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“This makes no sense,” I implore him, needing him to tell me this isn’t true. The woman I love isn’t going to marry herself off to a God that doesn’t exist. “You’ve shipped her off to some godforsaken place where she’s not happy. You’ve forced this on her. She would never have decided to stay if you didn’t coerce her.”
“She wouldn’t have told me she wants to stay to complete her vows if she wasn’t happy,” he informs me, rising to full height, and I know he’s done it to tower over me. Only, when I straighten, I’m a few inches taller than him.
“Arthur,” I sigh, hoping to come to an agreement with the man beneath the leader of an organization of assassins. I want to appeal to the father. “I love her. If you just gave us a chance to—”
“You have a job to do, Lance. I trust you can complete it. The subject of my daughter is off limits. I only told you about her decision to make sure you realize she’s never coming back.” He rounds the desk, stalking toward the doorway before turning to regard me once more. “Can I count on you?”
I want to refuse him. To tell him to go fuck himself, but I don’t. I’ve been trained in this life, and now that I know the one woman who could’ve saved me from myself, from this life of blood and violence, doesn’t want me, I nod. “Yes, you can count on me.”
Watching Arthur turn and leave me in the office, I feel every part of my soul shatter when I realize she’s gone. I never thought love was possible. Not once in my life did I think I’d find someone to want me as much as I want her, but this is evidence enough that I’m too fucked up to have happiness. Losing Giuliana was the one and only mistake I made, and I’ll have to live with it for the rest of my life.
I’ll focus on killing assholes who deserve it and drinking away the pain. Stalking from the office, I make my way down to my bike. The black, red, and silver Yamaha Fireblade is my pride and joy. I decided then and there to make my way back to the bar where the pretty blonde was offering her body to me, and I’ll take as much as I can before I leave for San Antonio in the morning.
Fuck Arthur. I’ll leave on my say so, not his. Not today anyway.
When I pull up to the bar thirty minutes later, I saunter through the door to find the blonde wiping down the counter. Her huge cerulean eyes rise to meet my dark ones.
“I didn’t think you were coming back,” she tells me with a sultry smile. Her lips are pouty, bright red, and shimmering with whatever shit she’s put on them.
“I got busy, but I never let a pretty lady down.” It’s true; there’s only one reason I’ll put a woman down, and that’s when she’s on her knees taking my cock in any one of her holes. And tonight, this little waif will be doing just that. Closing the distance between the bar and me, I settle on the stool, tapping the countertop. “Whiske
y, neat.”
She pours the drink, but her gaze is pinned on me. Just as the liquid reaches the brim of the shot glass, she stops, setting the bottle beside me. “Looks like you need this.” Her smile is beautiful, brightening the darkness in my mind, but it won’t last. Fleeting moments I spend with women are just that — transient. And tonight, that’s what I need.
Swallowing the alcohol, I pour another shot while the pretty blonde moves around the room, closing and locking the door. She’s back behind the bar in moments, and I realize we’re alone. The lights are dimmed, and I gulp down my third shot by the time she’s settled on a chair beside me.
“Tell me about the girl who broke your heart?” Her question jars me, reminding me of what Arthur said. As much as I don’t want to believe the fucker, I can’t deny he’s never lied to me before. Why start now? Because he doesn’t want you with his daughter. That’s why.
Do I really want this right now?
Turning toward those blue eyes, I grip her long blonde hair that hangs down to the middle of her back and pull her in for a kiss. Our lips meld, hot and wet, as her tongue darts out to lick at mine. A groan rumbles low in my chest as I relish in her sweetness.
My cock is hard. It’s ready to play.
But my heart and mind aren’t in it.
Not one fucking bit.
Pulling away, I focus on the alcohol, downing another shot before I decide this one-night stand is not worth it. Rising from my seat, I face her. “Is there a room I can crash in tonight?”
She nods. The realization of what I’m going through is clear on her pretty face. “There’s a bed in the attic which is just up those stairs.” She points to the wooden door beside the bar. “You’re welcome to sleep there.”
Smiling, I nod and rise. Slapping down a couple of hundreds on the bar, I grab the whiskey. “I’ll need this too.” I turn and head for the door. Shoving it open, I don’t look at her again. I’m about to disappear over the threshold when she calls to me.
“Hey, if you ever change your mind.”
I nod and head upstairs without another thought of her or her offer. The only thing on my mind right now is the alcohol in my hand and forgetting all about Giuliana Calthorpe.
Giuliana
My father will be here soon.
The dread sitting in the pit of my stomach is like a lead weight bearing down on me, leaving me breathless. It’s always been like this, him against me. Never in my life has Arthur ever allowed me freedom or asked my opinion on something. He would lay down the law, and I would have to obey.
My hair is covered by a white habit, giving me a virginal look, along with the long dark frock that I pull on. Something I’m certain would please my father. I know he’s relieved I’ve decided to stay here, only, he doesn’t realize I’m going to be escaping.
There’s a high wall that surrounds the convent and church, which you can’t see through, and the gate that sits at the entrance is typically guarded by two security guards. I noticed they take shifts, and I’ve timed it perfectly.
