Page 55 of Obsession

I swallow my laugh. I know he’s determined from experience. He sent his psychopath cousin after me to make sure I switched sides.

“I’ll be able to handle it,” I assure him.

Before Damien is able to respond, I hear a shriek that sounds suspiciously like Madi, followed by, “Get off me!”

I’m out of my chair in an instant, my cigar landing in the ashtray. I take the hall quickly, leading myself back to the patio where I find my bride pushing her mother away from her.

“You look ridiculous!” Caterina shouts. They’re making a scene, people are gathered around the stone patio, watching the fight between mother and daughter.

“Your opinion doesn’t matter.” Madi’s fists clench by her sides, her cheeks red. She’s pissed.

“What’s going on?” I ask, stepping forward and putting an arm between Madi and her mother.

“Her hair.” Caterina waves her hand dramatically, also red in the face - could be from alcohol or anger.

“What about it?”

“It’sblue!” She huffs.

“It is,” I say calmly. “I never asked you to have it dyed, did I? Now I suggest you shut the fuck up about my wife’s hair.”

Caterina’s face pales as she looks at me, shocked. I think she assumed I’d be on her side and want Madi to dye her hair once again to that dark brown color. I bet she never thought it was me who told her to change it back.

“But-”

I wave my hand to cut her off. “I don’t care, Caterina. I don’t want to hear it. If you can’t behave around your daughter, then we’re leaving.” I extend my hand to Madi. She takes it immediately, a small smile on her lips.

I don’t wait to hear what anyone else says. I just take Madi’s hand and lead her back to my car, opening the passenger door for her.

She doesn’t get in, though. Instead, her arm wraps around me, and she pushes onto her tiptoes to give me a sweet kiss.

“Thank you,” she says, and the smile on her face is worth it. Worth everything.

TWENTY-EIGHT

Madi

“You promised me a reward if I was good.” I try to make my voice sound sultry as Adrian closes the front door behind us. Truthfully, I’ve been turned on since the moment he told my mother toshut the fuck up. No one has ever stood up for me against her. Even Sam and John would have found a more subtle way to handle the situation. But there was something wildly attractive to me about my husband shutting down the situation with words as sharp as hers.

Husband.

That title is starting to grow on me.

“I did.” Adrian takes off his suit jacket, tossing it over the back of the couch. “Do you think you behaved well tonight, princess?” he asks me as his fingers reach for the cuffs of his white shirt, slowly rolling the material to expose his forearms.

I lick my lips. “Yes.”

“You did get into a bit of a fight, though, no?” His head tilts, one eyebrow lifting with the question we both know the answer to.

I pout. “It wasn’t my fault.”

That makes Adrian chuckle as he switches to cuffing the other sleeve. “Not your fault.” he repeats with a sly smile. “But still, bratty girls need to be punished, don’t you think? That’s only fair.”

The idea of a punishment has me flushing, my stomach swirling with excitement.

I nod.

“Words, princess. Tell me you want to be punished for being such a little brat.” His sleeves are now both cuffed and he’s standing in front of me, his breath skating over my face as he makes the demand.

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