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“I don’t want to. He was just helping me out.”
“Anyway, he’s not interested in you. He was kissing Piper on the doorstep,” I say, and everyone’s eyes turn to Piper. She blushes as I leave my untouched breakfast on the table. “I need to shower. Be ready in ten, Piper, and we’ll go get your stuff.”
Chapter Nine
PIPER
I check through my bag one last time. My mum reaches her hand inside and fishes out a bright pink thong. I snatch it back and stuff it deeper into the bag. “Why Italy?” she asks.
“Why not? I think Anton has business there.”
“Are you with him? As in a relationship?”
I shrug and zip the bag up. “We haven’t really discussed it. Would it upset you if we were?”
“Nope,” she says, popping the P. “Not as long as you’re happy. And, secretly, I’m happy you’re not dating a biker, but don’t tell your dad that.”
I laugh. “You don’t like bikers?”
“I just want more for my baby girl.” She stands and tucks my hair behind my ear. “I love your pops, but not once has he ever taken me outta this country. The club comes first, and I don’t begrudge that. I love The Rebellion. But if you have the chance to see the world, then take it.”
“Relax, Mum. It’s a few days in Italy, not an around-the-world trip. Keep an eye on Mae for me and call me if anything happens with her.” I kiss her on the cheek and grab my bag. “And don’t tell Pops until I’ve gone. I don’t need that kind of stress.”
We get to the airport, and Michael drives us straight onto the tarmac. “Don’t we have to go into the airport first?” I ask, stepping out onto the runway.
“Not today.” Anton hands my bag to a man in a steward’s uniform and then takes my hand and pulls me towards a small plane. We climb the steps and are met at the door by a pretty stewardess. She greets us warmly and shows us into the plane, where Michael is already taking his seat along with a few other men. I spot Ella at the back of the plane, and while Anton shakes hands with the others, I take my seat by her. After last night, I don’t want to spend the next few hours with Anton.
Once we’re in the air, Ella asks the stewardess for a bottle of cava. Every so often, I feel Anton’s eyes glance in our direction. I feel like he’s disapproving, but he’s in deep conversation with a few of the men and it doesn’t look like he’ll be getting away anytime soon, so I let Ella fill my glass and relax. “So, you and Hulk, huh?” Ella asks.
“It’s not like that. We aren’t together. The kiss just happened. Sometimes it’s like that with Hulk, but he isn’t relationship material. I’ve spent a long time praying that he’d change, but I’m finally starting to see that he won’t.” The confession takes me by surprise.Am I starting to get over Hulk?
“He has player written all over his sexy backside,” Ella says, and I clink my glass with hers. When I first met Ella, I thought she was a cow. Maybe the stories I’d heard from Lucy had swayed my thinking, but I was wrong. The more time I spend with her, the more I like her.
It’s a few hours before we land and then another hour of driving before we stop inside the gates of a private villa. I think my jaw hits the floor as I step inside the traditionally decorated house. “We own it,” whispers Ella, nudging me towards the stairs. We drank far too much on the flight, and I’m feeling a little giddy as we make our way up. “There’s a pool. Get your swimming costume on.” She leaves me standing in a bedroom.
There’s a large four-poster bed in the centre of the room. It’s so big that there’s a step going around the bottom to help you climb up. A set of double doors lead onto a balcony. The doors are open, so I step out to take a look at the views. For miles, there are fields, and it’s a beautiful sight compared to the dreary London buildings. On the grounds below is a swimming pool surrounded by sun loungers. I rush back into the room and strip off my clothes. I’m just fastening my bikini top when the door opens and Anton waltzes in. He pauses and looks me up and down. “Sorry,” I mumble, “Ella said this was my room.”
“Our room,” says Anton as he places his own bag by the bed. “Some of the men who are here with us need to think we’re together.”
I stare at him, my eyes wide. “What?”
“The plan,” he says, looking at me like I’m stupid. “It’s part of it.”
“You want to pretend to your men that we’re a couple? Why do you care if they think we are or not?”
“It’s important. You wouldn’t understand.”
“Try me,” I insist. He’s making no sense. I thought he was in charge of this organisation.
“The men are losing faith. They want a leader who is settled and gives them hope of an heir to take over after me.”
“Wow. That’s gone from pretending we’re together to providing the Mafia boss with an heir,” I screech. “It sounds like a bad romance story.”
“Relax,” he hisses. “It’s a temporary plan to settle them down until I can find a woman worthy of carrying my heir.” I raise a surprised brow. I’m not sure if he realises how insulting that last sentence was, and when he eventually looks at my face, he rolls his eyes. “I didn’t mean that you aren’t worthy.”
“What did you mean?” I snap.
“Christ, woman. You don’t want to have a baby anyway, so what are you pissed about?”
