Page 32 of Heartless Union

“I don’t understand.”

“Never mind,” she says, sighing as she rolls back onto her side away from me.

Fuck. Lara is confusing. “I say what’s on my mind because I’m confident in things I feel and believe in. I’m honest, Lara. If you can’t accept that, then …” I trail off.

“I get it. You’re honest. But am I not allowed to be honest?”

“Haven’t you already been?” I try for a joke, but Lara moves even farther away from me.

“Good night, Rocco,” she says. After she turns off the light, she pulls the covers up around her head and doesn’t say anything more.

I remain sitting up in the darkness, wondering what the hell just happened.

Why does Lara have to be so confusing?

If she doesn’t start making sense, our marriage won’t be as easy as I once thought it would be.

CHAPTER 8

Lara

Iwake up alone.

I’m both relieved and disappointed by that.

My wedding night didn’t go how I imagined. Even though I knew I would marry young, I still hoped I’d be in love. But I’m not in love with Rocco. Far from it. He’s controlling and bossy and all around unpleasant sometimes.

But then I’ll find myself looking at him, and all I want is for him to kiss me. A true proper first kiss I never got to experience.

I want to love Rocco—I just have no idea how to get past his hard exterior.

As I get out of bed, the door to the suite opens up, startling me. Rocco enters, dressed in a casual suit. I let out a small gasp of surprise. I feel very vulnerable in my nightgown while he’s fully dressed.

His eyes sweep over me, sending a sensation through my body like nothing before. It makes me feel … alive.

“We’re going home,” he tells me.

“Home?”

“Yes.” His tone is impatient. Is he mad at me for not having sex with him last night? “To my house. Your new house. Our wedding is over. It’s time to get back to normal life.”

“And … what is normal life for you?” I ask, wringing my hands together, which only makes his eyes drop to my lower body. I immediately let my hands go.

His eyes flick back up to mine. “Normal life for me is doing business. There’s something you should know going forward. It will probably affect you.”

“What is it?”

“I’m going to be the boss soon enough. Once I get rid of my father.”

It takes me a second to realize what he’s saying. “You’re …”

“I’m going to kill my father, Lara. This information will not leave this room. If I find out someone told my father, I will not be happy with you. And you do not want me angry with you.”

I gulp. I can only imagine. “Why are you telling me this?”

“Because I need to know you’re loyal to me. You are my wife. Not my father’s. You should know about my plan because it will change everything and could affect you.”

“You care that it’ll affect me?”

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