Page 18 of The Villain's Beloved (The Villain's Duet 2)

“I told you, it’s not safe.” The sheets swooshed as he abruptly got out of bed, and I sat up on my elbows, watching him pull on a pair of pants.

“I know. But isn’t there a way for us to make it safe? I don’t know, change my name, color my hair, something.” Despondent and frustrated, I lay back down, staring up at the ceiling. “He’s the only family I have left, and besides wanting to meet him, I’d love to…” My voice trailed off.

“Love to what?” Elijah stilled and studied me. “Love to what, Charlotte?”

I sat back up, clutching the silk sheet in front of my chest. “I’ve never been anywhere my entire life, and now I’m here in Italy, yet…I’m not.”

“What are you saying?”

“I’m saying,” I brushed the curls from my face, “I want to go and see Italy instead of being stuck on this damn yacht. I want to join Saint and his wife for dinner, and at least pretend for just a little while that everything is normal.”

“We are stuck on this yacht for your protection. This is not a fucking trip around the world.” He stomped to my side of the bed, dark eyes glowering down at me. “I didn’t bring you here so you can explore Italy and sight-see.”

“I know that—”

“If you knew that, why are you saying this to me now? I thought you understood.”

I grabbed the sheet and shot to my feet. “You know what…no, I don’t understand. Everything you’ve told me has been so damn vague, it’s impossible for me to piece it all together.”

“What?” He scowled.

“I’m serious. Honestly, I don’t care whether you’re vague on purpose or not. I don’t care if there are things you’re not telling me. I just want to meet my grandfather and not be stuck on this yacht when Rome is right there.” I pointed out the window on my left, the waves rippling across the ocean outside.

Elijah roughed a hand through his disheveled hair, rubbing the back of his neck before pointing in the other direction. “It’s that side, actually.”

“What is?”

He lifted a brow. “Rome. It’s that way.”

“God,” I huffed. “I don’t care, Elijah. I just can’t believe that life would be so hellbent on fucking me in the ass by bringing me halfway across the world and not have me see at least some parts of Italy.”

His expression softened, yet his gaze remained pinned on mine—a moment of tenderness and affection flashing in his eyes. His palms were warm as he cupped my cheeks, stepping closer. “Firstly, if anyone is fucking you in the ass…it’s me.”

“Stop.” I couldn’t help but smile and tried to look away when he forced me to meet his gaze.

“Secondly,” he licked his lips followed by a tick in his strong jaw, “what kind of man would I be if I didn’t at least show half of this romantic city to the woman I love?”

The woman I love.Four words that had the power to melt any defiance I might have had.

I leaned into him, placing my hands on his chest—his skin warm with the subtle brush of chest hair against my palms. “Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me yet. Thirdly—”

“Oh, no.” My excitement wavered as I let my head down.

“Thirdly,” he emphasized before placing his hand beneath my chin, lifting my face so I could look him in the eye, “I can’t promise that you’ll be able to see your grandfather.”

“Elijah—”

“Besides the fact that it’s not safe, Gianni is under state protection until the trial has run its course. Most probably even after that. Maybe forever.”

“He’s all I have left.”

“I know.” He touched my bottom lip with his thumb. “Which is why I’ll do everything I can to make it happen. But I can’t make any promises.”

To say that he’d try was better than to have him give me a straight-up no. The hope of meeting the only living relative I had left was better than having no hope at all.

Lifting myself on my toes, I kissed his lips softly before licking his taste off my own. “Thank you.”

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