Page 78 of Heart of a Villain

He gestured. “Come in.”

She crossed the threshold, removed the coat, and extended it toward him. When she released it from her fingers, he watched it tumble to the floor. They aimed to reduce him to the subservient role, but that she was alone with him meant she wasn’t aware of how much he wished he could end her life.

“Pick that up,” she said.

He closed the door. “What do you want, Alessandra?”

“I talked to my father. He told me that you two were discussing Juliana.”

“Yes. And?”

“You want her back.”

“Yes…and?”

“You like her cooking that much?”

“I had a plan,” he lied. “She was going to cook the main dishes for our wedding. I’d also hoped she would bake our cake. It makes no sense why she would leave as suddenly as she did. Princesa, she was the most talented chef both your father and I have come across in years. I wanted the best for you.”

“There are others.”

He leaned against the nearest patch of bare wall. “I’m aware.”

“It’s your brother, you know. He broke into her apartment. Drugged her. Did something so unspeakable, the word should never leave a lady’s mouth.”

“And that’s why she ran?”

“Yes, and I helped her.” She dipped her chin with a firm nod. “As long as that maniac brother of yours is still around, I won’t let her come back here.”

“You know where she is?” he asked, struggling to keep the sheer excitement out of his voice.

“I helped her get out. I would have asked you to help, but I wasn’t sure if you were completely loyal to Rafael.”

“So, you do know where she is?”

“I just told you that. She’s in Sweden.”

“Who did she go to see in Sweden?”

“Her sister and brother-in-law. I think she said her sister’s a teacher, and her brother-in-law is in Finance.”

“Let’s go to her,” he insisted. “See if she’ll agree to cook for our wedding ceremony this one last time.”

Alessandra’s eyes opened wide. “Wedding?”

“Am I wrong?” he asked, frowning. “I was under the impression that the entire ceremony was for show. That we were on the same page. I want to marry you, Alessandra.”

Those lashes of hers flapped like a bird caught in electrical wire, which made his longing for Acoisa more profound. Thinking of a bird being electrocuted was causing his cock to stiffen. Electricity would burn her skin so beautifully.

Alessandra nodded. “Fine. In the morning, we’ll notify my father.”

“Say nothing to him.”

“You expect us to go to another country without him knowing?”

“Imagine his surprise when we bring her back to cook for our wedding,” he proposed. “He’s told many people, on several occasions, that I’m the one he’s hoped for, for you. Imagine his surprise.”

It took her a moment to consider his point, but he would kill her and hide her at his place after getting the information if he had to. Acoisa had been burned into his nervous system, a ripe obsession. Outside of Chamas business, he’d never had a reason to kill, but he could picture it now, holding her life in his hands.

---