Page 4 of Ruthless Oath

“I’ll go with you.” Lissia downed her glass of champagne and shoved the flute at me like I was part of the staff. “It was good seeing you, Marchello.”

“Come with your mother to see her friends? Nonsense,” Rosalie said. “You stay here. Your father is meeting you later, and I want to be gone before that happens.”

Lissia touched her mother’s arm. “I don’t want you to go alone.”

“I’ll be fine.” Rosalie swiped her long blonde hair to the side. “Besides, you should wait and see if you won any of the baskets. You put enough tickets in the one with the Gucci bag.”

Lissia’s face flushed a beautiful crimson. “So did you!”

“If they call my name, you can keep it. Gian pays me enough alimony that I can buy as many bags as I want. I only wanted to participate in the raffle because it’s for such a good cause.” She turned to me and added, “I know how fond your mother was of it. Helping young mother’s get on their feet after having a baby is a worthy cause. A strong start is so important.”

“Thank you.” I nodded. “My father would appreciate that.”

“Where is your father?” Lissia asked. “I didn’t see him tonight.”

Your scum father probably ran him out of town.“He’s away on business.”

“Oh.” She shrugged. “I thought it was odd he’d miss such an important night for your family.”

What do you know about my family, brat?I’d gone from wanting her to wanting her intel in the span of ten seconds.

Tick. Tick. Tick.

Perhaps I was the impending explosion of the night.

“I’m leaving. Don’t get into any trouble.” Rosalie hugged her daughter, then winked at me. “Trouble has a way of finding Lissia.”

“I’m sure Marchello knows all about trouble.” Lissia kissed her mom’s cheek. “Let Michael take you where you’re going.”

She shook her head. “No, I can’t take your driver. I’ll call a rideshare.”

“Ma, it’s all good. Dad will take me home later,” Lissia said. “I insist you go with Michael.”

“I don’t want you to be alone.” Rosalie looked at me. “Unless…you’dbe willing to look after her?”

What the hell?

“My brother would love to.” Milo took Rosalie’s arm. “Let me escort you to your car.”

Only my brother could try to be my wingman and still goad me at the same time.

“Such a gentleman, just like your father.” Rosalie gladly took my brother’s assistance. She had a reputation for sleeping with most of Gian’s staff. “Love you, baby girl.”

“Love you.” Lissia waved at her mother before glancing at me. “Looks like you’re stuck with me.”

“Unfortunately.” I set her champagne flute on the cocktail table behind me. “Feel free to mingle, but don’t cause any trouble. I’ll keep an eye on you while I check a few things for the auction.”

“I don’t need you to ‘keep an eye’ on me.” She ran her thumb along her bottom lip, drawing my gaze to that pretty mouth again. “I’m going to get another drink.”

I reached for her arm as she tried to walk away. It wouldn’t take long for the men in this room to realize the guard she had come with left with her mother, and I didn’t want anything unfortunate to happen to her even if she did irritate me.

At least, not until I figured out what she knew.

“You will not be walking off and getting trashed like this is one of the sleazy clubs you frequent.”

“Are you telling me what to do?”

“What if I am?” I wished at that moment she wasn’t Gian’s daughter. I would bend her over my knee and spank her in front of everyone for her backtalk. “Would you listen?”

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