Page 13 of Vengeful Vows

His gaze feasting on me, Marcello takes my hand, and we step into the compartment.

Sergio follows. Then he holds up one of his massive hands to prevent another couple from joining us.

Moments later, the doors swish together, and we rocket downward to a private lobby that I didn’t know existed.

A gentleman in a suit opens the door at the far end of the room, and we exit to the rear of the building.

At the curb, a sleek black limousine is running, and a valet stands nearby.

The moment he sees us, he nods toward us, and Sergio opens the back door.

I get the sense he is much more than a driver. A bodyguard potentially? LikeAlice in Wonderland,I’ve fallen into a world I know nothing of.

Once I’ve provided Sergio with my address, Marcello reaches across me to fasten my safety belt.

His touch is both cursory and intimate.

“May I offer you something to drink? Wine? A sparkling water perhaps?”

Desperate for something to do with my hands so I don’t twist them in my lap as my mother always scolded me for, I reply, “Sparkling water would be wonderful.”

He leans forward and opens a refrigerator and selects a small, green bottle. After uncapping it, he offers it to me.

As we zip through the city, the streetlamps throw him into shadows, making him appear even more formidable. How had I thought even for a moment that he was a refined gentleman?

Within a few minutes, before I can settle, Sergio draws to a stop in front of my high-rise in downtown Houston.

My place is only a one-bedroom unit, much smaller than I would like. But living downtown near everything is essential, so I’ve opted to pay the exorbitant cost.

“Thank you,” I tell Marcello, placing the bottle in a cup holder as I reach for the door handle.

“Don’t.” His quick smile takes away the sharpness of his tone.

Chastened, I wait for Sergio to let me out, and Marcello follows.

“I’ll see you to your door.”

His voice is filled with such determination that there’s no arguing with him.

This time, we’re in the elevator alone, and the space feels small and ridiculously personal. It’s the first time we’ve been totally alone. Realizing I’m completely at his mercy, I take a breath, but it’s as shallow as it is hollow.

With his fingers resting possessively in the small of my back, we walk down the hallway leading to my condo.

My fingers are shaking uncontrollably because I don’t know what to expect, and I fumble with the keys that I dig from the bottom of my evening bag. It takes me two tries to turn the lock and open the door slightly.

“I will have security improved tomorrow.”

“There’s no need for that.” I shake my head. “This is a perfectly safe building.”

Since he doesn’t respond, I can’t tell whether he agrees with me.

I expect him to ask for an invitation to come inside. But he doesn’t.

“Have dinner with me tomorrow.” It’s a command, not a question.

I wish I could say yes. “I’ll be at a fundraiser for the garden club.”

“What time will you be done?”

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