Free Ruthless: Mob Boss Book One by Michelle St. James Page A

didn’t lock it. Did they believe she was too scared to make a run for it? Somehow she didn’t think so. She heard Nico’s voice in his apartment.
    Do you think I need a gun to make you do what I want you to do?
    The gun had never been necessary. She understood that now. Luca had used it because it was a show of force she could understand. But he didn’t need it. None of them did.
    She threw her legs over the side of the bed. “Fine.”
    She’d given up her hunger strike. In the face of Dante’s assault the day before, it seemed childish and ineffectual. Nico was right; starving herself wouldn’t change anything. She needed to be smart, keep up her strength in case an opportunity to escape presented itself.
    Luca set the food on the desk and glanced at her. “Clothes fit okay?”
    She nodded. He had brought her two shopping bags full of clothes yesterday, and she’d been surprised to find not only a new blouse, but jeans, a long skirt, two t-shirts, socks, a pair of ballet flats, and even underclothes. She’d felt embarrassed by the bra and panties until she realized some assistant had probably bought them. She couldn’t imagine Luca doing it—even though Luca seemed to be in charge of bringing her things—and she didn’t want to think about Nico choosing the lacy garments with her in mind. It was too personal. Too reminiscent of their moment in his kitchen.
    He couldn’t know how desperate she was to ditch the clothes she’d been wearing when Dante put his hands on her, but was still grateful.
    “I’m glad.” He pulled a book out of his back pocket and handed it to her.
    She looked down at the cover. “To the Lighthouse?”
    He shrugged. “The lady at the bookstore said you can’t go wrong with Virginia Woolf. Nico thought it might help you pass the time.”
    She looked up at him. “Nico knows about this?”
    “He’s the one who suggested it.” Luca stuck his hands in the pocket of his slacks. “He’s not a bad guy, you know.”
    “You care about him,” she said.
    “Love him like a brother. Would take a bullet for him without a second thought.”
    His voice had gone hard, and she had no doubt that he meant every word. What kind of history did the two men share to breed that kind of loyalty? Or was it just a mob thing?
    “It’s kind of hard to see him as a good guy when he’s responsible for the fact that I’ve been locked in this room for the last week,” she finally said.
    He nodded. “I understand. I just want you to know there’s more there than meets the eye.”
    “Why?” she asked. “Why do you care what I think of Nico?”
    “Because he does.” He turned around. “Enjoy your lunch.”
    He closed the door behind him, and this time he locked it.
    She dropped onto the bed, still holding the book in her hands. Nico cared what she thought of him? Hard to believe under the circumstances. He’d been angry when he saw what Dante had done to her—when he’d heard what Dante had almost done. But Nico was keeping her prisoner to further his business interests. If he was angry at Dante, it was only because he had violated orders, not because Nico cared. It would take a lot more than a book and some clothes to make her believe otherwise. This was probably some kind of mind fuck designed to get her to trust them.
    She dug into the Thai food and opened the book, feeling as close to content as she’d come since the day she’d been kidnapped. She ached to talk to her brother, to know what was going on with her father and why he hadn’t given into Nico’s demands—whatever they were. But she had food and a good book. It was enough for now.
    She had just finished eating when the key rattled in the lock. She looked up, her heart picking up its pace. Nico had said Dante wouldn’t be back, but she still felt a jolt of fear when she thought of him.
    A moment later the door opened, and Nico stepped into the room.
    He avoided her gaze as he made his way to the desk. Spinning the chair