Page 76 of Savage Prince

“I’ve reconsidered. I think you’d be safer without me.” I hiss out a breath and lean back on the sunbed. She’s got my head so twisted I don’t know what to do anymore. “I’m nothing more than a liability. And anyway, I don’t know that I’ll be well enough to travel by tomorrow.”

She glances at my cock again, narrowing her eyes. “You seem just fine to me.”

“It’s just a physical reaction I have no control over.” It’s a lame excuse, and I’m not surprised she sees right through it. Clearly, if I’m well enough to fuck her, I can manage to get my ass on that boat and get us across the lake. From there, it would be easy enough to steal a car and drive to Milano in a few hours.

Her lips screw into a pout as she continues to regard me while I remain stubbornly mute. “And besides, Elena said you’d be okay in a few days.”

I wasn’t certain I would ever be okay again. But Serena was right, we—no, I—couldn’t stay here forever. With the phoneSerena purchased, I could easily call Pietro and have him come for us, but I can’t risk the shade of a chance that she’s right, and it is someone within my organization who’s behind this. If those men found her because they’d pinged my credit card, then my every move is being watched. Until I know for certain who that person is, I won’t risk it.

“Well? Are you going to keep your word or not?” Her light brows furrow, and the disappointment in that gaze is worse than the one my father used to shoot me.

“Yes,” I finally mutter. “I may not have much anymore, but at least my word should still mean something.”

“Good.” Grabbing my knees, she pulls herself up to stand, practically shoving her cleavage in my face. Now, I’m the one being punished. And I deserve it. “I’m going to tryPapàagain.”

Those words shouldn’t sting as much as they do. Still, my head snaps back as if she’d slapped me. Of course she’d want to speak to her father, to assure him she’s okay. I don’t dare consider what Dante and the Kings will do to me once this is over, once I’ve safely delivered Serena to her cousin.

Which of course I will do, despite my comments to the contrary.

I’m so damned torn. A part of me wishes she would simply leave me, but the other half can’t bear to see her go.

I watch her from the corner of my eye as she unwraps the pre-paid phone and fires it up. Raw emotions wage a war in my gut as she brings the phone to her ear and waits. By now, Isabella must have informed her father and her uncle of the situation. I can practically see my time on this earth slowly dwindling.

Serena better keep her word and make my death a quick one. No doubt Dante would like to drag it out to agonizing lengths. And I can’t even blame him. If Serena were my daughter, I would do the same.

“Pa?” Her voice is so filled with hope its piercing. “Yeah, I’m okay.”

Dante’s shouts blare through the phone in a stormy symphony, but I can’t make out the exact words. He’s probably cursing me and everyone I’ve ever met.

Serena marches to the door, then slips on her jeans, waving a hand in my direction as if I would stop her. She knows I would never use my gun on her, or at least I hope she does. Once the door slams behind her, I stretch out on the lounger, awaiting my sentence.

I must doze off while she’s gone because I’m awakened minutes later by the sharp crack of the door smashing against the wall. My lids snap open, and I attempt to sit up, but a streak of pain has me laying back down like a pathetic idiot. Serena marches in, irritation carved into her jaw.

“What’s wrong?” I mutter.

“Nothing, my dad is just a domineering, overprotective, stubborn asshole.”

A grin starts to form, but I thin out my lips when her expression turns murderous. She flops down onto the sunbed beside me and exhales a frustrated breath.

“What did he say exactly?” I hedge.

“Mostly that I’m no more than a naïve child incapable of making my own decisions or handling myself.”

“Let me guess, he wanted to come get you and you told him to fuck off.”

“Exactly.” A glimmer of amusement sparks within those brilliant sapphire orbs. “Alessandro will be here the day after tomorrow, there’s no need for him to launch a full scale attack?—”

“On me?”

She nods.

“Serena, I don’t need you to protect me?—”

“This isn’t about you,” she snaps. “He wouldn’t even consider the possibility that this Sartori guy could have double-crossed him. The great Dante Valentino is too untouchable for that, and no one in their right mind would ever dare mess with his daughter. He’s convinced this is all your fault.”

“He’s not wrong,” I murmur, eyes cast down to the slight space between us. I hadn’t even noticed that her legs were now between mine, her outer thighs pressed against the insides of mine. “Did you at least assure him I would get you to Milano safely?”

“Yes,” she snaps. “He didn’t buy it. He thinks you’re just playing me, and I’m too trusting to see it.”

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