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“Enough with the fucking questions,” he said, then lowered his voice. “For once in your life, do what you’re told. You’ve got one ally in this house, me. Don’t fuck it up.”
I started up the stairs to the second-floor bedrooms. Instead of leading me to the master bedroom, Tim opened a door across the hall. I stepped into the large room.
“I’ll bring your bags up. Don’t leave the room or I’ll lock you in.”
And with that, he closed the door, leaving me alone in the suffocating silence. Out of tears, I crossed the room to the large windows overlooking the rear of the property. Just below me, sunlight glinted off the sparking ice blue water of the kidney-shaped pool. The surface was calm, like glass. Nothing like I was feeling.
Surrounding the mansion, the grounds were immaculate. Lush green grass, terracotta pathways, perfectly trimmed shrubs, and towering trees.
Not much had changed since I was here with Marco. Except now he hated me, and this palace was to be my prison. I’d done this. I’d made choices. I could’ve allowed myself to be swept away by the magic of his touch. He’d fucked me against the glass here in his castle, but I no longer believed in the fairytale.
Marco wasn’t the villain, but I couldn’t trust him to be my hero either.
Chapter Eleven
Marco
“Tomorrow,” I said to Anna. There could be no more delays, no interference from Allegra’s family, and no opportunity for her to conspire against me. Forty-eight hours from now, she’d be my wife. Not because I wanted a liar for a wife, but no one else would have her either.
“Marco, be reasonable.” Anna’s voice came through the speaker on my phone. I stood in the office of my new home, my bride locked in her tower, and my fucking empire at risk.
Thiswasme being reasonable.
“People need time to plan. You can’t announce a wedding with no notice.”
“This isn’t a wedding. It’s a marriage ceremony. No reception, no photos. No fucking cake.”
She was silent for a moment on the other end. Then she sighed. “What happened? Did she find out about Francesca? You are so stupid. Why would you sleep with that whore when I know you’ve fallen in love with Allegra?”
My gut clenched, and bile rose in my throat. I wanted to vent to my sister, to disparage Allegra, but the words tasted bitter on my tongue. My head fought with my heart. For the first time, I refused to trust my instincts.
Unless she confessed his name, her association with him, and the reason she deceived Orlando to meet with her Irish… I couldn’t think of his hands on her. Did he kiss her, make her body slick with sweat as she trembled with pleasure, and taste the saltiness of her flesh?
My hand balled into a fist. I remembered the blush of passion, the intimate whispered words, and the silent cries as she climaxed. I lowered my head, my chin nearly touching my chest. Perhaps the man wasn’t her lover, but there was still an intimate connection.
He had a piece of her, and she was mine.
“Stefano is going to be annoyed, but Savio asks for you. You know Giada will insist to come along.”
Giada would pollute my home with poison, but she was a specter in my relationship with Allegra. Perhaps it would be good for Allegra to see what her duplicity could bring. Jealousy had eaten at her over my relationship with Giada. Let her see how I treated a traitorous cunt.
“Savio needs his mother with him.” I walked to the window. I needed someone I could trust with Allegra. “I need you here, Anna.” I could feel my control slipping. “I’m going to speak with Cirillo. I want you and Stefano to stay.”
There was work to be done.
“For how long?”
“I don’t know.” I poured another glass of whiskey. “Bring Francesca.”
A small gasp echoed through the phone. “Marco. No,” she whispered. “You say you’ll have a marriage but not a wedding. You won’t have either if you bring your mistress into your home.”
Once again, images of Allegra in the arms of the Irish tainted my memories. I wouldn’t think of her lips around my cock, the way her eyes sparkled when I placed the ruby on her finger, or the dark and seductive tilt to her lips as she dipped the tip of her blade into my flesh.
She’d been the woman I needed at my side. Now, I wanted to wrap my hands around her neck, force the bitch to confess… and I’d still want to fuck her.
“Francesca knows what I need.”
“In the bedroom.” Disgust dripped from her words. “I’m not bringing your mistress to your marriage. I don’t need to have met Allegra to know you’re being an ass to her.”
