My breathing came in rough spasms as I coughed repeatedly. I slapped my palm on my chest repeatedly.
Ricci's eyes were dark, and his arms remained folded across his chest as he glared at me.
My eyes widened. How would I get out of this mess? What did he even know? How much had he overheard?
"I have no idea what you're talking about," my voice came out raspy.
An evil smirk spread across his cheek. "Don't play dumb with me, Rose!"
At this point, I felt like my world was quickly turning black. Who was this guy, and why had Luca left him in charge of me? Was this some kind of trick? Was this some kind of investigation?
"Excuse me? Who is Rose?" I snapped, letting anger take over me. "How dare you even enter my room without my permission?"
He smirked, reclining against the door. "Drop the act and speak. Who are you?"
My heart was racing frantically, but I painstakingly maintained a calm expression. "I believe you must be hearing things. I guess it happens to some people. Don't you think?"
His eyes grew dark as he suddenly began to take predatory steps towards my bed. "You can either tell me the truth now or tell the don himself when he returns. And trust me, that's much worse. You don't want to know how long I've been monitoring you. Do you think I haven't notice the subtle exchanges between you and that servant?"
"Ricci, leave my room. I don't know what you're talking about. If you don't leave this instant, I promise you that you'll regret it!" My eyes were equally darkened and narrowed at him.
My heart skipped beat as he stopped at the foot of the bed. He took out his phone and began to play a recording.
My heart drummed against my chest as I heard my conversation with Trevor in the closet. Clearly, Ricci had been eavesdropping.
Cold sweat broke out across my brows, but I retained my calm demeanour. "You can't prove that that was me."
He chuckled darkly. "Oh really? Do you think you're the only one who knows how to eavesdrop and tell-tale?"
My breathing grew laboured. "What?"
"Oh, you think I don't know about you reporting me to Luca that I am a mole. Trust me, I'm not stupid. Why do you think I'm even here? Why do you think I'm not dead? Listen, Luca knows there's a mole, and he knows that it's either you or me. But it's not me, and with this evidence, it'll prove that it's you."
Now, it made sense why he had suddenly appeared at my door as my new bodyguard. Luca had set us both up.
My heart was hammering at this point. I glared at him. "But you are the mole. I'm not blind. I saw you negotiate with Ivanov's men!"
His smirk darkened even more. "Prove it!"
I cursed mentally. What a damned trap! There was no way my mission could end this way. I had to get myself out of this.
Staring into his eyes, I could tell that he wasn't going to let me off the hook that easily. He also wasn't going to report me to Luca immediately. The greed in his eyes glared brightly. Obviously, he wasn't looking out for Luca either. He was working with the Russians, after all.
Lowering my gaze, I sighed, feigning surrender. "Fine. What do you want?"
I heard him release a dark laughter. "What do you think you can give me? You aren't worth anything!"
I stared up at him, my eyes pleading. He was standing in front of me now, and his silhouette over me shielded me from the view of the camera behind him.
My thoughts were calculated and fast as I slowly undid the knot amount the rope holding my dress.
This was stupid, but it could either work or it couldn't. I had never thought myself to be irresistible, but I had to be right now. I didn't think any sane, fleshly man would be able to resist a woman. Besides, in Trevor's words, I had to do what I must.
I could barely hear anything aside from the drumming of my heart as I let the robe fall, maintaining eye contact with Ricci.
His face remained hardened, but I could swear I saw a bone tick in his jaw.
"What do you think you're doing? You're my Don's wife!"
I let my lips and offered him the most charming smile. "You and I know you're not looking out for your Don. We both know he doesn't even deserve me. Why can't you have me as well?"
The struggle in his face was unmissable as he stepped backwards slightly. The lust in his eyes was unmasked now.
"Are you just going to stand there and stare at what you could have?" I pressed on, shrugging my shoulders to let the robe fall off. I felt exposed in my undergarments, but if it was the price I had to pay for my freedom, I was more than willing to.
I heard him spew a long string of curses before growling, "There's a camera in your room. I can't do anything now." He cursed again. "Tomorrow night. Get dressed like you're going for dinner. Don't try anything stupid!"
As he turned to leave, I hurriedly pulled on my dress. My mind was a mess as I headed to the closet and paced to and fro. I had to get the recording he had made of me and Trevor. I also had to somehow get evidence against him to turn the spotlight back on him.
And the rest of the night, I didn't get a wink of sleep. My eyes remained wide open as I drew up plans upon plans of getting myself out of Ricci's trap.
Either way, one of us had to pay for the treachery of both of us, and it was definitely not going to be me. I hadn't come so far to be used as a scapegoat!
The next night soon came, and I was fully ready. Dressed in a casual evening dress, I made sure to perfume my body and take my time, making myself irresistible.
As the door opened, I flashed Ricci the realest fake smile ever.
He was not going to have the last laugh—that I could guarantee, even if it meant letting him be the first person to touch me!