“We can’t take a commercial flight. Liam messed up your face pretty bad and it would only draw attention to us. We’ll wait for my private jet to arrive from New York. The Excelsior Hotel is nearby and when we get there, you are to hold my hand and appear to be my loving wife because we are booked in as Mr. and Mrs. Sloane.”
“Why?” I’m confused about that, and his irritated hiss warns me I should have kept my question to myself.
“Because it may have escaped your attention that you are being pursued and Liam Dettori wasn’t the only one.”
“What do you mean?”
I must be missing out on something important here and he huffs, “It’s why you were taking the bus into town. Why I was sent to escort you to your destination and why we are in deep shit right now because you, Alice Zaferelli are an heiress of billions along with your sisters. Under the terms and conditions of your father’s will, you must be married and pregnant by the time your younger sister hits twenty-five to receive a dollar. It’s a pretty big attraction for every criminal, hell any man with ambition, and it appears that you are the last to know about it.”
As the words sink in, my situation hits hard, and everything becomes clear. Money. That’s what this is all about. Money, greed and ambition, and it appears that men will stop at nothing to seize it all.
He takes another call, and I weep bitter tears of defeat inside. My legacy has haunted me since the day I was born, and it appears it will never stop until I take full charge of my situation.
It’s down to me. I already know that, and this time I will not hide away from my responsibilities. If anything, today has taught me not to trust anyone, even God, as it happens, because even while I was safely tucked up inside his house, he allowed the devil inside, and I will never forgive him for that.
My faith has been destroyed along with compassion. I have a feeling that the man sitting beside me now is the perfect weapon I can use to get answers and if he thinks he’s the one calling the shots now, he’s about to learn a valuable lesson because I amnota victim and I never will be.
CHAPTER 13
SIMEON
We reach the Excelsior and luckily Alice has decided to rein her words in and keep her opinions to herself. After what she witnessed today, I’m surprised she still has any fight left in her, and I admire that about her.
We check into the luxury hotel as planned as Mr. and Mrs. Sloane and the huge dark glasses I instructed her to wear do little to conceal her bruised face.
I note the concern on the receptionist’s face, and a dark glare from me causes her to drop her eyes and check us in without a hitch.
We ride the elevator in silence and as we reach the honeymoon suite, for fucks sake, I waste no time in uncorking the champagne nestling in an ice bucket beside the bed while Alice gasps, “What is this?”
“The honeymoon suite, it’s all they had available.”
“But,” her voice shakes. “There’s only one bed.”
She is gazing in horror at the huge circular bed with mirrors above it on the ceiling and rose petals strewn across the covers.
“So.” I shrug, unconcerned, and she hisses, “I won’t share a bed with you.”
“Then take the couch. I couldn’t give a fuck.”
“You take the couch. A gentleman would.”
I place the bottle of champagne to my lips and drink greedily out of the bottle, loving the horror mixed with disgust on her face.
I hold it out to her. “Want some?”
“No, I do not, and have you ever thought of using a glass? I mean, there are two after all.”
I say nothing and turn away, noting the luxury of a room designed for seduction. It’s almost amusing because obviously she is horrified by the situation and the devil in me comes out to play.
“It’s your wedding night.”
“No, it’s not.” Her angry glare amuses me as she hisses, “I didn’t agree to marry that pig.”
“But you did.” I shrug, playing devil’s advocate, and she shakes her head vigorously. “I did not, and if you tell anyone to the contrary, I’m calling you out as a liar.”
I set the bottle down and dismiss her words with no response.
“I’ll order room service. Are you hungry?”
