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"The feeling is mutual," I drawl. A wave of tiredness washes over me. Fuck, guess that adrenaline rush didn't do me any favors. Every time I think I am almost recovered from being shot, my body signals otherwise. Thank fuck, I am sitting. If I were standing, I'd have to find the nearest seat and collapse into it. As it is, I lean back in the sofa. I spread my legs, drum my fingers on my chest. "So, did I pass your little test, Don?"
"I am not sure yet," he replies.
I blink, then chuckle, "At least, you are a straight shooter. I like that."
"And you've bought yourself some time by marrying Theresa." He raises his glass in my direction. "Sorry,fratello,I'd offer you a drink but it's not wise to mix alcohol with whatever you are on."
I raise my gaze toward the ceiling, "Fuck my life."
Seb smirks. "No, that happens when you get married in seven days."
20
Theresa
"Seven days?" I throw up my hands. "What was I thinking? Why did I have to suggest such a short time frame? And why did he agree to it?"
"He wasn’t going to say no; not when you challenged him in front of his brothers," Cass says in a soothing voice.
"I only said seven days because I fully intended him to panic and say no."
"But he didn’t?" Elsa stares at me with wide eyes.
Yeah, after I had pulled that stunt where I had suggested that Axel marry me in a week, and after he had agreed, I had walked out of there in a daze. I hadn’t even waited to see if Axel was okay. I had seen how pale he’d been, had noticed the lines etched around his mouth. I’d known he was in pain, and had wanted to help him, but honestly, after the stunt he’d pulled, where he’d basically used me as a bargaining chip with the Sovranos, I’d figured he deserved it. So, I had walked out of there and headed to my room, where I had promptly lost my shit. I had called Cass and insisted that she come down. Then I had dialed Karma’s number, but she hadn’t picked up, so I had called Elsa and insisted that she come over to see me after she closed the shop for the day.
Now, I glance at her. "Nope," I shake my head, "he agreed." I raise my shoulders. "Who’d have thought that?"
"So, you thought he’d balk at the fact that it was such a short timeline? That’s why you suggested it?" Cass leans back against the settee.
"I was positive that he’d turn me down."
"So, you didn’t really think he would agree, huh?"
"I wasn’t sure," I confess. "I mean, he had decided to use me as a negotiating tool in order to get a piece of the Sovranos’ profits, but I thought that if I crunched the timeline, it would scare him off."
"And did it?" Elsa asks.
"Clearly, not." I rake my fingers through my hair, then begin to pace. "But why would he agree? He could have said no."
"Why would he say no, when he, clearly, wants a part of the power that the Sovranos wield?"
"He didn’t have to agree to marry me." I raise a shoulder. "He is one of the Sovrano brothers. Eventually, he’d have gotten what he asked from them."
"Maybe not quickly enough, though," Cass murmurs. "You probably crunched his timeline by half with your proposal."
"Argh," I squeeze my eyes shut, "what possessed me to come up with that? I mean, I could have simply bedded the guy. Why did I have to propose to him?"
"Because you want to make sure that he never leaves you?"
"Clearly, I am still suffering from PTSD from Xander leaving me." I lower my chin to my chest. "I think that’s why, when I found my control over the situation slipping, I blurted out the one thing I should have never voiced aloud."
"Perhaps it’s good that you spoke your mind." Cass rises to her feet. "This way, everyone knows where you stand."
"But I have no idea where he stands."
"He’s going to marry you, isn’t he?" Cass walks over to me. "He won’t go against the Sovranos. He’s given them his word on the wedding. And besides, as you said, he wants to have a say in the business. He won’t risk pissing them off."
"But he doesn’t love me," I slap my hand over my mouth. Did I say that out loud? Why the hell had I said that aloud?
