Page 79 of Sin & Sapphire

Valentin watched us through hooded eyes, his hard-on visible through his pants.

I finished just in time for takeoff, turning away from the men and closing my eyes to avoid the intensity of their stares.

Angelo reached over and tangled his fingers in mine, holding on to me, comforting me. “We have a change of clothes for you,” he murmured as he dozed off. “Can’t have my future wife showing up in Yorkfield looking like a transient beggar.”

Wait.

What?

30

LUCA

I waitedon the tarmac of Yorkfield’s airport, my foot tapping impatiently in the summer heat, wishing I’d dressed more casually and wanting to greet Ana looking like a fucking king.

I wanted to beherking.

I wanted to drop down on my knees and beg her to come home with me.

The door opened, and Angelo Costa strode down the stairs. He cocked a salt-and-pepper eyebrow when he saw me waiting in front of the motorcade. His lips stretched into a predatory smile that didn’t meet his eyes as he walked down the stairs to exit the plane.

A woman followed him, her shoulders hunched, brown hair covering her face. She reached delicate fingers up to push the mass of hair out of her eyes, and—holy shit. Ana.

I rushed forward, only for Costa to block my path with his hand stretched out in greeting. My eyes followed my woman as his lover hustled her toward an SUV.

“So kind of you to greet us,” Costa said, noting the path of my gaze.

“I’m not here to meet you,” I snarled, uncaring that I was giving them a weapon to use against me when I admitted that I wanted Ana. I should have stood up for her the last time, and now, seeing the bruises on her wrists, watching her look up at Rochefort for permission, I barely recognized the vibrant, strong, woman I’d known before.

“Do you think she’ll be impressed?” Costa mused. “Does your father know you’re here? Will he welcome a Costa into his home?”

Hopefully yes, hopefully no, and absolutely not.

“Ana!” I shouted, and she looked over her shoulder at me, her sunglasses hiding her expression. Even without them, I wouldn’t have known what she was thinking. She was too well trained, too good at her role to give away a single thought when she didn’t want to.

Ana looked up at Rochefort and placed her elegant fingers on his chest. They spoke quietly, and he nodded. She spun around and strode to where I stood.

“Luca,” she said with a soft smile, and leaned in so we could kiss each other’s cheeks. “What are you doing here?” I breathed in her scent as our cheeks pressed together, longing to take her into my arms.

Angelo reached around her waist and pulled her away from me, growling his possession. She didn’t lean into him, but she didn’t fight him either.

“I came to?—”

Ana gazed at me for a long moment. Too long. I felt foolish. A faint flush spread across my cheeks.

Her lips curved into a smile, and she pushed her sunglasses up over her hair, revealing bright green eyes that a man could drown in. That I wanted to drown in. I had before.

“You came to greet us?” She tilted her head as if puzzling out my behavior. “Costas?”

“Ana,” I rasped, stepping toward her. “Where have you been?”

Her eyes turned cold, and her posture straightened. “None of your fucking business.”

My heart shattered, reminding me of all the ways I’d fucked up, and all the reasons she was right to push me away.

I’d fucked up when I let her go.

I’d fucked up by not following her across the Atlantic and hauling her back to me.

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