Page 34 of Forced Arrangement

“Honey, I think you have to remember that she was not much older than you are now when she took you and ran. She must've been scared out of her mind and alone. If she went through all of that, she must've had good reason. Your mother loved you and never would've done anything to intentionally hurt you. You know that, right?”

I nod, and she takes my hand in hers.

“Whatever’s going on, we’ll deal with it together. Got it?”

I nodded, grateful for her unwavering support. “Got it.”

She gives me a reassuring smile, then glances around the room again. “Now, if you don’t mind, I’m going to take a long, hot bath, during which I may or may not be thinking about a certain made man.”

“Oh, my goodness Justine.”

She rolls her eyes and goes right on talking.

“And then I’ll settle in. Maybe have a drink or three.”

I laughed, feeling some of the tension ease. “Sounds like a plan. I’ll leave you to it.”

Justine pulls me into another quick hug before heading to the bedroom. I watch her go, a small part of me wishing I could stay here with her, away from the chaos that awaits me back at the penthouse.

But I can’t. I have to go back, and I have to face whatever is waiting for me there.

***

When I return to the penthouse, the atmosphere has shifted, the air thick with tension. I barely have time to process the change, before Angelo appears in the doorway, his eyes wild. My stomach does a flip.

“Where on earth have you been?” he demands, his voice low and dangerous.

I blink, taken aback by the intensity in his tone. “I was taking Justine to her place. What’s…”

“Everyone, out,” Angelo barks, his voice cutting through the air like a whip. The few men who are in the room scatter.

I don’t have time to react before Angelo crosses the room in a few quick strides, grabbing me by the arms and pulling me close. His lips crash down on mine with a ferocity that leaves me breathless, his grip bruising as he kisses me hard.

I gasp against his mouth, my mind reeling from the sudden onslaught of emotions—anger, fear, desire, all tangled together in a chaotic mess. I try to push him away, but his hold on me is unyielding, his body pressing against mine, demanding.

When he finally pulls back, we are both breathing hard, our foreheads pressed together as he holds me close, his hands still gripping my arms.

“Don’t you ever do that again,” he growls, his voice rough with anger. “Do you have any idea what could have happened to you?”

I stare up at him, my heart pounding in my chest. “I’m not your prisoner, Angelo. I can take care of myself.”

“Not when Costa is out there, waiting for an opportunity to strike,” he snaps, his eyes blazing with fury. “You don’t get it, Sophia. You’re not safe out there. Not without me.”

I glare back at him, refusing to back down. “I’m not some damsel in distress, Angelo. I’m not going to sit around and let you control my every move.”

“You don’t have a choice,” he shoots back, his grip tightening. “You’re in my world now, and in my world, there are rules. Rules that keep you alive.”

“Is that what this is about?” I demand, my voice rising. “Keeping me alive so you can control me?”

“No,” he says, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. “It’s about keeping you alive because I can’t lose you.”

The words hang between us, heavy and raw, and for a moment, the anger between us shifts into something else—something darker, more primal.

His eyes lock onto mine, and I see the storm of emotions swirling there—fear, desire, possessiveness. I know what is coming before it even happens, and I brace myself for the impact.

With a low growl, Angelo’s lips find mine again, his hands roaming over my body with a desperation that matches the fireburning inside me. I can’t think, can’t breathe—there’s only him, his touch, his taste, the way he consumes me completely.

He backs me up against the wall, his mouth never leaving mine as he tears at my clothes, his hands rough and demanding, groping and squeezing. I meet his intensity with my own, my fingers clawing at his shirt, desperate to feel his skin against mine.

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