“Why, Leo?” I fix him with a glare as I wrench my arm out of his grip. “What’s it to you?”
“We had this conversation last weekend,” he grits out through clenched teeth. “And I’m not in the habit of repeating myself.” I had expected him to fling my engagement and my status at Santino. The fact he isn’t tells me he’s trying to protect my reputation, although at least some of the guys at this party know who I am and who I’m promised to.
Most everyone is watching this go down now. Pretending to talk and drink while keeping one eye on the drama unfolding before their eyes.
“You made yourself perfectly clear.” I place my hands on my hips, drawing attention to the copious skin on display. “As did I.”
Leo’s nostrils flare as his gaze automatically drifts down my body. His chest heaves and his Adam’s apple bobs in his throat as he takes his time perusing me. His gaze is like a raging fire trailing over my flesh, scorching a path in every place it lands. Instant desire gushes to my core, and I hope I’m not sporting a wet patch on my bikini bottoms because that would be embarrassing in the extreme.
“Liking what you see?” I purr, moving in closer yet keeping space between our bodies.
“Stop this.” He claws a hand through his hair, looking flustered with a wild glint in his eye, and I silently fist pump the air. “If you won’t listen to me, I’m getting Mateo. I was on my way to update him anyway. He is going to flip out when he sees you.”
“Like hell you will,” I say, pushing him forcefully. He is not going to ruin this for me before I’ve had my fun.
Leo stumbles a little, caught off guard by the strength of my shove. Feeling brave, I push him again, and he loses his balance as he trips over the edge of the pool. With legs and arms flailing, he falls into the pool with a loud splash, showering water over everyone on this side.
I spin around, meeting Santino’s amused, heated gaze. I grab his hand and tip my head back, looking up at him. “Want to get out of here?”
He flashes me a sultry smile. “I thought you’d never ask.”
7
Leo
Ihaul ass out of the pool, shaking with anger and ready to throttle Natalia. Water sluices down my chest, leaving a wet trail behind me as I stalk toward her. Except she’s fucking gone. And so is that bastard Santino. I will remove his head from his shoulders if he has laid a finger on her. “Where did they go?” I snap at Alonso, cracking my knuckles as rage festers in my tissues.
“Who?” Alonso feigns innocence, and I see red.
Wrapping my hands around his throat, I squeeze tight. “Don’t play games with me, asshole. The mood I’m in, I could snap your neck by accident.”
“Okay!” he chokes out, tugging at my hand.
I relax my hold so he can speak. “They went that way,” he says, pointing behind us.
The orchard. Fuck.
“I’m going to get her, and you better pray your brother hasn’t touched her,” I growl, irritation itching at my skin.
“You’ve got a real hard-on for her, huh?” He dares to grin at me, and I’m all out of patience.
I punch him in the face. Harder than he probably deserves, but that’s what he gets for riling me up. Blood oozes from his nose, and he cries out in pain, stumbling back and falling over the edge of Frankie’s lounger.
Ignoring the whimpering idiot, I swing my gaze on Nat’s best friend. “If you put her up to this, you should be ashamed of yourself. You are not helping.” I lean down so no one else hears me. “She is putting herself at risk, Francesca. Do you really think Carlo would walk away, without retaliating, if she does something to disrespect him? Have you any idea how fucking dangerous that psycho is?”
I know exactly what he’s capable of, and I fucking detest he is the one who has been chosen for mydolcezza. I would automatically hate any man who gets to spend his life with her, but my loathing for Carlo Greco goes way beyond that. He’s a sick, twisted fuck, and I’m terrified of the things he will do to Nat when she becomes his wife.
Something akin to fear ghosts over Frankie’s face before it’s replaced with a different emotion. “I’m being a good friend. If you want to blame someone, blame yourself. You caused this.” She prods her finger in my chest. “This is your fault.”
Guilt pulses through my veins at her words. I know that’s part of the truth. I never should have used Nicole to push Natalia away, but I need her to hate me. I can’t have Nat returning my feelings because the temptation to give in and take what I want is too great. I should’ve known she would come out with her fists swinging. Mydolcezzamay have led a sheltered life, but she’s no wallflower.
Natalia has this indomitable inner strength that drives everything she does. She’s dutiful and respectful, doing what is asked of her. But her quiet determination simmers under the surface, and I’m not surprised she has reached her breaking point.
If I was promised to that psycho Greco, I would be trying everything to extract myself from the contract too. But this is not the way to go about it. She is going to ruin her reputation and risk her future and her life if she continues with this madness. It’s up to me to stop it. I helped to create this mess, and now I need to fix it.
I should go straight to Mateo, but I can’t leave Nat out there with that asshole Santino for a second longer. He and I have come to blows over a woman before—of a different nature—and I won’t hesitate to kick his ass this time. He destroyed my cousin’s faith in men when he cheated on her. Left her heartbroken in a way she has never fully recovered from. He’s not going to hurt Natalia. Not under my watch.
“You!” I turn around, jabbing my finger in Alonso’s direction. “Go to the pool house and get Mateo. Tell him he needs to talk to Rocco.” I step closer to him. “Do not mention a word about Natalia, or I’ll string you up by the balls alongside your brother.”
