“And we’re going to take Dad down a peg or two,” my sister added quietly. “After everything, he can’t have the power to meddle with us anymore.” She swept a hand around the table. “He’s done.”
That’s why.
If I was kept under lock and key, I wouldn’t go running when my father called. They knew me. Knew I was desperate for his approval. The logical part of my brain had to admit it was a smart fail-safe to tie my hands.
In Vincenzo’s case, probably literally tie them.
I shifted in my seat, thighs rubbing together.
No, no! I have to fix this.Which meant I had to play along and not get distracted. I latched onto the frustration, using it to banish the rush of heat.
“Okay, well, fine then,” I conceded…for now. “What do I do in the meantime?”
The monster’s lips tipped up. The small smile sent an instant wave of something unwanted through my veins.
“I’m sure we can find something for you to do while you stay here.”
The ‘with me’ was implied.
Chapter 39 –Vincenzo
It was a mistake to come here.
When I received the message from my brother that he was taking the women to dinner, I decided I’d had enough separation and gave in to the temptation to see my wife. Deciding to skip breakfast with her the other morning, I’d stayed away. While every fiber of my being begged me to go to her, I kept my iron control in place and resisted the urge. I’d spent the days watching Amanda from a distance, letting her have the space I knew she needed.
But now I was done.
The buzz of customers enjoying their lunches created a chaotic cloud over our table. The presence of my brother and his wife added another layer of distance. I bent the fork as I stabbed the last bite of vegetables.
I just wanted to talk to her.
To be a person around Amanda.
The low lighting back here and the dancing votive candle on the table didn’t let me see her clearly. Her presence felt muted. And the noise? The ruckus of glasses and plates, the boisterous laughs, and amicable conversation? It suffocated my thoughts so that I couldn’t breathe air into the things I wanted to say.
And even if I found the words, the pent-up energy vibrating from the beauty was full of angst and turmoil. She was a ship who’d been thrown off her course by a storm and now was subject to the strong current she was unable to escape. It didn’t matter how many ropes I’d thrown; she had to decide when to take one.
“As soon as the mural dries, you can come help me set up the nursery,” Nicole offered her sister with a bright, beaming smile.
“You’ll have to ask my warden,” Amanda grumped, voice strained. “His prisoner probably isn’t allowed to leave likethat.”
Anger sliced through me, tearing open old scars and fueling the beast inside, who bellowed with rage.
Cristiano went still—too still. Even Nicole realized her sister was being careless. Their eyes flicked to me, waiting for an explosion.
I dabbed the corners of my mouth with the napkin. “Cris, settle the tab. We’re leaving.”
Amanda crossed her arms over her chest. “I’m not done.”
The tension at the table pulled taut. My brother angled his body, ready to block his wife from the danger.
I pointed to the salad Amanda had done nothing but pick at. “Are you going to finish that?”
“Probably,” she responded, tipping up her chin.
The whole meal, I’d wanted to haul her onto my lap and force the food into her stomach, even if it was better suited for rabbits than for humans. Right this second, hauling her onto my knee took on an entirely different meaning. Her smart mouth begged me to spank her.
My fingers itched to feel her flesh. Oh, how it would sting!
