Page 25 of Claim

“Bullshit. Just admit the truth. You don’t want me touching her.” I couldn’t hide my anger.

“I won’t have her wrapped up in you, and then you break her heart.”

Clenching my jaw, I gritted out. “I didn’t kill Maria.”

He knew the truth. He’d been there when all of it happened. However, I’d always suspected Lucian believed, just like I had, that I’d driven Maria to her decision.

“This isn’t about Maria.”

“I call bullshit again.” I stood, turning back to face the window.

“I saw the feed from the bar.” Lucian’s tone grew hard. “I don’t like the way she reacted to you.”

“Meaning she found me worth her time while she dismissed everyone else?”

Instead of responding to my question, he added, “I also noticed how you looked at her following your session. She got to you, and now, you want to keep her.”

Facing him again, I said, “Never realized you enjoyed voyeurism, Morelli. You’d have heard me warn her away as she left the club if you paid attention. Nothing to worry your sadistic mind over. Nothing is going to happen between us again.”

“Now I call bullshit. Whatever happened between the two of you in that room, it fucked with you. Sophia doesn’t need any more trouble. I’m warning you, Pierce. Stay away from her. I’ll take care of you in the most painful way possible if you don’t heed my warning.”

“Did you forget I don’t scare easily? I’m one of the few people you can’t intimidate.” I smirked at the glaring Lucian. “But I hear what you’re saying.”

Objectively, I understood Lucian’s point of view. One of his friends had slept with his sister and wanted to continue to do so. It crossed a line into uncomfortable territory. I’d broken bro code, but for some fucking reason, I couldn’t muster a single ounce of guilt over it.

However, I’d stay away for her sake, not for Lucian’s.

“Then we agree. You’ll keep your hands off, my sister.”

I thought for a moment. Sophia Morelli had crawled under my skin, and I wanted to gorge on her moans, cries, and tears. If she came to me, could I resist her?

Not a fucking chance.

“I won’t seek her out.”

“I should put a bullet in your head right now.”

I shrugged. “Doing that will only hurt your business in the long run.”

Lucian stood, moving to the door. “I’m going to hold you to our agreement. Do not go after her. I know you want to.”

“How do you know what I want?”

“Because you’re an obsessive, possessive bastard that’s found something he can’t have.”

“Since you look at one in the mirror every morning, you would know, wouldn’t you?”

CHAPTER EIGHT

Sophia

“I still think we should hide her stomach with an empire waist. Do you realize how form-fitting that gown is?” my mother asked as I adjusted the train on my sister Eva’s wedding gown. “Everyone will know she’s six months pregnant.”

From the moment Mom learned of Eva’s pregnancy, her feelings about the situation ran the gamut of emotions. From happy because it meant Eva finally landed a man to horrified, scandalized that her favorite child had sex and then found herself knocked up before marriage.

When Eva suggested I design her wedding gown, Mom agreed without consulting me. The last thing she wanted was for any renowned designer to learn of her daughter’s condition or have it leaked to the press. Mom’s image and standing in society meant everything to her.

I would have said yes anyway. Creating a custom gown for Eva meant an opportunity to showcase the skills I’d learned through my many years in the fashion industry. Somehow Mom always managed to steal my thunder.

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