Angelica hurries to her. “So beautiful!” she exclaims.

Angelica is right. Carina is gorgeous. But the prettiest part of her is the cream pie I left between her thighs. She may have cleaned up in the powder room, but she couldn’t get rid of all of me. I’m inside her. She’s marked with my cum, my scent. That thought gives me a smug satisfaction of my own.

The boys in the room all try to draw themselves up taller as they elbow to get closer to her. Angelica starts introductions as I watch each and every interaction.

Carina smiles for them, says a few nice things, does her little song and dance–but I know the truth. She does, too. None of these little boys can satisfy her. Not a single one can give her what she needs. A man has to do that. Not just any man. Me. Still, she toys with them, allowing them to think they made her smile or laugh. But it doesn’t reach her eyes. In fact, the only real emotion I feel from her is when she looks at me–and what I sense then is … hunger. My little brat wants more of what I gave her in the powder room.

“Brooding much?” Antonio pours himself a drink as the last of the twats introduces themselves.

“I’m not brooding. Just watching.”

Antonio grabs his glass and tilts his chin toward one of the boys. “I’d say Falco has the edge. His family is just coming off that dispute with the Allegris. They cleaned up.”

I nod. “I saw the photos. There isn’t a single Allegri left in this city.”

“All their holdings are in Falco pockets now. They’re by no means on a footing to rival us, but it’s a nice little kingdom, and Carson Falco could be easily ruled by Carina. She could run that family in her sleep. And when the time’s right–”

“Add their holdings to our holdings,” I finish for him.

“Precisely.”

Ire rises in my gut. Antonio should be protecting her, not sizing up who would bring money to the family. Then again, this is what Carina chose. She wanted these pricks fawning over her and making offers.

I grind my teeth.

“You all right?” he asks.

“Yes,” I snap.

He purses his lips. “You’ve been off. What’s going on with you?”

“Nothing.” I squeeze my glass tightly as Falco leans in and whispers something to my Carina.

Antonio sighs. “And I thought it was hard to get information from Butcher. You’re turning out to be worse than him.”

Butcher snorts from where he’s clearly been listening.

Antonio steps forward, his voice booming over the room. “Everyone sit. Dinner is ready.”

Carina walks around the table, sashaying past me and teasing me with her scent as she heads for the seat to Antonio’s left.