Page 15 of Brutal Vows
Though Gianni agreed to allow me the final vote in the matter, I’d never hear the end of it. He’d alternate between sulking and lashing out until he found another suitor for Lili. He’d make my life hell. A price I’d willingly pay, but hell nonetheless.
If Quinn doesn’t want Lili, however…
Maybe there is a God.
Ha! Don’t be ridiculous.
“Lili, this is Mr. Quinn,” says Gianni, his voice slightly too high. He clears his throat, then snaps, “Say hello.”
Gazing demurely at his feet, Lili says, “Hello, Mr. Quinn. It’s very nice to meet you.”
When the Irishman only stands there looking at her, mute as a statue, his eyes narrowed, Gianni elbows her sharply in her ribs.
“I… I, um, hope we can get to know each other better. I look forward to… visiting with you. Um. Today.”
Quinn is silent.
Gianni clearly would like to slit his wrists.
This is turning out to be a good day after all.
Giving Lili a little shove toward Quinn, Gianni says, “Why don’t you two lovebirds have a nice chat over there on the sofa? Reyna and I will give you some privacy—”
“We can’t leave them alone together,” I interrupt, my voice hard.
The Irishman looks at me with a cocked eyebrow.
I smile my best don’t-mind-me-I’m-only-a-silly-woman smile.“Lili isn’t allowed to be alone with a man. She requires a chaperone. Correct, Gianni?”
Since he’s the one who made the damn rule, he can’t contradict me.
He’d still like to smash something into my face.
“Correct,” he says, forcing it past his teeth. “I’m sure you understand, Mr. Quinn. My apologies, but we’re old-fashioned.”
“Are you?” he drawls, looking at me.
His hazel eyes are half-lidded. His lips are faintly curved. He looks like he’s enjoying some private joke that I’m the butt of.
The boiling rage I’d managed to beat down comes roaring back, searing a path along all my nerve endings and setting my face on fire.
He sees it and smiles.
Then he takes Lili by the arm—by the arm! Like a possession!—and leads her away from us without another word.
As soon as they’re out of earshot, Gianni turns to me and hisses,“Che palle!”
“Cool your jets, brother. There’s no way we could leave Lili alone with that…” I think of his hungry eyes, the way he looked at me earlier like he might eat me alive. “Predator.”
Besides, I’ve already decided this marriage will happen over my dead body.
“We can’t risk insulting him!”
I think of our little verbal sparring match and have to suppress a grin.
Too late.
Seething, Gianni adjusts his tie and glances over to where Lili and Quinn are seated on the velvet divan on the opposite side of the room. Her hands are folded in her lap, her legs are crossed at the ankles, and her gaze is directed at his feet, as if she’s fascinated by his shoes.
