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“Apart from enduring this latest humiliation, I’ll be fine.”
He lets go of my wrists and slides me to the bench before strapping me in.
“I’m not in agreement about Noah. I’m just not,” I say.
“Then you need to find a way to accept it. There is no alternative.”
I turn my gaze out the window because I’m crying again. Stupid. I don’t even know why. I should just be angry. I should just want to claw his eyes out.
“Do you need a minute?”
I shrug a shoulder, refusing to look at him. I’m unable to speak because my throat has closed up and I know if I open my mouth, I’ll just sob, and I can’t do that. Not now. Not in front of him. And I’m relieved when, without another word, he knocks on the window signaling the driver who gets in behind the wheel. We head off to wherever it is we’re going.
17
Cristiano
Her reaction wasn’t what I expected. I took her over my lap because it wouldn’t do serious damage, but it would chasten her. But to think I wouldn’t get hard doing it was my bad. And I knew the instant she felt me.
It’s been a few hours and she’s been moping along all afternoon, trying on whatever I pick out and refusing to look at me. I assumed she’d enjoy spending the day shopping. Don’t all women love to shop?
Maybe she’s embarrassed at what happened in the SUV but she needs to get over it. Even if her feelings are half as confused as mine.
I’m not apologizing for what I did. It needed to be done.
She needs to behave tonight. She needs to behave every night. And I meant what I said. I do hope she’ll be trustworthy because I don’t want to hurt her.
I was twelve when I started fighting. I don’t know any other way to be.
Her words repeat while I study her as she eats the last of her pasta. She still has an appetite. A good sign even if she hasn’t said one word to me in the last four hours. She’s processing and it’s a lot to take in. I have no doubt when I tell her about our upcoming nuptials, she’ll fight me again. In a way, I feel sorry for her but neither she nor I have a choice in the matter.
“Would you like dessert?” I ask once she’s finished and the waiter clears our plates.
“No.”
“No, thank you.”
She narrows her eyes, leans back in her chair and stubbornly sits there staring at me.
I lean toward her. “What is it, Little Kitten?”
She narrows her eyes at me. “How much longer is this shopping trip going to take?”
“You have somewhere to be?”
“Pretty much anywhere you’re not.”
“That’s too bad.” My phone rings then. It’s Charlie. “Excuse me.” I stand and walk away from the table to take the call. “Charlie?”
“There’s some noise about tonight.”
“What noise?”
“Not sure exactly yet but I talked to Antonio about doubling security.”
“Rinaldi?”
“I don’t know.”
“All right.” I take a breath in, glance at Scarlett.
“I’ll let you know as soon as I learn more,” he says.
“Thanks, Charlie. I’ll drop by later, too. I have a couple more names for you.”
He’s silent for a long moment. “I’ll be here.”
We disconnect and I dial my uncle. He answers on the third ring.
“I’m going to send Scarlett your way earlier than expected,” I say. “I’ll come later.”
“Something up?”
“Not sure.”
“All right. I’ll be expecting her.”
We disconnect and I go back to the table, checking my watch and signaling for Alec to come over.
“Sir?” Alec asks.
“Change of plans,” I tell him then turn to Scarlett. “You have one more stop to make before Alec takes you to my uncle’s house in the city.”
She looks up at Alec then at me. “You’re not coming with me?”
“I thought you didn’t want to be with me.”
“I guess I’d choose you over your uncle. I don’t know him, but I already know not to count that as a big win for you.”
“Slow learner, aren’t you?”
“Will your brother be there too? Because that would be a real treat.”
I sigh. “Dante is protecting his family. He has nothing against you personally.”
“Yeah, right. Can I just go back to the island?”
“I already told you we have an event tonight. Alec, you’ll take her to the boutique. Mrs. Sorani has chosen some dresses. She’ll have the final say on the dress then you’re to take her to the house. I’ll meet you there later. I have people scheduled to come to the house at a little after five to get her ready. Make sure she complies with anything they might need.” That last part I say to her.
“Yes, sir,” she says with a salute, mimicking my soldiers. I let it slide.
“You’re not to leave her side, understood?” I tell Alec.
He nods.
I take out my wallet and drop some bills on the table, more than enough to cover our lunch and the revenue the owner lost to close while hosting only us. I push my chair back and stand. Scarlett looks uncertainly from me to Alec and back. I’m surprised at her bravado. She is out of her league and out of her element and she knows it.
