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Unlike the hungry kiss I gave her in the elevator, she gives a feathery kiss against my mouth. Hardly but a brush, but enough to ease my worries.
“The sooner I finish this project, the sooner we can let things go back to normal.” Biting her lip, she lifts away before allowing temptation to convince her to kiss me twice. A safe choice for both of our sanity.
“I’ll try not to distract you too much then.” Squeezing her hips, I find the strength to release her.
If this is just another task for her to do, then maybe I can pretend everything is fine and keep doing my job without anyone suffering from my greediness to be next to this woman.
Grabbing her food, she settles in her chair once more and resumes eating. With flushed cheeks, I assume she’s trying to brush off her actions cooley. It’s cute.
I’m growing hungrier by the minute as I watch her, and it’s not because of the food in her hands.
If she can find the strength to give me reassuring smiles and believes everything will be alright, then I’ll put my faith in her.
Until then, I’m going to keep hold of my bearings and try not to lose myself over this woman.
Veronica
With Nicola’s tasks keeping me busy, the next few days fly by as a blur.
I’ve found the event mentioned. A masquerade ball. I’ve only ever seen those in movies, and they’ve always looked so fun to attend.
This one is used to cover up an auction, just as Nicola mentioned. These women will be dancing with men who intend on buying them by the end of the night. It’s a wicked way to let them see the merchandise up close before they offer any money.
The woman, the daughter of the man who is in charge of the family in that district, is all but another piece to buy. If I have to guess, she’s going to cost a lot.
If I have to guess, Bertone doesn’t want his firstborn to be the one to take over the family, even if it means marrying her off to some powerful figure. My theory only grows when I discover his wife is six months into her next pregnancy.
What a cruel man this Bertone boss truly is.
When I request Nicola to give him the information, he arrives in a matter of minutes.
This woman isdefinitelyhis weakness.
It’s why his face darkens when I expose her fate.
“You might not have been invited, but I’m sure they won’t turn down the offer of money.” Looking at the image of an emailI pulled up with a scheduled time, my nose scrunches. “Everyone loves money.”
“If they know I’m coming, I’ll be shot down before I can even hit the entrance.” He scowls at the thought. “That Bertone bastard and I aren’t the best of friends.”
Sitting there, I let the man think. I don’t know much about how these families work. I know some are more friendly toward each other, and some feel more hatred. I’m not the sort who enjoys being placed in the middle. Right now, I want Nicola alive.
He’s not a bad man. Sure, he’ll kill, but so will everyone else connected to him. He’s nice enough to believe in second chances.
Hell, he wants to save this poor woman before she gets sold off to some scumbag into some deranged arranged marriage.
“Get into the cameras of the place and give me a layout of the building.” Bringing his hand to his chin, his brows furrow. “I’ll need all the information I can get my hands on.”
“You plan on going in alone?”
This makes him smirk. “I love my family, but they’ll get in my way.”
Maybe Nicola isn’t as smart as I originally thought. He’s a risk-taker, that’s for sure.
Nodding my head, I take in the address. Now that we knowwhenthe event will take place, I have only a couple of days before he sets out to get the woman.
“What’s going to happen to her once you reach her?”
If he’s not going to show up with money to buy her, then I can only assume she’ll get the same treatment I’ve experienced. Whisked away from her life and thrown into the mess of another.
