Page 43 of Ruthless Oath

After I fucked her, I’d feel better. I’d take out my aggression and then get my head back in the game.

“No, we’re not doing what we should be.” Milo stepped closer to me, almost squaring up. “You might be the oldest, but we are in this together. I have just as much at stake as you do.”

“What do you propose we do,littlebrother?”

“We have to end this war before anyone has a chance to escalate it.”

“How do you want to do that?” I wasn’t going to like his answer.

“We have to stop what you started.” He placed his hand on my shoulder. “You have to give her back.”

Ten

Lissia

Leaves crunchedunder heavy boots outside my bedroom window. Milo stomped over to his car with two of the guards he arrived with. He glanced over his shoulder at my window and scowled before climbing into the back seat and slamming the door.

Why didn’t Ricardo leave with them?

Did it matter? I had more important matters to deal with.

I changed out of the sweats and into the tiny pink boy shorts and the tank top Marchello had ordered for me.

I glanced at the mirror, admiring the way my booty looked in the shorts.

Let’s see if you can resist me now, Mr. Accetti.

Poking the bear might not be the right decision, but getting him to warm up to me could be my only hope of getting out of this with little damage.

I hurried down the stairs and into the study—a magnificent room with mahogany bookcases and high ceilings. There was also a cozy window seat by the fireplace that overlooked the backyard. I could easily curl up there for hours with a hot cup of tea and one of those books while Marchello worked at the desk.

The quiet inside the empty room drew me in. For the first time since meeting Marchello, I had a moment to process everything. I’d reacted to my father’s demands without thinking. Because if I had taken a second to breathe, I probably would have realized that running to the enemy camp might not have been the best idea.

But if I hadn’t come to Marchello, I’d be preparing for an engagement.

This was my father’s fault, not mine. He forced me into the arms of his rival, and now we were all going to pay the price.

I stood in front of the tall bookcases and ran my fingers along the spines of each title. They were arranged in alphabetical order and organized into two sections: fiction and nonfiction.

There were plenty of political thrillers and history books. I chuckled when I came across Mario Puzo’sThe Godfather. Did the Accettis read that one?

“What are you doing in here?”

I whirled around to find Marchello standing in the doorway, brooding more than usual.How sexy.

“Waiting for you,” I said.

“In your underwear?” He stepped into the room and closed the door.

“You wanted me to wear the clothes you bought for me.” I smiled. “I like these.”

“I’m sure my staff will like you in them too.” He picked up the bottle of vodka on the desk. “Is that your intention? To put on a show for my men?”

There is only one man I’m interested in.

“Why didn’t you tell me you were going to marry Collins?” He poured himself a drink. “Didn’t you think that would be useful information?”

“I was never going to marry him.”

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