We all watch as Mariella swims to the edge of the pool and summons the guard over with a whistle. “Hey, Cam. C’mere.”
“Miss Vitale.” He stalks over and stands before her, his gaze dipping to her bikini before he looks at her face. “What can I do for you?”
“Come closer.” She gestures for him. “I want to tell you something.”
He leans down, and Mariella grabs his junk and twists so hard he doubles over and topples into the water with a big splash. A chorus of muffled gasps erupts around us as he flails his way to the surface, and two other guards appear, dragging him from the water.
“Miss Vitale.” Pauly, her personal guard, enters the fray as Nicky joins him. “What would you like us to do with him?”
“Take the creep to another post on the property,” she tells them. “He’s not to have any more contact with us.”
“What the fuck,” the man splutters.
“Just be grateful you’re still breathing,” she says. “If one of my brothers were here, that would have been an executable offense.”
The other two men haul him off, and I shudder. “Thanks for defending my honor.”
“Always, baby girl.” Mariella winks at me. “Now come join us. This is supposed to be a bachelorette party.”
“Exactly,” Serafina chimes in. “Let’s have some fun.”
I groan, and she gives me an evil little smile before she cannonballs into the pool and splashes me with water.
“Ta-da.” She bobs back to the surface and peers over the ledge. “You’re healed.”
13
ABELLA
After a full day of eating, drinking, sun, and jet lag, I end up crashing after our early dinner. But even with a sleeping pill, I fall into a fitful rest, tossing and turning as the wedding looms over me like a doomsday clock.
For a while, it seems like I’m trapped in dream after endless dream, trying to alter my destiny as I walk down the aisle to a man I don’t love. I wake several times with a racing heart and an urge to flee, though I know I wouldn’t make it out of the resort.
I respect Matteo. I care about him as a friend.But I don’t want to marry him.
As I drift back to sleep, his image is replaced by a haunting pair of dark eyes cloaked behind a skull mask.
A charge pulses through the air as rough fingers caress the length of my jaw, disorienting me. It doesn’t feel like a dream when I blink, and he’s still there, towering over my hotel bed.
“Hello,cara.” His thumb brushes my lips, stealing the breath from me when they part.
“Who are you?” I force the words from my dry throat.
“Have you forgotten?” His fingers drift down to my chest, pausing to graze my nipple. “Il tuo re.”
Your king.
A current of electricity passes through my body, branding me with those words. It triggers a sharp, violent ache inside me.
I want him to possess me.
I want him to take me away from here.
But when I blink again, he’s gone.
I sit up and glance around the empty room in confusion. Moonlight filters through the gauzy curtains, a light breeze blowing in from the sliding door. I left it cracked, knowing there are at least ten guards outside. Now, the room feels stifling.
As I ease my legs over the edge of the bed and rise to my feet, the summer heat clings to my skin. It’s only five a.m., and the sun hasn’t risen yet, but my curiosity won’t be sated until I get answers. I have to know if he was really here.
