The lawyer produces a ruler and slides it across the first page of the contract. Bobby catches my eye and gives me a small smile. I try to take comfort in it. He, at least, doesn’t seem too surprised.
Mr. Bianchi continues glaring at Mr. Parker. “Velvet House requested you return Miss Whitehall’s passport. Have you brought it with you?”
“Sure have.” Mr. Parker pulls my passport from his pocket and tosses it onto the table with a loud slap. “Here you go,January.”
I fight the urge to flinch. He’s still staring at me with his angry crocodile smile. I hate that my passport was in his pants. That he touched it with his hands.
Eli shoots Mr. Parker a look of utter loathing then turns to Mr. Bianchi. “Is it possible for Miss Whitehall to leave the room?”
The old man’s smile is sympathetic. “Sorry, Elliot. You’ll all stay where you are until this is done. Would you like a drink?”
“Scotch,” Eli says quietly. “And January will have champagne.”
“She’s underage,” Mr. Parker says loudly. “So, it’s not appropriate to give the bitch alcohol, even if Morelli and his friends are sticking their dicks inside her.”
My muscles go weak. Mr. Parker was the one who wanted to marry me when I was barely eighteen! I open my mouth to say so but Doc and Eli both squeeze my thighs under the table.
“Scotch,” Eli says firmly. “And champagne for January.”
“Bold choice,” Mr. Parker calls.
Mr. Bianchi gives him a nasty look but doesn’t tell him off. He can’t, I realize. Until the contract is signed, Mr. Parker is free to say whatever he likes to me. He’s delaying the meeting specifically so he can be horrible. After all he’s done, after killing my Zia, it’s still not enough.
Our drinks arrive and I sip my champagne fast, praying it returns me to my numbness, but by the time I’m done, Mr. Parker’s lawyer is only halfway through the document.
Eli cups my jaw, turning my face toward him. “Another champagne?”
His touch is so gentle, it makes me want to cry. I turn away, blinking hard. “No, thank you.”
“Very well,” Eli kisses my cheek and I feel Mr. Parker’s eyes on me. I turn to look at him and maybe it’s the champagne, but I can’t help myself. “Is something wrong?”
Mr. Parker’s lip curls. “You’ve slept with all of them now, have you?”
“Of course, I have,” I say. “I slept with them the second I got away from you.”
To my right, Doc chuckles and even Adriano smiles. Mr. Parker makes a sound like a viper about to strike.
“That’s enough,bella,” Eli says lightly. He raps on the table. “Another scotch and champagne.”
Mr. Parker stares at me as the fresh drinks are set before us. I think of Zia Teresa lying cold in her hospital bed. Her daughters sobbing at her funeral. I think of Doc’s sister. Bobby’s father. Someone who belonged to Adriano and Eli. Spite and hatred, that’s all Mr. Parker knows. My hands ball into fists. He can talk to me before the contract is signed, then I can talk to him.
“Emilia doesn’t want you,” I tell Mr. Parker. “No woman does.”
“You think anyone cares about what comes out of your mouth, cunt?”
I shrink back in my seat. I’m a fool. There’s nothing I can do to hurt Mr. Parker. I’m not a person to him. Not human. If I hit him, it would probably feel like paper brushing past.
A warm hand descends on my shoulder.
“I care about what comes out of January’s mouth,” Doc drawls. “And if I don’t, I can always shove my dick in it.”
One of Mr. Parker’s men snorts and my face burns. It’s one thing for Mr. Parker to say horrible things, but Doc? After all we’ve been through? I glance at him, and he turns down the corners of his mouth in an exaggerated frown. “Aww, she’s feeling sensitive. Come on, Tits. Where’s your sense of humor?”
He leans forward and nuzzles my ear. I try to pull away, but his hands grip my wrists, holding me fast. “Play along, January.”
For a second I’m confused, and then I understand—I don’t have the meanness to mess with Mr. Parker, but if anyone does, it’s Domenico Valente. I slide my mouth into a sensuous smile. “Sorry, Mr. Valente.”
Doc presses his nose to mine. “That’s better. Champagne always gets you wet, doesn’t it, you pretty bitch?”
