Page 71 of Filthy Little Games

“I know,micetta mia.”

I push Creed away and then begin to panic, wondering if I should try to make a run for the elevator or hide in the office under his desk.

“You can stay in here. I’ll wait for him in the lobby and take him to one of the conference rooms.”

“Okay. Okay.” I nod a little too much, not all that reassured by his words.

“He won’t know you’re here. I promise. He still doesn’t know we’re married either. I don’t want him to suspect I might try to come after Oriana for you,” Creed says as he grips my shoulders and places a kiss on my forehead.

“Okay,” I say, even if I am anything but okay.

“Emilio probably just wants to talk about wedding details.”

“Wedding details?” I repeat in confusion.

“Dre’s supposed to marry Stella before the end of the year.”

“Oh.”

Strolling over to his desk, Creed picks up his cell phone and starts back to the door. “I shouldn’t be long if you want to wait here for me.”

“You don’t think he knows, do you? About what we did to Izaiah or about you sitting outside the properties?”

“I guess we’re about to find out.” He reaches around me to open the door.

“Wait!” I grab his arm to stop him. “You need more men with you. Armed ones!”

“I don’t need any backup. I’ll be fine. He has to leave his weapons and phone at the front desk. Besides, I’m sure whoever brought you down is still waiting out there, right?”

“Y-yes.”

“Good. I’m glad you came down here tonight. When I get back…” he runs his thumb over my bottom lip, down the center of my chest to my stomach. “When I get back, I want to hear you scream my name at least three times.”

As soon as Creed slips out the door and shuts it behind him, I slide down the wooden panel and slap a hand over my mouth to keep quiet as tears fall.

Creed’s been putting his life on the line for me, for Oriana, and I haven’t even told him the truth.

If something happens to him…I’ll never forgive myself.

But no matter what, at least I know I’m finally free of that fucking man once and for all.

I’ll never have to endure having a Rovina’s hands on me again.

Creed won’t ever let him lay a finger on me.

I repeat those assertions to myself over and over again to try to calm myself.

23

Creed

Iwas right.

I can’t be in the same room with Zara for longer than a few seconds without needing to get my hands and mouth on her.

Of all times for her to come down here and literally bring me to my knees, I have to leave her to go talk to Emilio Rovina.

I didn’t want to worry Zara, but when he asked for the late-night meeting on short notice, my first thought was that he knows I’ve either been following his family, watching his properties, killed his son, or married her in secret.

---