Page 54 of The Billionaire's Destiny

“Mrs. Marini, Mrs. Marini. Why is your father in Rome? Did you agree to settle before he could file a lawsuit against you?”

“Is the restraining order necessary?”

“Are you having a boy or a girl?”

I bit my cheek, fighting back a grimace. Even with rumors of my father’s firing, the press played their game, and he seemed to be winning. Memories of Mama, Jacob, and everything we’d endured flashed through me. To the world, I was now the problem child. It felt like Judge Colby was daring me to reveal his secrets.

Zane opened the door, and I quickly climbed into the car. However, he promptly reopened it, and Rocco climbed inside. His hair was still damp from the shower. He immediately removed his suit jacket and hung it on a hook. Zane closed the privacy window, and we pulled away from the front of the hotel.

“Your father’s in Rome,” Rocco announced, his tone surprisingly even.

“Yeah. Zane told me,” I said and cleared my throat. “Was that the reason you had an emergency meeting with Gunnar last night?”

“We had other things to discuss about Luca’s will. But don’t worry. Your father won’t be a concern anymore.” He sounded quite final in his words, and I was curious.

“Why not?”

“Because I won’t let a damn thing happen to you.” His hand clasped mine and sent a spark to my skin. I glanced up at him, and he was watching me. “All right?” He let me go and reached inside his blazer pocket. “I believe you were trying to retrieve this in the bathroom.” It was my charm bracelet.

“Thanks.” He brushed his fingers over the stones before fastening the bracelet on my wrist, as if sealing his claim. My pulse raced at his nearness, his focused tenderness. I ached to reach for him, but fear held me back. What if he told me not to?

He brushed my wrist with his thumb, feeling my pulse. “You’re nervous.”

“No, I’m not,” I lied.

“Don’t lie. You never need to lie to me.” There was annoyance tinged with sadness in his tone. My hiding things had made him doubt me, and I needed to do whatever I could to be open with him, even if it embarrassed me.

So, I took a deep breath and said, “Fine. Being close to you…you touching me makes me feel…excited.”

“Yeah, and that’s why I do it.” His voice was amused.

“I know…and I, uh, didn’t mean to…interruptyour shower.”

He slowly let my wrist go and sat back. “It’s fine.”

I scrunched up my face. “Is it? Are we…fine? I mean, I know you’re still upset with me?”

“I am,” he said in an even tone.

I deflated inside. Nothing had changed.So, why did I bring that up?“Forget it. You don’t have to explain why you did it—”

“I have no intention of explaining why I masturbated, Adelina.”

I smirked at his frankness, but no kiss and a rush to the shower? My father often did the same thing when he cheated.

“Masturbation isn’t the problem. Why did you rush off to the shower? Didsomething elsehappen at the photoshoot with your female photographer?”

His eyes widened then narrowed. “Hell no. I was covered in makeup and sand from a desert scene. I’m still bruised from the accident.”

“Oh, yeah,” I murmured, my face heating.

He snorted. “I can’t even believe you’d think that about me.”

The tension in my body eased some. “Fine. I apologize, but what am I supposed to think?”

“That I masturbated in the shower. Something you’ve watched me do before.”

I lifted my chin. “But we…I was waiting for you.”