Mario chuckles as my mouth drops open, and I stare at Xavier in shock. Did he just tell me to shut up?
“Good, glad to see you have a handle on this. Okay, let’s go.” Mario downs his liquor before standing up and leaving the room. Colton and Vienna follow quickly behind him. I reach for the gun I dropped on the desk, but Xavier and Tristan are faster. In a blur of movement, Tristan grabs the gun, and Xavier has me pinned up against the bookcase behind the desk, sliding his hand into the back of my jacket and pulling out the other gun that is holstered there.
“Ah-ah. Don’t want you killing your fiancé.” Tristan laughs as I hold Xavier’s gaze. “Oh, and Tori, we’ve cleaned out all the hidden weapons throughout the house, and if you think to hurt any of the four of us, I will make your aunt Carla scream.”
A wave of hatred washes over me, but before I can reply, Xavier grabs my arm, passes the gun to Tristan, and drags me out of the office in the same direction the others went in.
I start to struggle, but his hand tightens, and he hisses in my ear, “Stop it, Tori. Damn it. I’m trying to protect you.”
I stop struggling and stumble along with him, staring with open-mouthed surprise, but before I can respond, I hear a voice that has all of my anger moving away from Xavier and lasering in on someone else.
We reach the foyer, and I find my worst nightmare standing in it, looking around with pleasure. There is a suitcase at her feet and men entering behind her, carrying boxes.
“Finally, we can move in. Tristan, honey, why don’t you show the guys where to put my stuff?” Stacey says to the man who appears beside me. He’s standing so close, I feel him stiffen at her words.
“Why the fuck would I show them where to put your stuff?” he growls, and she smirks.
“Well, it’s only a matter of time before our wedding. We may as well share a bedroom now,” she replies before turning her gaze on me, looking smug and satisfied as Xavier’s hand tightens on my arm ever so slightly. “Not so fucking important now, are you, Tori?”
Chapter Four
“No fucking way.” I yank my arm from Xavier’s hold and step out of reach. “She isn’t living here.” I stab my finger in Stacey’s direction.
I look around for some kind of support, but I’m surrounded by enemies. I’ve never felt as alone as I do now, faced with the prospect of seeing the person who destroyed me every day.
I feel heat at my back and a brush of breath against my ear. “Easy now, Tori. Trust me,” Xavier whispers, and I almost lean back into him, desperately wanting some kind of support, but then I flinch away, remembering exactly why I can’t trust him.
“Well, you really have no say anymore, do you?” That bitches voice makes me feel like scratching her eyes out. “Our future husbands are in charge now.”
“Well, as one of those future husbands, I can tell you to find your own fucking room and stay out of mine,” Tristan growls at her, and her smug satisfaction turns to annoyance as she narrows her eyes at him and sneers.
“You are promised to me. I didn’t put up with that bitch for years not to get something out of this, and when you are married to me, I will be the only one you are sticking your dick in.” She turns her glare on Xavier. “Stay away from my futurehusband. This perversion between the two of you stops now.” She shudders. “It was bad enough that I had to allow her to do those disgusting things to me. Only the drugs stopped me from throwing up, but I won’t allow the two of you to continue your repulsive affair. You will not make me look bad in this family.”
“A lot can happen between now and the wedding,” Tristan threatens, and Stacey smiles like the cat that got the cream.
“Not all that much since it’s next week.”
“What?” Tristan sounds shocked. “Mario said we had to establish our hold on the Russos before we worried about any of that.”
“Pfft. Uncle Mario and I have been planning this for a long time. All the information will be on your phones by the end of the day, and Tristan, don’t fucking make me ask Mario to punish anyone if you fail to comply.”
With those final words, she saunters toward the staircase. “I’ll just familiarize myself with the place. Don’t worry, I’ll make myself at home. Just let me know which room is ours.” She sweeps past me with a wave of perfume that makes me want to gag. It’s so overpowering and reminds me of that horrid day.
She doesn’t wait to see how we respond before she disappears.
“Fuck,” Tristan mutters, running his hand through his hair. “You better know what you’re doing,” he hisses at Xavier, who waves a hand after Stacey.
“Go keep an eye on her.”
“But you need a witness,” Tristan says, dragging his gaze away from Xavier and looking at me. He stares at me intently but without any of the hatred he showed in front of Mario.
“Colton and Vienna can come. You need to make sure she doesn’t cause any trouble. I wouldn’t put it past her to search Tori’s and Sage’s rooms.”
“You keep your bitch away from my and Sage’s rooms,” I snarl at Tristan, “or I will find a way to make sure neither of you make it to the altar.”
“I wish you would,” he mutters defeatedly and trudges after Stacey without a backward glance.
“Come,” Xavier commands and walks away from me.
