Page 44 of Hot-Blooded Killer

Not only from El Toro’s men, but from her own father, as well.

After all, he’s already proven that he’ll sell her off without any qualms at all.

And Gia doesn’t even know the whole story—that Edoardo sold her off not only to me, but to practically the whole Vegas mob.

She’s right; he didn’t deserve to have that much power over her.

Maybe I didn’t, either. But I’ve finally realized that I am absolutely determined to keep Gia for myself.

I will never let her go.

She is mine.

Now and forever.

CHAPTER19

GIA

Iswallow hard as Lorenzo drops his towel and stalks out of the bathroom.

How can I be so damned attracted to a man who just threatened me?

But every part of my body tingles, straining to follow him, and I have to force myself to remain perfectly still as I hear him get dressed and leave the suite.

As soon as he’s gone, I race to the window and watch until I see his car pull out of the garage and take off.

Then I slip downstairs and head to the garage myself, being careful not to let anyone see me. I lift a set of keys on my way out of the house and waste several precious moments figuring out which car they belong to.

One of Max’s sports cars.

There will be a record of me leaving, of course—the Beneventis recently increased their security—but no one tries to stop me.

The Beneventis may never forgive me for any of this.

But I have to talk to Pop, see if I can force him to tell me his real plan.

Because suddenly, I’m certain that he never means to give me my freedom, no matter how effectively I’m able to ruin the Beneventis.

I’m too useful to the Rossis as a pawn.

And I may never forgive my father for that betrayal.

* * *

When I arriveat my father’s home—my home for most of my life—Lorenzo’s car is already in the circular drive out front.

That confuses me. I’m pissed off at Pop, for sure, but what would Lorenzo have to discuss with him? After all, my husband already knows that he and my father colluded to marry me off to him.

So instead of announcing myself in any way, I use the key I still have to the house and slip inside.

Again, I’m certain the security system will pick me up on the cameras, but there’s no reason for anyone to alert my father that I’m here. I’ve come and gone as I please for years.

The housekeeper catches a glimpse of me as I make my way toward Pop’s office, but I wave her off, keeping my expression pleasant. She smiles and goes about her work.

I glide down the marble-floored hallway, glad that I’m wearing flats instead of heels today, so their tapping doesn’t give me away.

I make my way to Pop's office door, which is standing slightly ajar, and pause next to it, listening.

---