“Don’t call me that,” I snapped.
His grin widened.
“That’s what we are now.” His gaze dragged over me slowly. “I was worried marriage might’ve softened you.”
“I’m not interested in speaking to you,” I bit out.
“Pity. I’m fascinated by you.” He pushed off the column and walked toward me with infuriating confidence. “Leo’s little bride.”
I crossed my arms tightly over my chest. “What do you want?”
Angelo’s expression turned amused. Dangerous. “To congratulate you, obviously.”
“I somehow doubt that,” I said.
“You should.” He stepped closer. “You did exactly what the family needed.”
Ice slid down my spine. My pulse quickened. What the family needed. I knew exactly what he meant. The heir. The will. I stared at him carefully. “What are you talking about?”
“Oh, come on.” He laughed softly. “You’re smarter than that.”
Every muscle in my body tightened. He remembered our conversation as well as I did. Angelo tilted his head slightly,studying my face with unsettling interest. “Did Leo tell you about Daddy’s little inheritance game yet?”
I stayed silent. That was answer enough. His smile sharpened.
“Oh, he didn’t.” Genuine delight flickered across his face. “That makes this even better.”
My stomach dropped.
“You know about the heir,” he continued casually. “The firstborn. The trust. The whole pathetic mess.”
I swallowed hard. Leo’s father’s will. Everything tied to a child. A legitimate heir. Angelo watched realization move across my face and laughed under his breath.
“So he really didn’t tell you.” He looked almost impressed. “Interesting.”
“He was going to,” I lied quickly.
“Mhm. Sure,” he laughed. His expression said he didn’t believe me for a second. I hated how smug he looked. Hated how handsome he was while acting like a snake slithering closer to prey.
“You should tell him,” Angelo said lightly. “Unless…” His eyes glittered. “You already know how obsessed he gets.”
A cold shiver crawled down my arms.
“Leo doesn’t scare me,” I snapped.
Angelo barked out a laugh. “That might be the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard.”
“And you,” I bit out, “might be the most disgusting person I’ve ever met.”
“Ouch.” He pressed a hand dramatically over his chest. “That hurts, cara.”
“Good,” I said. “I hope it hurts so much it suffocates you.”
He didn’t appear phased. He stared me up and down. “Yet you still keep secrets from your husband, little Chiara. For me. What a good girl.”
Revulsion crashed through me so fast it nearly made me recoil physically. The words sounded wrong coming from him. Filthy. Slimy. My stomach twisted.
“Don’t call me that,” I hissed.
