Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 61942 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 310(@200wpm)___ 248(@250wpm)___ 206(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 61942 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 310(@200wpm)___ 248(@250wpm)___ 206(@300wpm)
“Perhaps a fake engagement will turn into a real one. Maybe false affection will become sincere. Maybe once you and your father make peace, you and Victor can pick up where you left off.”
“You just…figured this out?”
“His request was suspicious. The only reason he should help you is because he’s furious that his employer would shoot the woman he loves. The fact that he’s trying to strike a deal with you in the midst of all that tells me there’s more going on.”
I hadn’t thought of any of that.
“So Leonardo probably convinced him of this plan, and as an incentive, Victor would get back the life he lost. You two would live here in Florence. Get remarried. Maybe have a few kids. Victor would move up in the ranks. Maybe take Leonardo’s place once the time came. It all makes sense.”
“But you don’t have any evidence.”
“Unless I can eavesdrop on their conversations, I’ll never have any evidence.”
“I could ask Victor—”
“No.” His arms crossed over his chest. “That’s the worst thing you could do. And you can’t tell him about me either.”
“Why not?”
“Because if I’m in the picture again, he won’t help you.”
“I can’t lead him on—”
“He’s leading you on.”
“We don’t know that—”
“This is my world, sweetheart. I know how it works. I know how men like Leonardo think.”
“I can’t go on lying to Victor.”
“He said he wanted a chance when you’re ready. Then don’t be ready.”
“I did tell him I’m not over you.”
“Then continue not to be over me.”
I still felt guilty about the deceit. It was one thing to be open to the possibility, but knowing there was no chance whatsoever now made me feel like a big, fat liar. But if Bartholomew was right, there was no reason to feel guilty. I’d thought I was playing Leonardo, but Leonardo was playing me. “I really hope this isn’t true…”
He stared at me with his dark eyes, enigmatic and commanding. “Trust me, sweetheart.”
I hadn’t trusted him last time—and that was my greatest mistake. “I do.”
15
BARTHOLOMEW
Her head rested on my shoulder, her arm around my waist underneath the sheet. Her hair ran down my arm. One of her thighs rested on top of my leg. She smothered me with her smell, roses after a springtime rain.
My head turned, and I dragged my lips across her hairline before I gave her a kiss.
She squeezed me a little tighter in response.
It was dark outside, and the only light in the apartment was from the lamp on her nightstand. Our phones were on the surface, blank with inactivity. The world was quiet, and it was just the two of us wrapped in this bubble of tranquility.
Finally, I wasn’t angry.
I wasn’t happy either.
I’d found peace.
When Bleu had told me she was engaged to that coward, I’d boarded my jet without packing a bag and took off. It was an emotional impulse, an attack that would go nowhere, but I couldn’t stop myself from airing my grievances, from telling Laura how much she’d ruined me.
I hadn’t expected it to end like this.
She changed her position, propping herself on her elbow so she could look at me. “How long are you staying?”
“I should leave in the morning.” I shouldn’t have come in the first place. Had too much shit to do.
Her brilliant eyes flashed in disappointment. “When will you be back?”
“Not sure.”
“I can come to Paris—”
“You can’t leave. Not if you want to finish what you started.” I thought she should abandon this vendetta, but I knew it was too important to her. Maybe they’d double-crossed her, but she could triple-cross them. “If you return to Paris, they’ll know why.”
“Well, I can’t go long without you…” Her hand felt my chest, felt my stomach, felt me everywhere. She worshipped my body like I’d just given her a wad of cash that could buy her an apartment. But she wanted me for me—no other reason.
“I’ll come back when I can.”
“And I’ll just walk into the apartment and find you sitting in the shadows?”
“Yes.”
“What if Victor is with me?”
“I’ll hide until he leaves. Or kill him. Depends on my mood.”
“My father stopped by my apartment one day…”
Too bad that wasn’t today. I could have taken the opportunity to stab him in the neck. “What did he want?”
“To talk to me about Victor.” Her voice was quiet, as if she was reliving that intimate conversation. “How are things at work?”
If only she knew. “Busy.”
“Have you reconsidered attacking my father?”
It might make things better with my men, but I would forfeit my honor and self-respect. “It seems like you already have it covered.”
“It’s gonna be a while before I get what I want.”
“He’s waiting for the moment when you let bygones be bygones. Once you do, that’s your chance.”
“I knew if I did it too fast, he wouldn’t believe me.”
“Well, you’re engaged to Victor now…” I hated saying those words, even if they weren’t true, even if she’d been committed to me this entire time. Once Laura killed Leonardo, I might not be able to resist the temptation to kill Victor too. “The sooner you finish it, the sooner you can come home.”