The tension between him and Angelo is thick enough to cut with a knife, which makes me wonder what my husband has done to piss the guy off. Because it has to be something bad. Although, he only has tobreatheto pissmeoff.
As the silence between them stretches into the realm of deeply awkward, Remington spends a few seconds longer than is polite staring at my face and then body. His attention makes my skin crawl.
“Chiara. Such a beautiful name for a beautiful woman.” I frown. How does he know my name when Angelo hasn’t introduced us?
“Um, thanks?” I can’t even pretend to be polite. There’s something about this Remington guy that makes my skin itch. Kane must agree because he’s edged closer and his hand has moved close to the gun I know he carries beneath his beautifully tailored jacket, the one that highlights his broad shoulders and powerful arms. Not that I’ve spent a lot of time staring...
“You humiliated my daughter,” the man says while smiling, his eyes colder than fucking Siberia.
Angelo scoffs under his breath. “Paris and I were never serious, Tim. You know this.”
“Funny. She must have misread the situation.” Oh, so this guy has beef with Angelo? Is he an overprotective daddy seeking revenge for his poor daughter?Interesting.
“If she misread the situation, it was because she chose to,” Angelo snaps.
“Were you two an item before you fell in love with me, darling?” I ask, playing the part of a loving wife, just like Angelo asked me to. His eyes narrow for a second before he gives me a tight smile.
“Not quite, darling, but we can discuss it later. Right now, we have somewhere to be. Now if you’ll excuse me, Tim, I really must find my sister before the auction begins.”
Remington’s jaw ticks before he steps back. Goosebumps break out across my arms while my nipples poke holes in my bodice.
“Of course. Let’s catch up some other time. Perhaps at my club. You can bring your lovely wife. I’m sure she’d enjoy theentertainment.”
“Yes, let’s,” Angelo grits out before he steers me away so fast I almost stumble.
“I’d like to hear more about that man’s daughter,” I hiss. Am I jealous? Hell no. But I am curious.
“She’s nothing for you to worry about, darling.”
Hearing him call medarlingmakes me snort. I’m pretty sure the only thing he calls me in his head isbitch.
“So what’s this club he mentioned?” I like clubs. At least I did. Not been to one in a while. I spent most of my year on the run serving cheap beer in shitty bars and wiping tables in diners. My budget didn’t stretch to expensive cocktails in clubs, and I was never desperate enough to take a job as a pole dancer.
“A sex club.”
I stop dead in surprise. “Sex club?”
Angelo grumbles irritably for the fifty billionth time this evening. “For fuck’s sake, keep your voice down!”
“Hey, I want to go to a sex club!” Kane must have heard me over the tasteful classical music being piped from hidden speakers. He laughs out loud.
“The only sex you’re allowed to have, my darling wife, is with me.”
“Amazing. Guess I can look forward to a lifetime of celibacy then.” If that asshole thinks I’m willing to fuck him so he can have a baby, he’s delusional.
“Although,” I muse as we reach a room full of gorgeous men and women wearing stupidly expensive gowns, “Luka could be your stand-in. He shares genes. Nobody would ever know you weren’t the bio-daddy.” My plan has merit. Not gonna lie. I do fancy Luka. More than fancy him. I mean, come on, the dude’s fucking hot, and I’m in my peak ho era. Or I would be if I wasn’t fuckingmarried against my will.
Sadly, Angelo looks like he might legit have a coronary at my suggestion. He drags me through a side door and into a small gallery of cute little stuffed animals in glass display cases. One of them has very sharp teeth.Is that a prehistoric rat?Eww.
I’m thrown against a wall while Kane stands in the doorway keeping watch, his back to us. Looks like the asshole is happy to turn a blind eye to domestic abuse. Good to know. I resolve to kick the misogynistic fuck in the nuts again if the opportunity arises. On behalf of womankind.
Angelo cages me in with his arms while reeking of anger and toxic masculinity. I should be terrified of what he might do next, but to my shame, I’m horribly turned on. Does that make me the problem?
“If my brother lays one finger on you, know this, Chiara. I will kill him, so think about that the next time you decide to flirt overthe kitchen island or while you’re watching a movie together. I’d hate for his death to be on your conscience.”
Angelo’s words drown my lust in cold water, and I freeze.
“What the actual fuck? Have you been spying on us?”
