Page 24 of Sweet Retribution

Bite your tongue. Strangling her will get you nowhere.

Of course, it’s not necessarily her fault. Maybe she doesn’t even know I’m legally married to Stone. I doubt it or she wouldn’t talk this way to me. Would she?

“Do you play cards?”

“Like strip poker?”

I’d never been an eye-roller before meeting this woman. “Crazy eights, cribbage, Shanghai.”

“Those sound like drinks.”

“I’ll get us some drinks and snacks and we can play in the shade.”

It doesn’t take long to put together a tray of fruit, cheese, and crackers while Maria makes us a pitcher of sun brewed iced tea. I open the umbrella offering us some shade, and explain the rules to cribbage.

Sebastiana catches on quickly. I don’t think she’s as numb as she likes to come across. We play an entire game, with me winning by twenty points, and were half-way through a second when Stone comes outside.

He doesn’t say anything and stands next to me, watching us in silence.

“Wanna... play?” Sebastiana sticks her tongue out and slides it across her lips.

I watch as Stone dismisses her and focuses on me. I ignore him and drew a card, laying down my run of three and two kings.

“Damn. Stone distracted me.” She lays down a small run and garbage.

I move my marker on the cribbage board and shuffle the cards again. Still, Stone says nothing. We play another hand before he speaks.

“What are you doing?”

“Playing cards,” I state the obvious, keeping my attention on the game and not on him, even though he’s standing too close.

His dark dress shirt is rolled at the sleeves exposing the script of his tattoo on his forearm.

Retribution.

“In my study.”

I don’t respond and draw another card.

“Now,” he says impatiently.

Sebastiana stands. “On my way, sir,” she purrs.

“Not you.”

With an exaggerated huff, Sebastiana whines, “Whatever. I’m bored with this game anyway.” She goes inside leaving me alone with Stone.

I gather the cards and take my time stacking them together.

“Gia.”

“Oh, are you talking to me? I thought you were ordering the family mutt inside.”

I hear him sigh loudly before he takes the seat Sebastiana just vacated. “Your presence is needed to flesh out Antonio.”

I drop the cards and lift my gaze to his. “What?” Does he mean what I think he means?

“We’re attending an art gala tonight. Be ready by seven. Wear something...” His gaze dips to my cleavage, and I suddenly feel quite naked in my bathing suit and cover up. “Nice.”

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