Page 33 of Taking His Heart

“Argh, I’m not doing this.” I walk into my assigned guestroom and slam the door closed. I just need to sleep. Maybe I’ll wake up and realize this entire trip has been one big nightmare.

Chapter Fifteen

She’s fucking with my head. Even when she’s not trying to, she is. I needed to walk away before I said something I couldn’t take back. Because, fuck, I’m angry. At her. At the situations she’s put us in. And at whatever the fuck it is that’s holding her back.

She either needs to tell me, or like I told her, she needs to leave me the fuck alone. Although it was me who jumped into the pool with her. And it was me who initiated what happened in that pool.

Do I regret it? Fuck no. Daniella is hands down the only woman I’ve never been able to get enough of. No matter how many times I’ve had her, I want more.

The problem with that is… she doesn’t want more. I’m sure if I was fine with a casual, no-strings-attached arrangement with her, we’d be fucking on every surface available. I don’t want that with her, though. No, when it comes to Daniella, I want it all.

I walk into the control room at the Wild Card. It’s where our security team monitors the casino’s camera feed. Every screen has eyes on it. Not a single person is going to cheat without us finding out. I’m hoping some asshole is trying tonight. I could do with a way to burn this pent-up anger I’m bottling up.

As my gaze goes from screen to screen, nothing stands out. Fucking hell, I’m not supposed to want anything to stand out but I really could use a body to destroy tonight.

“Call me if anything looks sus. I’m bored,” I tell the head of security.

“Will do, Mr. Bianchi.” Hunter nods as I walk out of the room.

I then head to my office, which is down another corridor. Press my palm to the door and wait for the light to go green before I turn the handle. I pause the moment I walk in. “How’d you get in here?”

My question is greeted by an eye roll. “You’re not the only one from a crime family, CJ. I know my way around a locked door.”

“Really?” I raise a brow.

“Fine. Aiden let me in. But before you get shitty at him, I threatened the future of his balls if he didn’t.”

“I’m sure you did. Why are you here, Dani?” I left her at the house, where she was safe, where she was far enough away from me.

“I think our fathers are trying to marry us off,” she says. “To each other.”

“I’m aware.”

“You are?” Her brows furrow in confusion.

“I am.” I nod and close the door as I walk farther into the office.

“Well, you need to stop it.” She turns as I walk around my desk and sit down.

“Why would I do that?”

“Because you can’t marry me, CJ.”

“Why can’t I?”

“You just can’t. Trust me, you do not want to marry me. You need to tell them no.”

“Give me one good reason why, and I’ll stop all talks of marriage.” I look at her and wait.

“I can’t have children,” she blurts out.

I blink, letting her words sink in. “You can’t have children?”

“I can’t get pregnant. I can’t carry a child. I cannot give you children, CJ. I can’t be your wife.” Her eyes glass over, but I know Daniella. She will hold back any tears she might want to shed right now.

“I’m not sure what one has to do with the other, Daniella,” I say calmly.

Is this what her hangup about a relationship has been this whole time? She can’t get pregnant? That’s why she didn’t stay when I asked her?