She deserves passion.
She deserves a man who can worship her properly, who can take his time learning her body.
Not the evil sociopath who will break her spirit.
And not me, a man who can offer her nothing.
I’m being a fucking coward.
I need to apologize and make her understand that for her safety as much as mine, we can’t indulge in desire.
I find my balls and square my shoulders as I make my way to the front door.
As I do, I’m reminded of everything she’s done to get my attention, and irritation grows as I anticipate her being coy, being flirty, not caring that we could end up dead if she doesn’t stop.
I'm barely through the foyer when Alessandro and Adriano materialize looking concerned.
"What happened?" Alessandro demands, blocking my path.
Adriano flanks him, arms crossed. "Valentina ran past us crying.”
My throat constricts. I can still taste her on my lips, still feel her trembling beneath my fingers. They should shoot me here.
"Her dress," I growl. "Maksim noticed. Wanted under it." That’s not a lie, but it’s not why she ran in crying. Jesus, I’m lying to my boss.
“Fuck, I was afraid of that.” Alessandro shakes his head.
Adriano’s eyes narrow. "What did he do?"
"He touched her," I say, sticking to the half-truth. "Put his hands where they shouldn't be. She rebuffed him, but it shook her up."
Alessandro's jaw tightens. "You’re supposed to prevent that from happening."
“Should I have killed him?” I snap before I think better of it.
Both men’s brows arch.
I take a breath. “She’s not so much upset about his trying to touch her as she is scared of what's coming. Of what he'll be like when there's no one around to stop him."
Adriano glares at Alessandro. "I told you this arrangement was a mistake."
"It's not a mistake," Alessandro says tightly. "It's necessary."
The brothers continue their debate, but my mind drifts to wondering how Alessandro can do this to her.
Trade his own sister to save his own ass. I've always respected him, followed him without question, but this…
I watch him now, so cold and calculating, justifying sacrificing Valentina to a monster for "peace." It's not peace he wants.
It's power.
Control.
And he'll use his innocent sister to get it.
My loyalty has never wavered until now.
But with every passing second, resentment takes root.