Page 20 of Toxic Things I Love About You

“You wear the ring, and we figure out how to keep that little secret quiet. Deal?”

That ring was huge.

“The ring sort of is anything but discrete,” I said.

His finger lifted my chin.

“You wear the ring that tells everyone in the vicinity you are taken, and I will sit quietly and not tell them that it’s me you belong to.”

With a sigh, I closed my eyes. I was never truly free. Better to trade what little I had to a man that seemed to understand what I needed than to have to make a deal with a devil I didn’t know. Besides, I wasn’t lying. My damn chest ached without him.

“Fine. But only because I know you love me. You’re like my own personal devil.”

The shift of his hips made me moan.

“I love you, Butterfly. I suppose it’s true. But love has nothing to do with wanting to own every bit of you. Starting with your body right now.”

He thrust against me, and I could feel how hard he was already growing inside me. We could deal with drama tomorrow.

SEVEN

roman

“I’ve seenfunerals with more excitement than this little family reunion.”

An older man with gray around the temples and a goatee sat at the opposite end of the conference table.

“Well, I suppose my niece could have had some balloons and more fanfare.”

I stood next to Parks. Neither of us bothered to sit.

“Well, Uncle. I might have had you told me you were out of jail.”

He chuckled and met my gaze before glancing at Parks.

“Nephew, how is it that you allowed her to take over?”

I didn’t bother looking at him and I didn’t have to. Emilee’s tone was clipped as she got up and walked to the other end of the table.

“Gee, Uncle. How is it that you married into the Rossi empire and your wife died conveniently only a few years into your marriage? By accident, I might add.”

His attention was now on her. She paid more attention than anyone gave her credit for. Even I was starting to realize that although she was crazy, she was equally smart.

“That is a fair question, although you won’t find answers from me. It was an arranged marriage, just like you will have.”

He glanced down at her hand, and I smirked as his eyes caught on the giant fuck you.

“Or perhaps you already are? Funny, I got word that you were to marry the younger Demarco brother? Or was that incorrect?”

I couldn’t see her face, but the way she sat on the edge of the table, just close enough to him that she could have whispered as many threats as she wanted.

“Oh, dear uncle, were you keeping tabs on my family?”

Parks shifted next to me. The way the man was leering at Emilee had me shifting closer.

“Call off your dogs, Ms. Rossi.”

She shrugged, and I watched her hand prop herself up on the table.

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