I gasped. “What?”
He rolled his eyes. “We grew up in the same house. Do you really think in all that time I never once saw them?”
“Yes,” I screeched. “I never saw yours.”
He smirked, “That’s because I don’t wear any.”
My eyes moved to the front of his black jeans without my permission. It was instinct, and I blushed when our gazes clashed, and his smirk grew to a grin. “You suck,” I muttered and got the water as instructed. I needed something to keep my hands and mind busy. I honestly avoided Lorenzo as much as possible because he set me on edge.
I opened the fridge and discovered there wasn’t much by way of food, but there was anything you could want to drink. The chill from the appliance helped cool me off, but the heat from Lorenzo’s body as he came up behind me had me stiffening and my nipples tightening, immediately undoing the slight reprieve.
“Careful, Bianca. You don’t want me to show you how much I don’t suck and how quickly I can get you to.” His voice was low and raspy as he whispered against my hair.
I shivered but hid it by slamming the door to the fridge shut, turning my hips slightly, and bumping my hip into his groin. Lorenzo grunted, and I smiled, enjoying his discomfort. “Only in your dreams, Lorenzo.”
My body was on fire as I walked away from him. I twisted off the cap and drank quickly, trying to calm my overheated body. Lorenzo was chuckling, but I ignored him. It was either that or strangle him.
“I need your phone,” Lorenzo said after shoving everything back into my gym bag.
“Why?”
“Because I do,” he demanded again.
“That’s not an answer.”
He pushed off the island and took the two steps into the living room to stand right in front of me. My brain was short-circuiting, but I held strong while he attempted to intimidate me.
“It’s the only answer you’re going to get for now. Give me your phone before I take it from you.”
I shook my head. “No.” He liked barking orders at me, and each time he did, I wanted to defy them. It was a long-standing back-and-forth between us.
“Give him your phone, little sis. We don’t have time for you guys to start arguing.” Romeo’s voice broke the stare-down we’dbeen engaged in. Huffing, I grabbed it from my pocket and handed it over.
He turned it off before taking it to the far wall and placing it in a safe.
“Rome.” I went to my brother and hugged him. “What’s going on? This is all freaking me out.”
“I know, sis. Sit down because this will be a lot to take in.” I did, with him taking the seat beside me. Lorenzo chose one across from us, but didn’t say a word as Romeo started to talk, laying out everything about the shitstorm I was suddenly in the middle of.
“You want me to do what?” I screeched after learning how he was going to protect me.
“Easy, Bianca,” Romeo said, trying to placate me.
My father wanted to sell me to a freaking cartel boss. Who could relax hearing that? “I’m so close to getting out–getting away from all this.” I crossed my arms over my stomach, fighting the urge to throw up. “Why would he do this?”
“I don’t know his motives, Bea, but we have to keep you safe from this marriage while I make my move.”
“What move?” I sucked in a breath, attempting to hide the fear and anxiety churning in my gut.
“The less you know, the better. Just leave it as I'm going to do what I need to do to keep you, Giana, and Nicoletta safe. Something he’s never been too concerned about.”
“Clearly,” I muttered. “So your plan to protect me from a marriage I don’t want is to put me in a marriage I don’t want?”
“Yes, only until I take power. It would be someone I trust, and someone you know. After Dad’s no longer in charge, you can file for divorce or an annulment, as it would be in name only. This would give you a level of protection against him selling you off to the highest bidder or as part of a business deal with the devil.”
“And just who am I supposed to be marrying?” I wanted to stamp my foot, scream, rail against both of them, but mostly, I wanted to do all those things to my sorry excuse for a father.
“There are only four men I would entrust your safety to, Bea.”
