Page 27 of Ruthless Touch

“Get back to me the moment you know something. I need dirt on Marcello. Dirt I can use. The nastier the better.”

“So no cheating wife bullshit? We’re talking hardcore here?” the private investigator asks with a wicked grin.

“Yeah. Hardcore and fast. As always, you get me what I want and I’ll take care of you, Cesare.”

That’s all he needs. He stands from the chair with a groan and extends his enormous hand to shake mine before he leaves.

“I’ll let you know as soon as I find anything.”

“Good. I’ll be waiting.”

As he makes his way to the door, he turns back toward me and smiles. “You know, you have the most beautiful desk clerks of any hotel on the coast. Did you know that?”

“Yes, and make sure you keep your hands off them.”

My warning makes him throw his head back as he lets out a big belly laugh. “Bad Cesare. I’ll make sure to be a good boy whenever I come to see you. Promise.”

He closes my office door, and I can’t help but feel exhausted after dealing with him. Talking to most people takes it out of me, but Cesare Bellucci makes me need a fucking nap after our conversations.

I could go upstairs and do just that. Then again, that would mean I’d need to see Aria. That can’t happen. Not yet, anyway.

CHAPTER TEN

Aria

Ten hours. For ten long hours, I’ve waited for him to return to this penthouse. After eight, I began wondering if he ever intended on coming home again.

He’s avoiding me. I don’t understand what happened yesterday, and when he got back here last night, he wouldn’t speak a word to me.

This silent treatment nonsense is ending today. When he walks through that door, I’m going to get him to talk to me or the two of us are going to spend a very bad night together.

It’s his choice.

The sound of the front door opening alerts me he’s back, and I hear him having a pleasant conversation with Raphael. Good to know he can do that with someone. Just not me.

But that’s going to change right now.

Our eyes meet as the door closes behind him, and I swear I see something in his expression that makes me think he’s dreaded this moment for hours. What is so terrible about having to talk to me?

“Gideon, we need to speak about what happened. Actually, we need to speak about whatever we’re doing here, but we can start with what happened in the gallery.”

He sighs, and I think I see a hint of a nod, so my spirits soar. We’re actually going to have a discussion!

But then he quickly turns to make his way toward the bedroom, dashing my hopes. That’s not going to dissuade me this time, though. I’m not so easily put off tonight. He has no idea how many times I’ve practiced what I want to say today as I sat here alone as usual in his penthouse.

I follow him, fully intending on starting this conversation whether he likes it or not. He’s undressing out of his work clothes, so I wait until he’s only wearing his shirt and pants to begin.

“Gideon, you can’t keep ignoring me. I’ve let it go on long enough, but I’m done. If you don’t talk to me, then I’ll talk to you and I’ll keep doing it until you finally can’t take it anymore and you have to say something.”

My early attempt at an ultimatum seems to fall on deaf ears as he doesn’t even look at me when I finish to acknowledge what I just said. This man must be a master at hearing only what he wants to hear. No doubt Sasha is partly to blame for this too. She’s probably been filling his head with ideas about how he doesn’t have to speak to me because I don’t deserve it.

I’m only the woman he keeps prisoner in this penthouse. Why would I deserve the decency of a conversation?

After giving him a few moments to respond, I launch into what I’ve practiced all day.

“Fine. I’ll go first. I don’t know what happened yesterday, but for the record, I’d like to say I was having a very nice time. Now maybe you’re used to controlling things during sex. I can appreciate that. It’s not like I’d know that going into yesterday’s time together. I mean, we were together that first time, but who knows? But assuming this is a control thing, I just want to say that if that’s the way you are, all you need to do is let me know. I don’t need to be the one holding the reins. I’m fine with going along for the ride.”

The words tumble out of my mouth as if they’ve been waiting for hours to hit the air, which I guess they have. Thankful to at least have said that much without him bolting, I smile at him and patiently wait for something to come back at me.

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