I exhale heavily. I hate this. My life was perfect. Everything was going great until my stupid sister had to go and mess everything up. “I know how to defend myself. I have taken self-defense classes for years.”
“That might protect you against petty thieves and would-be rapists, but a trained mafia soldier would restrain you within seconds with ease.” He drags a hand through his hair, messing up the perfectly coiffed strands. A few waves of dark hair fall across his brow, and it’s sexy as hell.
I hate that I notice.
I hate even more that I like it.
My feelings for Ben are a clusterfuck of epic proportions. Which is something I need to unravel and put in a neat box labeled “my son’s father” so I’m not tempted to put him into any other boxes.
“Alessandro will teach you how to use it,” he says, putting his jacket on and buttoning it. He towers over me, like this force of nature that has just swept into my life, eviscerating everything in its path. I stand, not liking the feeling. “I’ll drop by tomorrow to see Rowan,” he adds. “I already told him I was a friend of Saskia’s and that I knew you when you were younger, so we should stick to that story.”
“We should stay here,” I say because I don’t want to risk being seen with him around the town.
“Agreed.”
I nod, and awkward tension filters into the air.
He clears his throat, shoving his hands in his pants pockets. “I’ve seen your bank statements, so I know money isn’t an issue, but I’m his father. I want to pay child support. I’ve instructed my personal accountant to make a deposit to your account next week. Going forward, a regular monthly deposit will be made.”
Just as I was starting to lose my anger, it returns full force, slapping me in the face. “I don’t want your dirty money!” I hiss, prodding my finger in his chest.
An amused grin spreads across his mouth, and I want to scream. “I run several successful legitimate businesses. I assure you my money is about as dirty as yours.”
He has an answer for everything. It’s infuriating. “You truly have no shame,” I seethe. How dare he invade my privacy like this. He has no right. “Next, you’ll be telling me you know my bra size.”
His eyes lower to my chest, and I scowl, wanting to wrap my arms around myself to deprive him of the view. But I won’t give him the satisfaction of letting him know how much he is getting to me either, so I don’t move a muscle.
“You were definitely a B cup in Vegas, but I’m guessing you’re a C cup now.” He steps a little closer, and though my instinct is to fall back, I stand my ground, refusing to let this asshole intimidate me again. Bending down, he presses his warm mouth to my ear. “I would need to conduct a physical exam to make an accurate assessment.”
I push him away, glaring at him. “You’re a pig.”
His lips pull up at the corners. “I don’t remember you complaining in Vegas. In fact, I distinctly remember you begging me to suck harder on your nipples as I plowed my cock into your greedy pussy.”
“Get out!” I bark, pointing at the door. “Just go.”
He winks, and I invoke every shred of willpower I possess not to lunge at him and gouge out his eyeballs.
“Until tomorrow.” He gives me a curt nod before exiting my kitchen, and I slump back in my chair, relieved he is gone but a little disappointed too.
22
SIERRA
“Did you get all your shopping done?” Serena asks an hour later when I show up at her house to collect Rowan.
“Uh, yeah. Thanks.” I hate lying to my sister, but it’s safer if she doesn’t know.
“The kids are in the movie room,” she says as I enter the ornate lobby of her expansive home. “But I warned Rowan you were on your way.”
Under the harsh glare of the bright hallway, the swelling on Serena’s cheek is more obvious. The silk scarf tied around her neck has slipped a little, and the edge of the bruising is evident. “Are you sure you’re okay?” I quietly ask as we pad down the corridor.
“I’m fine.” She dismisses my concern like she has the couple other times I’ve noticed injuries on her face and body.
“You’re not fine.” Gently, I take her elbow, forcing her to stop. “I know Alfred is doing this. You don’t have to say it for me to know the truth. You should leave him, Serena. I know you’re not happy.”
She wrenches her arm from my grip, snorting. “What the hell has happiness got to do with anything?”
“Happiness is a basic human right. You deserve to be happy.”
