Page 13 of Dark Promise

Roberto clears his throat. “It’s been a while. I don’t totally remember every word.”

“Then paraphrase it for me.” I flick my gaze to his, holding it. “Did you meet him in his office on the main floor at the estate, overlooking the front gardens? The one with all the bookcases?”

“Uh…yeah,” Rob says, nodding. “Yeah. In the office. It’s an impressive space. So many books…I sat across from his desk. He shook my hand. I explained to him that we’d been dating, and that we were…uh…that we like each other…” He clears his throat again, like the words are caught in his vocal cords. It hits me then that he’s never really told me he loves me. Not even when he proposed. I wait, saying nothing, and he continues. “…and how I saw a future together. That I wanted to show him the respect he deserved by stating my intentions. He heard me out and”—he shrugs—“he said that I would make a very good husband for you.”

I smile and touch his arm. “I can’t believe we haven’t talked about this before now.”

“I didn’t want to remind you of…what happened.”

“No. Of course not.”

“Is this…” Rob begins, his voice uneasy as he takes in my expression. I can only imagine how murderous I must look. “Is this about the wedding?”

“Absolutely.” The wedding that will never happen.

He nods, but still eyes me warily. “I know we haven’t discussed the possibility of a pre-nup agreement…”

My eyebrows rise. “A pre-nup?”

As if he has any assets to protect. Does he really think I didn’t have his financial status thoroughly examined? Does he really think I don’t know exactly what he is—or isn’t—worth?

It hits me then. Yes, he really thinks that. I have allowed him to see the Sabina he wanted to see, one who defers to him, who acts the part he wants me to act. No wonder Nadia is so concerned.

“Yeah…so, about that pre-nup… I don’t think one is necessary,” he says. “A complication that neither of us wants or needs. We have a connection, you and me, Sabina. One that won’t be broken. Until death do us part.”

Nadia’s the one who claims to be psychic, but I don’t need any special gifts to read Roberto’s mind. No pre-nup? It’s difficult to hide the disgust rolling through me. I’d been blinded by believing—or wanting to believe—that it was my father’s last wish for me to marry Roberto. A safe banker who doesn’t put his life on the line daily, who won’t get shot or stabbed. A safebanker who lies smoother than silk. I’m embarrassed that it’s taken me this long to acknowledge it for myself.

“If we were going to marry,” I say, “therewouldbe a pre-nup. A very tight one to protectmyassets—”

“I—”

He tries to cut me off, but I talk over him, saying, “But, you’re right. There is no need for a pre-nup. Because I am putting an end to this. Tonight.”

He blinks. “Excuse me?”

“I’m ending our engagement. And our relationship. Here…” I take the ring off my finger and hand it to him. He stares down at the two-carat ring in the palm of his hand and says nothing.

I choose not to share that I’d had it appraised for insurance purposes and found it to be a cubic zirconia worth about fifty dollars. The band is gold-plated. To be honest, it hadn’t bothered me. It’s still a pretty ring. At first glance, no one would ever know the difference. It was the thought that counted to me.

“Why?” he finally says, his voice choked.

“Papa didn’t like bringing business home with him. He didn’t have an office on the main floor. Leo added one after my father died. And it isn’t at the front of the house, it’s at the back,” I tell him. “The only bookcases in the house are in the library. So. You didn’t meet with him. You made that up to get me to say yes. Because…” I hold up my index finger to stop him from trying to cut in. “And I’m guessing here…because you’re broke. Maybe even deeply in debt from school, gambling. Whatever.” Which would make the purchase of a fake ring make a lot of sense. “You came home with me that Christmas and saw my family’s wealth. Then my father was murdered and you jumped on the opportunity that presented. And I almost went along with it, but…” My words trail away as I remember what Nadia said about passion, and unbidden the memory of that Halloween kiss flitsthrough my thoughts. I push it away and say, “I’m just not in love with you.”

I feel no emotion. No passion. No regret. I’m simply stating a fact. I feel distant from this conversation. It’s already over for me and I feel nothing but…a sense of relief.

Roberto continues to stare down at the ring in his hand and then he raises his gaze to mine. I don’t see pain there; I see outrage. And maybe a flicker of panic.

“You fucking bitch,” he snarls. “You fucking, selfish little princess. You think you’re so fucking smart? You think I don’t know what you are?”

His hand moves as if to grab me by my throat, but I block him, draw my knee up sharply between his legs, and make contact. Just one more way he’s underestimated me. Does he think my father didn’t make certain I knew how to defend myself, throw a punch, shoot a gun, use a knife?

He doubles over in pain, groaning.

“Thank you for making this easier for me,” I tell him. “If I hear from you again, for any reason, I’ll tell my brothers about your lies and, trust me, you really don’t want that. Otherwise, I’ll tell them that we mutually parted ways.” I grasp his chin and pull it up so we’re making eye contact again. “By the way, I’m not a virgin. I just wasn’t into you.”

Time to go. I turn and walk away, my heels clicking against the museum’s floor. I pull my phone from my mini Kelly and call my driver.

“I’m ready to go,” I tell him. “Please pull the car around. Thank you.”

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