Page 31 of Miles

“You think you’ve been trouble? Perhaps we need to get that out of the way now. You’re no trouble. Just the opposite.”

“How can you say that, after everything I’ve put you through so far?”

“I can. That’s all.”

It made no sense, but I knew he meant it. I knew it the way I knew he wouldn’t hurt me, that he’d meant it when he said he would always protect me—so long as I didn’t do anything to hurt myself.

“You never told me who was out there. Who came for me.”

His eyebrows shot up. “Who told you?”

“Nobody had to. I just… knew it. That was when I knew I had to get out of here.”

“Do you realize how dangerous it was for you to leave your room? What if he had seen you?”

“Who?”

His face darkened. “Your fiancé.”

“Don’t call him that.”

And in the blink of an eye, it was like the storm clouds parted and the sun came shining in.

“Really? Isn’t that who he is?”

“Technically. According to him and Papa—my father,” I amended.

“But not according to you.”

“No. Definitely not.”

“Why was he looking for you, then?”

“You know why. Because he’s a monster and a pig and he thinks I belong to him, all because my father likes his father and likes whatever work Antonio’s done for him. I shudder to think what that work entailed.” I looked down at my hands, my vision blurring thanks to the tears which threatened to spill over.

Miles’s hand closed over mine, and it felt right. It gave me the courage to keep going.

I took a deep, tearful breath. “He’s terrible.”

“I got that feeling about him. And you were forced to become engaged to him.”

“It wasn’t quite official yet,” I admitted. “We were going to announce it at a party held by my father. Or, rather, they would announce it. I had nothing to do with the wedding. I had nothing to do with any of it. My whole life. Everything decided for me. I’d only learn after the fact when a decision that concerned was made.”

“Do you know what your father does for a living?”

When my head snapped up, and I glared at him, he winced.

“That was clumsy. I shouldn’t have asked.”

“I know exactly what he does. I’ve known for a long time. And I’ve tried to run away exactly four times, because I can’t stand the thought of being near him.”

“What happened?”

“What do you think?” I shrugged. “He found me, or one of his men found me. I’m surprised Antonio was the one to come after me this time. Or maybe my father thinks I’m dead and doesn’t see the point. But Antonio wants his bride. He won’t leave well enough alone.”

“He loves you?” Miles looked skeptical.

I snorted. “He’s incapable of love. No, this marriage means uniting himself with my father’s business. He wants to be top dog someday—why, I have no idea. There’s only one way for their work to end. Do you know what I mean?”

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