Page 47 of Say I Do

I sighed. The only relief was that my father wasn’t on her arm. I could breathe easier, knowing I wouldn’t have to see him. If I could go the remainder of my life not seeing that man, it would be a dream come true.

A waiter passed with a tray of hors d’oeuvres. My stomach clenched, but one look at what they had to offer, and I passed on it. I wanted a burger or steak. Something that would fill me up. I opted for the free drinks instead.

“You’re Harlow Hayashi, correct?” a woman asked.

I sipped at the champagne letting the bubbles momentarily distract me. Maybe if I pretended not to hear her, she’d walk away.

No such luck. The woman moved around me. Her bright blue eyes looked up at me as she got in my way. She sported a blue fitted dress, not designer like most of the women there but not cheap enough she’d stand out either.

“Who’s asking?”

She offered her hand. Nude painted nails, and a ring on her wedding finger was the first thing I noticed. “Darla Shamers. New York Daily News.” Her eyes dropped to my neck and widened.

I nearly laughed. The gorgeous bruises were the perfect prints of Benito’s hands. I pictured him still chained to the bed, and my smile broadened. “Should I be worried why you’re seeking me out, Darla?” The memory of the reporter from the other night came to mind, but I pushed it away. Benito had handled it.

She gathered herself quickly. Her head jerked up, and she met my gaze once more. “Worried? No, I just want to talk.”

I shook my head. “No reporter ever wants to“just” talk. How did you get in?”

Darla smirked. “I have my ways.”

“I suggest you use those same ways and leave.” I sidestepped her, but she wasn’t letting me go that easily.

“Where is your fiancé?” She moved to my side, keeping up with my strides. “Can’t help but notice he isn’t here. That says a lot when he’s trying to clean up the Vitale family’s name. One can only imagine he was part of the incident last night.”

I stopped short.Incident? I made sure nothing showed on my face.

“Darla, was it?”

She nodded, a triumphant smile plastered onto her face.

“I can assure you my fiancé wasn’t doing anything but me last night. I have a sore asshole to prove it.”

She gawked at me as if I’d said the most obscene thing in the world.

“Now, if you wouldn’t mind, I want to place a bid on this item. As my fiancé has said before, he’s passionate about his community.”

“But it isn’t your community,” Darla said. She was like a dog with a bone. She wasn’t letting it go.

If I was anyone else, I might have been impressed, but all I felt was annoyed. Benito normally dealt with this shit.

I hummed and headed toward the tables hoping she’d leave me alone.

“Are the Vitales trying to do the same thing the Hayashis did?”

“I’m not sure what you mean.”

“Everyone knows that the Hayashi corporation is backed by some big players. There are even rumors they run a syndicate in the yakuza.”

The more Darla talked, the faster she wrote her death warrant. I hummed as I read over the sea turtle conservation foundation.

“There is even speculation that the marriage between the two of you is a sham. There are multiple reports of Benito being seen with women, never a man.”

“Are you saying a man can’t find another man attractive?”

Darla snorted a laugh. “No, and you’re very beautiful, so I can see how a straight man could fall for you. But it’s just not adding up. Not to mention your status as one of Denji Hayashi’s children.”

The mention of my father’s name sent anger barreling through me and bubbling in the middle of my chest. Yeah, if that bastard had kept his dick where it was supposed to be, I wouldn’t have lived this shit show of a life.

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