Page 46 of Till Death Do Us Part

“I told Dr. Corvo you needed to quit.”

“Quit my job?”

He shrugged. “What’s the use?”

“What did my father say?”

Honestly, I could sense that about Jack—he wanted a trophy wife. So his honesty didn’t surprise me. But I was curious about what Babbo had to say about it.

“We would have to work it out.”

“Here’s the thing, Jack. I don’t think we’re supposed to be discussing the terms of our marriage. My father hasn’t even confirmed the engagement yet.”

“Dr. Corvo told us he did—discuss it with you. It’s simple. You’re mine.”

He started toward me, and I took a step back. His eyes lowered and he was trying to be sexy. My heart beat so fast and so hard, it sounded like a rock smashing against bone.

The backs of my legs hit the desk, and I raised my hands. But I wouldn’t be grabbing on to his shirt. I’d be pushing against his chest. “You should go, Jack.”

I didn’t give a shit if he went back and told Babbo. This was inappropriate. I didn’t feel comfortable, and in my father’s eyes, I was a naïve girl who’d never been kissed before.

His chest hit my hands, but he didn’t push. He stopped. “I’m right where I belong. The moment I saw you, I knew. You were the one for me. You are so beautiful, you almost seem unreal.” He looked down at my breasts straining against the tightness of the corset gown. “This dress you’re wearing tonight…” He curled his finger and used it to slide up and down my arm. “I love you in red.”

It was hard not to look at him, but I concentrated on one of the dinosaur replicas on the other side of the room. If I made eye contact, he was going to kiss me.

He made a strangled noise as he crashed into me. Then his weight was gone. My eyes whipped to where he was. Felice stood in his place. He held the T-rex replica in his hand. His eyes were dilated, and they were reflecting the color of my dress. Blood red.

My mouth opened and closed, a gasping fish searching for breath, until I finally found the words. “He’s bleeding.” I pointed toward Jack, who was down on the floor.

“He’ll live.” Felice set the dinosaur back in its place and then fixed his suit and hair. He grabbed Jack by the collar. His head lolled down. “Let’s go, or I’m going to kill him.”

Felice shut the office door behind us and dragged Jack toward the end of the hall. He left him propped up against the wall. He snatched my hand and led me away from the scene.

When the shock wore off some, I dug my feet in. Felice stopped walking and glared at me. But I didn’t think the look was truly directed at me. That was how he looked in the office. I returned the look.

“I’m not sleeping with you.”

His grin came slow. “Who said anything about sleep?”

Elsa walked up behind us with Celso. He handed my coat to Felice, who set it around my shoulders, and we left.

Chapter16

Roma

Isank deeper into the warmth of my coat as Felice navigated the streets in a matte black Maserati GranTurismo S.

It fit the man and his mood.

Unfortunately for him, the dress I wore fit the woman andhermood.

“You’re a manipulative bastard,” I seethed in his direction, crossing my arms.

He sighed, like he was already over the conversation. “You act like a child, we play games like we’re children.”

“I’m a child?I’m a child!” Because I was afraid to lose my family? But the words were stumbling around in my head, and I couldn’t get them out. I was too angry.

I’d never felt emotions on such a huge scale before. It was as if he could take every one of them and multiply the intensity of the feeling.

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