“Your distant cousin in Italy,” Joseph responds.
“There’s no other way?”
“Unfortunately not. Either wait out the remaining months or marry Luciano,” he confirms with a nod.
“Does Luciano know about this?” My anger starts to boil at the idea he might have. Is that why he was sleeping with me? Does he want to have my family’s fortune?
“No, Charlotte. Caterina purposely kept this page out. He never saw it. Anything that has transpired over the last couple of months was pure.” Slight relief floods me.
“Thank you, Joseph,” I say, and he takes that as his cue to leave.
Just as he reaches the door, he turns and says, “Charlotte, I’m sorry for your loss.” I nod in understanding. “You may not understand your mother’s wishes, but if it was me, I would trust her. She was the most magnificent woman I’ve ever met. She knows what she’s doing.”
“But how can I marry a man I want to kill? He betrayed me.”
“Love is never easy. Some of the best love stories were made from arranged marriages, some built on hate. But ask yourself this: when in danger, who do you run to? When you’re lying in bed at night, who do you want beside you? When you are excited about something, who do you want to tell? Whoever you just thought of… that is your person, Charlotte.”
He walks out of the room at the same time Izzy rounds the corner. The whole time he was asking me, my mind kept saying,Luciano.
She rushes over and wraps her arms around me in a bear hug. “I could kill Luciano for you, if you want?”
“You can’t,” I say, showing her Caterina’s letter. I stand up and walk to the bar, pouring us a drink. I take a deep breath and say the words I’m dreading to happen. “I need to marry him.”
Her face drops. “Charlie, don’t take this the wrong way. I owe my life to Luciano, but what he did, keeping your mom from you…” She shakes head. “Are you sure this is what you want?” She walks over to me, rubbing my arm in comfort.
“It’s what I need to do. I need to be the Donna to avenge her and go after Vince Andretti.” Just saying his name makes me want to vomit. The sight of my mother yesterday is on repeat in my head.
“You can do that now without marrying him. I can have my men help you.”
“No, I can’t. I want to kill Vince and have him know I have the power and own everything—not him, not Luciano. I can’t wait a couple more months or he might disappear,” I say, shaking my head.
“Okay, Charlie.” She grabs my hand. “Whatever you need, I am here for you.”
“Thank you,” I say, leaning in and kissing her soft lips. She deepens our kiss, wrapping her hands around my waist and pulling me closer to her, backing me up against the wall. Memories flood my mind of when Luciano had done this to me. I shake my head, wanting them to disappear.
She pulls away from me. “Do you want me to stop?”
“No, make me forget, please,” I beg her, pulling her lips back to mine. I reach under her dress as she reaches into my shorts, and our fingers enter each other at the same time. I mimic every stroke andthrust she does. “Izzy…” I’m trying to fight back the tears forming as she kisses down my neck.
“Red!” Mattia calls out before bursting through the door. He stops, leans against it, and grins at us.
Izzy doesn’t seem to care that we’ve been interrupted and continues pleasuring me. I look over her shoulder. “Yes, Mattia.” I try to breathe normally, but it comes out more raspy than wanting.
“Meeting set up for 4:00 p.m.,” he says proudly.
“Thank you!” I half moan, half shout as Izzy enters a third finger in me, spreading me wider.
“Can I watch?” he asks, taking a step into the room.
“No!” I shout at him. “Close the door.”
He lets out a chuckle as Izzy pulls my attention back to her. When I hear the click of the door being shut, I’m all over her, the rush of being caught now fueling me. Our clothes fall to the ground around us.
“What do you need, Charlie?” she asks me.
“I need you.” Dragging her by the hand to the couch, I lay down as she pulls my legs apart and climbs onto me backwards before bending over. Her wet pussy is millimeters from my face as she runs her tongue down my own.
Automatically, my body reacts to her, and my legs spread wider as she bites my clit. I grab her ass and pull her down onto my face and bite her back, my tongue darting out and licking her. She grinds against my face, wanting me to go deeper, and I obey. I need someone else to be in control for even just a second.
