stomach twisted. She knew this was coming. “We are not doing this, Valentino.”

His smile widened. “Then you’re not ready.”

Andrew huffed in frustration. “Let’s go, Antonia. We’d figure this out ourselves.”

But she didn’t move.

Because she knew if they left now, they would never find Ramona.

Antonia looked back at Valentino, her voice quieter this time. “What do you want?”

He chuckled, the sound low and satisfied. “I want you.” His dark eyes locked onto hers. “It has always been you.”

Antonia clenched her fists. “It was one night, Valentino. That’s all it was.”

“To you,” he repeated, voice lower. “Not to me.”

A beat of silence passed between them.

Antonia inhaled deeply, knowing she had no other choice. “How long?”

Andrew ran a frustrated hand through his hair. “I can’t be here and watch you sell yourself to this guy.”

Antonia turned to him, her voice sharp. “Do you want to save Ramona or not? Because I cannot live this life knowing I didn’t try everything to get her back.”

Valentino chuckled. “Smart girl.”

She swallowed. “How long?”

“Don’t worry,” he mused. “I’ll draft up a contract. All I need is your signature.”

Then, before she could react, Valentino stood and walked toward her, his steps slow, deliberate. When he reached her, he tilted her chin up with a single finger, forcing her to meet his gaze.

His voice dipped into something softer, something that almost sounded like a promise. “I’ll be in contact with you on Killian.” A smirk. “I still have your number, though… that is, if you even gave me the right one.”

Antonia’s lips pressed into a thin line. “I gave you the wrong one because I didn’t want you to call.”

Valentino chuckled. “Like I said… smart girl.”

Then his smirk deepened, dark amusement flickering in his gaze. “But don’t worry. I know where you live.” His voice dropped lower. “I’ve been following you. You just didn’t know.”

Antonia exhaled, refusing to let her expression crack. “Trust me, a man like you? If you said otherwise, I wouldn’t believe it.”

And then—before she could react—he leaned in and pressed a quick, possessive kiss against her lips.

It was brief. Just a taste.

But the weight of it lingered, the heat of his breath still on her skin as he whispered against her lips, “I’ll be in contact, honey.”

Then, just as suddenly, he pulled away and sank back into his seat, his gaze unreadable.

“Now,” he said, his tone shifting back to its usual smooth arrogance. “You can leave.”

But before they turned away, his gaze locked onto Antonia’s one last time. This time, there was no smirk. No teasing amusement.

Just raw obsession.

Antonia swallowed hard, then finally turned and walked out, her pulse thundering in her ears.

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hello guys, I hope you guys are enjoying the story so far. So I’ll cut the chase, I plan on always rewarding my readers with one free chapter, after maybe 4 to 5 paid chapters so please support me, your support will go along way thank you very much.