Page 75 of Sweet Retribution

Hell.Why did he have to go and do that? I amnotgoing to strip down and let him have his way with me. I’m stronger than my quivering thighs, and the moisture between my legs is a visceral reaction to a sexy man. It doesnotmean anything more.

“Well, I don’t want to hear them.” I toss the blanket to the couch and take one step.

“Sit, Gia.”

“What have I said about ordering me—”

“Please,” he adds.

Stone doesn’t apologize or ask. He demands. I don’t think I’ve ever heard him saypleasebefore. “Fine.” I plop back down on the couch and fold my arms over my chest. “Spit it out. I’m tired and want to go... to leave.”

Taking his time, he leans over to the coffee table and takes out a thin stack of papers. “I need you to sign these.”

“Seriously? You show up in the middle of the night for me to sign papers? Couldn’t you mail them or send one of your goons over?” I mentally apologize to Marco, Tio, and Lucca. They’re great guys, and I even miss them a little. “Maybe wait until morning?”

“I’ve waited long enough.” He slides them to me along with a pen.

I squint trying to read, but it’s too dark to read the small text. “What is this?”

“Final paperwork from our... arrangement.”

What was supposed to take two years took three months. “I don’t want any of Lorenzo’s or your money.”

“There’s a place for you to write in where you want the money to go.” He points to a blank space. He’d listened to me when I told him this months ago at the beginning of our arrangement.

There are a handful of organizations that devote their energy to bringing media awareness, and a few others who provide emotional, physical, and monetary support to sex trafficking victims. I write in the name of the organizations I’ve spent time researching and set the pen down.

Stone takes the paper and glances at it. He doesn’t move, his gaze focuses on the paper for a long time before lifting it to mine. Instead of words, he gives me a small nod and a soft, sad smile.

The innocent victims and their families need the money more than I do, especially since Lorenzo Parisi profited from his crimes. Stone tucks the papers in the folder and takes out another.

“Sign here.”

I don’t need to read it. I can see from the bold heading what it is. Our marriage contract. I’ve read the papers before. At the end of myterm,we’d sign the divorce papers, claiming amicable differences, and Stone would pay me alimony.

I don’t care about the money. I’ll go back to living on noodles and peanut butter if it means keeping Stone in my life. Granted, with Stone in my life, I’ll never go hungry. Not for food. Not for security. Not for...

I guess I would be hungry for love. Just because I love him doesn't mean it’s reciprocated. The tears that well up are unexpected. When I signed this contract a few months ago, I hadn’t expected to have any doubts in the end.

My throat closes in as I reach for the pen. A strangle of a moan escapes my lips as I slowly scribble my name next to the space where Stone has already signed his. I want to ask him if our time together meant anything. If he has any traces of remorse in ending our marriage, even if we didn’t start it in the most conventional of ways.

Instead, I toss the pen on the table and stand. “If there’s more,” I sniff, “I’ll sign tomorrow. I’m tired.”

Stone jumps to his feet and blocks my way. “Gia.”

“No, don’tGiame. The past few months... it’s a lot. I thought you... I thought we...” I push at his chest. “Forget it. I’m done.” I swipe my tears on my shoulder and try to move past him.

“Wait.”

“No more orders, Stone. We officially ended the control you have over me.”

“I know. That’s what I wanted.” His blue eyes fixate on me, and I refuse to back down.

“Wow.” My stomach shakes with a sarcastic laugh, and I glare at him. “You’ve always been short with your words, but I figured you’d be a little more tactful of a girl’s feelings.”

“Because you care.”

I look away feeling trapped in more ways than one. I can back up and go around the coffee table, but he’ll stop me on the other side. It’s not the physical entrapment that causes my chest to hurt, it’s him unlocking my feelings.

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