AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“You better explain more, because right now, I’ve gone from reassigning you to putting a bullet in your head for disrespecting me.”
The man doesn’t pale, which I give him credit for. I think he knows enough about me to know that I’m not kidding. Still, I’ve always sensed that Victorio doesn’t have designs on Emilia. If he did, he’d be dead. Up until this point, he’s just pissed me off because she likes him.
“She has scars,” he finally says, and he bites the words out which shows me he hates letting that information out.
“Scars?” I murmur. I wasn’t aware that Emilia was in any type of accident. That seems like something her father would have told me. I don’t really give a fuck. Emilia is beautiful, but even if she wasn’t, that wouldn’t bother me. She has a spirit that calls to me. It shines from within her. If life has taught me anything, it’s that physical beauty is fleeting. Hell, I know what I look like. In the looks department, Emilia could do much better.It doesn’t matter.I’m who she is getting.
“Not physical ones,” he mutters, confusing me all over again. “My sister was in an accident. Now she suffers from severe anxiety because of it. It can get so bad that she goes into panic attacks.”
“Are you saying that Emilia has anxiety?” All my encounters with Emilia have shown me that she has a fire inside her. I haven’t seen any reluctance on her part to tell me exactly what she’s feeling or wants. Considering who I am and what I do for a living, that would be dangerous for anyone but her.
“Not exactly. She doesn’t like interacting with people and new situations a lot, but she deals with it. She does have panic attacks, though. It helps her when I’m there to make sure they don’t get too bad. I understand them because I’ve helped my sister fight them.”
“Why does she have them?”
“I’m not an expert in this stuff, Mr. Petrova, but if I had to venture a guess…”
“Yes?”
“I’d say that losing her mother at such a young age has scarred her. When things crowd in on her and she has trouble compartmentalizing, it seems to trigger them.”
“Do theseattacksoccur often?”
“Less and less since she’s allowed me to help, but they do happen.”
I scratch along my jawline and the side of my chin as I consider this new information. “When did she have the last one?”
He gives me a resigned look, his gaze filled with quiet anger. He truly doesn’t like giving me Emilia’s secrets. What he doesn’t realize is that I’m not going to stop until I know every small thing about the woman who is to be my wife. It started because that is my standard method of operation. I have files on everyone in my life and I have them on everyone in Emilia’s. I’ve even made her aware of that.
“When, Victorio,” I prompt, again allowing him more leeway than I should.
“She had one after Mr. Korslova told her that her aunt and cousins were coming in.”
“I see. Did she have one when she discovered that the two of us were getting married?”
I tell myself I’m only asking out of curiosity. Yet, I can’t deny that I truly do want to know.
“No.”
I smile. I’m going to take that as a sign that she truly doesn’t mind our marriage and I can work on that. She wants me. Plus, there’s a connection between us that catches fire when we touch. It also helps that she understands this lifestyle. She might be young, but the ingredients are there to make a good union. Maxwell could be right. I just might thank him for all of this before it is over.
“Good. So—”
“She did have one after seeing you kiss Katherine Renally, however.”
“She did?” I question. This news doesn’t sit well with me. I know she didn’t like that I was seeing Katherine even after our engagement. I didn’t realize that her reaction was quite so volatile. I don’t need an over-emotional woman in my life. That won’t work at all. I frown. I’ll just have to explain to her that now that I know she is ready for a personal relationship, I won’t be looking elsewhere. That should clear the issue up.
“Yes. Emilia isn’t the type to run from her circumstances or what her father wants for her. She’s a realist.”
“Why am I sensing a but?”
“She can be hurt,” Victorio answers.
“And you think seeing me with Katherine that night hurt her?”
“It did. She has asked several times to be let out of the contract. She may not expect love like most girls in her position would, but it’s very important that she not be made a fool, either.”
“You seem to know Emilia very well.”
