Page 93 of The Billionaire's Pact

He nodded. “They’re waiting for me, and I need to have it all wrapped up before the premiere. I’ll have to meet you there, but I don’t want to leave you upset.”

I could see the anger and frustration on his face. His concern filled me with gratitude. But I also knew how important this movie was to him. “Thank you, Rocco. Go on. I’ll see you soon.”

He hugged me, and I squeezed his waist before letting go. When he leaned in to kiss me, I held out my cheek.

“Are we okay?” He frowned. Rocco was affectionate, and I didn’t want him to stop being that way with me. I loved the extra cuddles and caresses he gave me all the time, but he seemed to have forgotten something.

I wrinkled my nose. “I vomited twice. Remember?”

His eyes widened as he recalled, then he relaxed, his shoulders dropping. Still, he eyed me speculatively. “Hmm. Maybe I should have a doctor check you over.”

I groaned and pushed his chest. “Go. A massage will relax me more than medicine. Okay? I’ve done talk therapy but it didn’t change how I feel about him. I really hate him.”

The anger well inside me was deep. At the core of it, I wished I’d hurt Judge Colby more.

“I know things, Adelina, but I’d prefer you talk to me about your past.”

I tensed and touched my lurching stomach. It wasn’t a surprise that Rocco may know that I’d hurt my father. The fact that he hadn’t confronted me with it made me appreciate him more. But did it make him nervous?

“It’s my job to make sure you’re safe and happy. All right?” Rocco said. The sincerity in his face warmed my chest.

“Thank you,” I whispered.

He kissed both my cheeks and left with Rick. It was only then that I realized I didn’t get a chance to talk to him about Marjorie.

I wasn’t wrong to trust Rocco, was I? He’d been so thoroughly angered by the truth about Judge Colby being withheld. Angry on my behalf. Was that friendship or genuine care for me? It was just so confusing, but I had to try and trust him. Cassidy was right, after all. I had held myself back from many friendships because I’d struggled to trust people. You have to let this Marjorie concern go. Rocco had said he’d be faithful to me, and I didn’t have any reason at this point not to trust him.

So, after taking a deep breath to calm myself, I went to the bathroom upstairs, which had everything I needed already stocked.

As I cleaned up, I tried to come up with a plan on how to talk about Judge Colby’s release with Mama. He’d been a menacing presence that had tainted our every day when he was in our lives. We had both done everything her parents had asked, but they hadn’t kept their word. And now Judge Colby was free to hurt someone else, or even us. She had to know.

I sat on the bed and called my grandfather first. He answered almost right away.

“Hello, Adelina,” he said politely when he answered.

“Hello, Mr. Belfiore,” I said, my tone clipped. “We need to talk.”

He sighed. “What is it now?”

“What do you mean by that?” I snapped.

“You called me, and from the tenor of your voice, you’re being rude. Did something happen with Rocco?”

My heart ached. He was more concerned about Rocco than me. “Is that all you care about? Rocco?”

“I’m asking about Rocco because you’re with him and now calling home. You’ll first adjust your tone, and then tell me what you’re upset about respectfully.”

For the last eight years I’d had to walk on eggshells. I could never express my anger, but the situation with my father had me at my end and I couldn’t reel in my feelings. “I just found out from the press that Judge Colby is out of jail.” My voice was laced with accusation and anger. But I braced myself for my grandfather’s usual aloof disinterest.

“I see,” he finally said in an even tone. “And what do you want?”

I clenched my jaw. “You see? What do I want? Is that all you have to say?”

“Jail is not forever,” he quipped and scoffed down the line.

“Not forever?” I repeated, raising my voice. “You lied and said he’d be charged for his crimes—”

“I told you I’d keep you out of jail for attacking him, which I did. If you keep speaking offensively to me, I’ll end this call.”

---