MIDNIGHT Bride The CEO's TEMPTATION

"I'll tell my parents you're my girlfriend." Andrew smiled and ruffled her hair.

Elisa's heart beat hard.

"But Savannah said that your parents are very strict about your relationships. Your girlfriend must be a rich lady who has a good family ground, just like Savannah. But I... I'm just an ordinary girl. Your family might look down on me. They might not approve of me as your girlfriend," her voice trailed off into silence.

"I'm sure my family will like you," Andrew pulled up a wisp of her silken chestnut hair and laid a kiss on it before he continued, "come on, you're not bad. Your father's a famous archaeologist in Milan, and you're a graduate of a good college. Be a little more confident, okay?"

Elisa took a deep breath and nodded.

"Well, then, let's go to bed." He took her hand and led her into one of the two bedrooms.

"Good night," he said softly and turned to leave.

"Andrew…" Elisa blurted out as she grasped his cuff. She wanted to hug him and give him a goodnight kiss. She wanted to feel his mouth on her. But she hesitated with bashfulness.

She teased herself inwardly. The man whom she had dreamed of for four years was standing in front of her. Why didn't she dare to kiss him?

Andrew noticed the complicated expression on her charming face and guessed what she was thinking. After a moment of silence, he chucked and held her tightly against his chest, clasping her to him, while the fingers of his other hand softly traced her face, gently probing, examining her. His thumb brushed her lower lip, and to her surprise, he bent and planted a gentle kiss on her lips.

Elisa didn't push him away. At first, it was only a light and gentle kiss, but slowly, she gave his tongue an opening, and he deepened the kiss.

Her tongue tentatively stroked his and joined his in a slow erotic dance that was all about touch and sensation.

His breathing was harsh, and she'd stopped breathing.

He finally let go of her.

He was afraid he would lose control if he continued.

Elisa was paralyzed with a strange, unfamiliar feeling, completely captivated by him. Adrenaline had spiked through her body, leaving her wired and soft.

Andrew looked down at her, his gaze hooded, his eyes darkening.

He wanted to have her now, but he knew it was a little too fast for the shy girl, and he didn't want to force her.

Anyway, there would be a time for that.

***

The police station, Milan.

Dylan was sitting on the couch in the deputy police chief's office with a dark face. He stared stonily at the door, tightly wringing the hands. The hard-line of his handsome face betrayed his agitation.

An hour ago, the deputy police chief, knowing that he came late at night looking for someone, came in person to handle the urgent case.

Unfortunately, there were no surveillance cameras everywhere on the streets, or he could find out her whereabouts quickly.

Now he only knew Savannah left the school and took a taxi away and took Andrew to a bar, but there was no monitoring at the bar where Ann worked.

The police had to check it by sending more people.

Finally, the footsteps came, and a middle-aged man with blond hair and a bulging belly, dressed in an Italian police uniform, pushed the door in.

The badge on his shoulder showed he was the deputy police chief, the owner of this office.

The deputy chief, after keeping himself busy all night, said respectfully to the man on the sofa without catching his breath, "Mr. Sterling, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."

"Get to the point." Dylan frowned.

The deputy chief's face slightly darkened. The man in front of him was from a powerful family in the US and had invested a lot in Europe. The city government had asked them to show hospitality to him, otherwise, he would not have to be so humble as the deputy chief.

He held his temper and reported to the man, "We haven't located Miss Schultz yet. She had met someone in a bar before she disappeared, and we guess she was taken away at the entrance of the bar..."

"Is that all you've found out after investigating all night? Is that what your Italian police can do? Why should I go to you if that's all you have?" Dylan said coldly, ignoring the deputy chief's face as if he were reprimanding a subordinate.

"Don't worry, Mr. Sterling," said the deputy chief, forcing an ingratiating smile. "I have people investigated near the bar..."

Just then, a young policeman knocked at the door and broke the ice. He came in a hurry, whispering something in the deputy chief's ear.

The deputy police chief's face changed slightly.

"Tell me what did you find out," Dylan said, with cold composure.

"We got some clues... According to a peddler, a black van had been parking outside the bar. However, the van disappeared after Miss Schultz disappeared. We suspect that the man in the van took Miss Schultz away," the policeman said.

"Go ahead and find the owner of the van!" Dylan's voice was quiet but rougher.

"It's been checked...We suspect that..."

"What is it?" Dylan frowned.

"It's owned by the local Mafia."

Dylan's face sank. Was Savannah taken away by the Mafia?

How could she get in trouble with the Mafia?

The Mafia was the biggest gang in Italy, but they would not prey on ordinary people for no apparent reason. But he had scarce time to think.

"What's the use of looking at me when you know who took her away? Go find her!" Dylan snapped.

"There're so many alleged members of the Mafia in the city that it's impossible to know who has taken her away, and we couldn't find out where they keep Miss Schultz so soon. What if we rush to their gathering spot and they don't admit it?" The deputy chief said with a sad face.

After a long silence, Dylan said tonelessly,

"Give me the contact information of the local Mafia bosses."