Page 31 of The Last Call
“You’ve had the audacity to peruse my private files and learn about me so I have the right to ask about you.”
Her voice is inquisitive rather than accusing. Which I haven’t earned but appreciate just the same. Although I can’t bring myself to answer.
“I deserve to know more about you. You owe me after what–”
“I don’t owe anyone anything!”
Got to love my tiny lion. She doesn’t flinch from my harsh tone or my fist slamming down on the table. Rattling our plates as much as she rattles me with her directness.
We sit in silence. Neither of us willing to give in. She wraps the new black pashmina that Nonna picked out for her tighter around her slender shoulders as the night air grows cooler. While I welcome the relief from the fire she ignites in me.
“At least tell me her name.”
She thinks I’m going to fall for her charms with her simple inquiry. That a gently posed request will make me spill my guts. She underestimates me. No one should ever fucking underestimate me. Including her.
“I thought I heard your grandmother call her Joslyn.”
God damn it. I jerk up from my seat. The chair tipping over and slamming into the railing behind me. I only look at Benton because I don’t want to fucking see the emotion on her face. “Take her home!”
He doesn’t even nod before he’s next to her, offering his arm to assist her up. A gentleman to her when I can’t be.
“So I guess we’re heading to the airport then if I’m going ‘home’.”
Not the time to antagonize me with her condescending tone and hostile attitude. I finally meet her gaze. Disappointment seeping through her ire. “Your ‘home’ is wherever I am, regardless of how much you fucking push me. So you better get used to it.”
“I’m already used to the fact that you’re a crazy asshole so no big surprise there.”
Pure venom hisses through her tone and Benton practically has to jog to keep up with her as she twists and marches toward the gate at the edge of the patio. Unable to get away from me and into the Land Rover fast enough.
Once the other bodyguard climbs in, and the leading and trailing vehicles filled with the rest of my men pull out too, I know she’s safe to travel back to the house. Regaining my composure, I blow out a long breath while I quietly pick up my chair and motion again to the distraught waiter whose gaze swivels from me to the receding vehicle with the lovely lion, and back to me again. Now I’m the one who needs to drink without worrying about how drunk I get.
Iclick on another icon and risk a quick glance at the doorway again. Julius still isn’t home but that doesn’t mean I won’t get caught. I’m surprised I’ve gotten this far. With him watching me every second since we’ve arrived, I’m sure he knows what I’m doing. Which means I need to hurry up. Since I don’t speak or read Italian, my search is slow going trying to figure out which app is intended for video conferencing. Even if Mack can’t save me physically, he can save me mentally at least. I don’t want to be alone. I don’t want to be here. I don’t want to be with Julius. I can’t believe I was stupid enough to ever think I did.
A spreadsheet pops up with wide columns filled with huge numbers that surely can’t be dollars. Well, as wealthy as he is, maybe they are. Anyway, I don’t care about him or his money. I just want to talk to my friend. I close out of the financial page and tap a tiny brown square inside a black rectangle that kind of looks like a screen.
Yes! A white box with Mack’s number pops up. I move the cursor to the green telephone with a shaking hand. I can’t believe I actually found the software.
“What the fuck are you doing in my office?”
Damn.
He’s drunk.
And, beyond furious.
Stalking to me while I’m trapped like the prisoner I truly am in his chair with nowhere to escape. No place to hide. No words to explain. So I don’t. Instead I try to run.
Hoping up, I sidestep him. Or at least I think I do. His grasp on my waist lugs me backward and he forces me to sit on the smooth black leather again. Fuck him. I refuse to give him the satisfaction of thinking I’m scared of him. I lift my head to meet his gaze. Not backing down at all. “This is my house now too, and I was calling Mack. Becauseheisn’t a dick and will answer me when I ask him questions.”
“What’s so important you need to talk to him about?”
The scent of his expensive scotch floats on his fingertips as he strokes my cheek. The intimate touch conflicting with his livid expression. I can’t weaken from the agony pulsing in his body. From the pain cutting through his expression. Reminding myself his gentleness is only temporary. The real Julius showed himself at the restaurant. “I want to tell him how much I hate being here with you.”
His long fingers linger on my heated skin before falling away. Curling into a fist that he slowly taps on his thigh. I hurt him with my cruel words, and shame warms my chest. I don’t enjoy wounding him the way I thought I would. Vindictiveness is never as good as you expect when it’s directed toward someone you realize you’ve grown to care about. He drops back onto the desk. A defeated slump of his shoulders as he shakes his head. “She hated it here too.”
My heart pounds from his admission. Unsure if I should ask who he’s referring to, even though I somehow already know. Like a coward, I take the easy way out and remain quiet. Sitting perfectly still as not to spook him or discourage the confession I hope he shares.
“Joslyn wanted me to fly Mom back to the US and have the doctors keep trying, but Mom knew it was too late. All she asked was for us to stay here with her until the end. So of course my sister was furious at her for giving up and me for letting her. But we both knew the truth.”
