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Xander scoffs. I can tell he’s shocked, but he doesn’t let on much. Only his eyes widen a little. “You’re going to marry your play thing…just to prove a point? Fuck, her pussy must be made of gold—or she can suck some good cock.”
When I don’t respond, he laughs. “Suit yourself…I guess, but that doesn’t bring my money back. It doesn’t right a wrong, brother.”
I roll my eyes. “I’ll pay you whatever Leo owed you, but I’m sure this isn’t about the money.”
I know my brother far better than anyone in the room. Money isn’t what he’s after. He has a reason for calling me here. He just used Keira to ensure I would follow through.
“Yes, you’re correct. I don’t really want the money, but there is something else I want—besides your pet.”
I wait for the blow to come…
“You could start working for me again.”
My blood runs cold. No fucking way.
Before I can utter a single word, Uncle Dom cheers, lifting his glass in the air. “Well, perfect. I’m glad we were able to come to an agreement so quickly. You get to keep your pet, and the two of you are working together again. All’s right in our world, and the Rossi empire will prosper another year.”
Xander smirks like the fucking monster he is before excusing himself and getting up from his seat. I know there is no point in fighting him. There’s no point in any of this, actually. I basically gave myself back over to my brother—all to protect the fragile woman who owns a sliver of my heart. I did this for her. I did this for…
Love?
Another glass of whiskey is set beside me as the main course is brought to the table. I decide now that Keira is safe, I may as well drink myself into a drunken stupor. Since I just signed up to marry her—and fucking work for my monstrous brother again—I think I deserve a drink…or maybe twenty.
Chapter 17
Keira
I think I may have had a mild heart attack. I clutch a hand to my chest, my heart beating so fast, it hurts. Even now, as I walk around the mansion by myself, it doesn’t seem to want to slow.
I tell myself to breathe, and I do—though the action is painstakingly slow. I want to cry. I want to run out the front door and hide until it’s time to leave. I’m stupid…so stupid for playing into Xander’s twisted game. I should have known better than to take his bait, but he knew exactly what to say—exactly what to dangle in front of me to make me lose control.
I stroll the seemingly endless hall, feeling frazzled and stressed. Damon said to go to a bedroom upstairs—well, he should have given me a damn road map with instructions.
All the doors are closed…so how am I supposed to know where the bedrooms are? Or what rooms I can enter and what rooms I cannot.
It feels like a trap—like one wrong move and something’s going to jump out and get me. I already had a taste of fear downstairs when Damon nearly took my finger off. What’s the worst he could do now? Cut one off?
I open the first door to my right and pop my head in. It’s dark, but the light from the hallway allows me to see this is a sitting room of sorts. I close this door and try the next. My stomach clenches. What if Damon finishes his meal and I haven’t found a bedroom? Worse yet, what if his brother gets to me before he does?
With shaky hands, I twist the knob on the next door. I sigh, my eyes taking in the huge walk-in shower and clawfoot tub. Clearly, this is a bathroom, and one that’s bigger than the bedroom in my apartment.
Who has a bathroom this big?
I shake my head, my feet starting to ache from walking in these heels. Leaning against the wall in the hallway, I slip them off my feet. The floor is cold against my feet, but it’s a welcome feeling to my burning hot skin.
I tiptoe down the hall, stopping at another door. What I find behind it is so unbelievable, I think I might have landed in an alternate universe.
This room is unlike any other I’ve seen. The walls are painted pale blue. The furniture is white, and the room is lit with a nightlight that casts stars across the ceiling.
Is this a nursery?
I hold a hand to my lips. Is this…? Is this Xander’s child’s bedroom? No, it can’t be. Maybe it’s one of his worker’s children? Or someone else’s? There is no way Xander has a baby. No way.
A calming melody plays from a small toy sitting on top of the dresser. My feet move forward without my brain agreeing to do so. I only make it two steps before a voice drags me back to the present.
