Page 4 of Sins of the Son

I rummaged through the basket and picked up one of the bottles of wine. I twisted my wrist so I could see the label, then chuckled. “Vino Nobile di Montepulciano d'Abruzzo dei Cavalieri.” I reached for the bottle opener nestled at the bottom of the basket. “You have excellent taste.”

The little minx was lighting out of town with a five-thousand-euro bottle of wine… and she had three of them in her basket.

I flicked open the knife and sliced the wax seal as I watched her closely.

She tapped her foot. “What are you doing?”

I opened the silver corkscrew. “Opening a fine bottle of wine takes finesse. First, pierce the cork. Then slowly twist it in… deep.” I matched my movements to my words, all the while never taking my eyes off her.

The pulse at the base of her throat beat a rapid tattoo against her soft skin as she stared at my hands.

I gripped the wine bottle more firmly. “Once you are fully seated, deep inside, that is when you use gentle force to get what you want.”

Milana swallowed, her gaze staying glued to my hands as I tightened my grip on the corkscrew.

I yanked hard. The cork gave with a loud pop. Milana jumped and gave a soft cry.

She moved around the chair and would have made a dash for the door, but I shifted and blocked her way.

She stepped back.

I lifted the bottle to my lips and took a swig. Layered with hints of plum, smoke, and earth, I savored the wine's rich fruit flavor.

Milana crossed deeper into the cottage. “You need to leave.”

“No.”

“Fine. Then I’m leaving.”

“No again.”

“You can’t say that.”

“I just did.”

“You can’t keep me here against my will.”

“Watch me.”

“This is insane.”

“I agree.”

“Then let me leave.”

I took another swig of wine. “No.”

“I’ll call the police.”

“Do me a favor? When you do, remind Benito he owes me fifty euro from our last Scopa game.”

She stomped her foot. “I hate you.”

“No, you don’t.”

I set the wine bottle down and reached for the top button of my shirt. “And I’m going to prove it.”

Her mouth dropped open. “The hell you are!”

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