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Why does life have to be so unfair?
I run my hand along the cold marble counter top. It’s white with grey and rose gold etch marks. The walk-in shower is behind clear glass doors, the toilet between it and a short privacy wall with narrow shelves built into the wall across from it. In it are towels, face clothes, and toiletries like shampoo, body wash, lotion, hair products, bath oils, bath bombs, and other stuff.
“He goes all out, doesn’t he?” I mutter, reaching for the bath oil.
Eucalyptus & Mint.
I open it up and smell it. Refreshing and calming. It’s one of my favorite scents. There’s no way he knew that. Wild guess, I’m sure. I put it back and reach for the shampoo. Vanilla sugar. Exactly what I have at home. I narrow my eyes and glance at the door.
How the hell did he know that?
With a shake of my head, I put the shampoo back and take the bath oil and move to the tub. There are no faucets to turn, so I mess with the panel. It beeps when I press the screen. I select the temperature of the water, and when it asks how long to keep it at the temperature, I turn to glare at the tub. Is this heated? Ugh, I hate that I love this. I select an hour, press start, and the tub begins to fill. I pour some oil in and return the bottle to the shelf. A relaxing bath is what I need, especially since my last one was so rudely interrupted by the king of hell. I’m also sweaty and covered in dirt.
I sit on the edge of the tub, breathing in the scent of the bath oil, hoping it’ll relax me. Taking the pressure off my feet makes them burn more. I lift one to look at it, noting the dried blood, scrapes, dirt, and little pebbles.
I should have asked for a First-Aid kit.
All I need is to get an infection…
I go through the drawers in search of a hair tie. Each drawer has small containers that fit together like puzzle pieces. All filled with different things: hair ties, pins, clips, and so much more. In another, there is make up. All sorts, many brands. There are at least five different mascaras in here.
“Seriously, Vincenzo?” I mutter. Does he really think I’m this spoiled? Because I’m not.
I close the drawer harder than necessary and throw my hair up into a messy bun. I glance in the mirror to look myself over. His shirt hangs from my small frame, swallowing me whole—just like he will, eventually, I’m sure. I can only tolerate so much. Everyone has a breaking point. I can’t imagine ever being happy here if I’m being held against my will. I don’t want to think about what else comes along with being his wife…
I don’t care about anything he has to offer me; all I want is my freedom. I want to leave. I don’t want to be stuck here, and I don’t want to marry him.
So what’s a girl to do?
Simple.
Make him regret his choice.
Chapter Seventeen
Vincenzo
Me and my guys pay a local to drop us a half mile from the warehouse—as close as any outside is allowed to go. We’ll walk the rest of the way. Coming to the warehouse isn’t as bad as going to the fields in Columbia. At least we have vehicles and trails here. In Columbia, it’s just brush, woods, nature. It’s a pain in the ass, and after the last time I went there, I told Elio it would never happen again.
This is my least favorite part of the job, which is why I’m so antsy to get back home. I tell myself it has nothing to do with Jordan, and everything to do with the discomfort of being out here. Despite her next-level brattiness and need to annoy me, I can’t get her out of my head. And it isn’t only the need to tame her. It’s more than that. More than her beauty and what she can give me. It’s because she’s fighting. The fight she has is something I can appreciate. It tells me our children will be strong-willed. They’ll be fighters too. And they’ll have to be in this world.
The biggest problem will be getting Jordan to play the part of happy wife and allowing me to put my child in her. The sudden need to do so is interesting, even to myself. I’ve gone all these years without a care of not having a wife or a child, even though my father made sure my brothers and I knew how important it was. Still, I had no interest. There was no point to add more stress to my life, and my brothers agree. At least, I can only assume they have, since they too remain single and childless. Something about Jordan Delise, though. She’s changed my view on everything, and for no reason I can explain.
“You punishing us?” Antonio asks after we’ve been walking for a few minutes.
“If I have to suffer, so do you,” I respond.
Antonio and Rocco are my two most loyal men. The two who are by my side for everything. The three of us work well together, but most importantly, we trust one another. There is no doubt in my mind that if it came down to it, these men would lay their lives on the line for me. Which is why they’re here.
I don’t have friends. But I suppose I could consider them the closest thing to one. I know things about their lives, their families, or lack thereof, I suppose. Neither of them are married. It comes with the job. Caring about people makes you worry. It gives you too much to focus on, meaning you’re careless. Distracted. No one in this world needs that shit. Except suddenly, I feel like I do.
“Thanks, boss,” Antonio says with a chuckle.
He talks a lot. Sometimes too much. The guy always speaks his mind, but he does it respectfully. Rocco is the opposite. The strong and silent type. He’s the deadliest guy who works for me. Ex-military will do that to you. These guys and I have been working together for close to twenty years, and I see nothing about that changing anytime soon.
“So, what are we looking for here?” Antonio asks.
“Need to talk to Thiago. Shit’s going missing.”
