Page 168 of Forced Vows

For a month.

I don't get my ideas for retribution from a stranger. Neither did my dad.

"Okay, I'll be there."

"See you soon, and Róise…"

"What?"

"Don't wear too much pink."

Suddenly, I feel an urgent need to wear the pinkest outfit in my closet.

Chapter 58: MICELI

On my way to the helipad, I call Giovanna and fire her. Not just as our PR rep, but from the company.

I don't know what kind of games she's playing, but they stop now.

She's still squawking when I hang up and call her boss. I explain the situation in a few short sentences. Primarily that if she doesn't fix what Giovanna fucked up and get the interview moved out an hour, heads will roll.

Being a member of la famiglia, she knows I'm not using a euphemism.

I'm waiting with the helicopter when Róise arrives. If I had gone to the mansion, we would not have made it out of her bedroom for at least twenty-four hours.

The wind ruffles her shiny brown curls, the sun glinting off the natural red highlights. Her gorgeous body is encased in a 1950s inspired taffeta dress. Pink of course. A matching bow is holding her chin length curls back from her face.

I smile. She scowls in return and fuck do I want to kiss that frown right off her lips. I wanted her to wear pink, because she is everything I think of when I see the color.

Innocent. Hopeful. Emotional. Her youth isn't something that bothers me now because this woman will keep me feeling young for the rest of our lives.

But if I asked her to wear pink, she would've worn black.

Her contrariness and resistance to authority is only one of the many reasons she is so vital to me.

Unwilling to wait for her to come to me, I stride across the helipad and pull her right into my arms, laying a kiss on those luscious lips that lasts until the rotor blades start whirring.

"That's our cue. Come on, Aphrodite, lets get you inside before the wind from the rotors sends your skirts over your head."

"You wish."

I really do, but I lift her into the helicopter before that can happen.

Once we are inside, she tries to sit on the bench across from me. Not happening.

I pick her up and put her down next to me. "I prefer to face forward when flying."

She opens her mouth to say something. Argue probably. But it just hangs open as Allessio climbs into the helicopter carrying Pusheen's pink cat carrier.

He buckles it in the seat between him and Zoey and the soldier-in-training closes the door.

"What is my cat doing here?"

"Pusheen is part of our family. Naturally, we'll want her in some of the pictures."

"What if she doesn't like to fly?" Róise asks worriedly, squinting to see Pusheen inside the carrier.

The cat is cuddled up with one of her catnip toys.

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