Panic tears through my chest. It’s not a good thing if anyone thinks I’m in love, much less this man. “Is it love? Or just business? You know the whole story by now, I’m sure.”
“Ah. Yes. She’s Astero’s granddaughter, right…so she’s not your type after all?”
“Not in the slightest.” I hiss, feeling the lie burn my throat. But I’d do what I’d have to do to protect Amy.
“Hm,” Lorenzo says thoughtfully. “An arranged marriage. Those docks are rather profitable…I can see why you’d want them. If the wedding never takes place, you’d never get access to them. It’d be a shame, really. So close and yet so far,si?”
A cold dread washes over me. “Yes, it would be. So it’s a good thing the weddingwillhappen.” I clench the phone so tightly that I know I’m risking breaking it or my hand, whatever comes first. But I don’t care. “Threaten me again, De Matteis, and see what happens.”
He laughs again. “Threaten? No, no. I’ve done nothing of the sort. I just threw out an obvious weak spot in your plan. Something we wouldn’twantto happen,capisci? No threats, Alasdair, no threats.”
I clench my jaw so hard that my teeth ache. “Leave me out of your family feud, De Matteis. I didn’t ask for this trouble. Leave your sibling bickering in Italy, between you and Alessandro. If you start a war, don’t be surprised when you get shot.”
He chuckles lowly. “What is the saying? You make your bed with my brother? Eh? You lie with him. You do business, you help each other, you’re in his littleclub…that is asking for trouble,Irish Demon.” He spits my title like a snake spitting venom. “You should think about who you align yourself with before you complain.”
“So it is a threat.” I snarl.
“I said no threat. I meant it. It’s not a threat.Yet.When it’s a threat, you’ll know. You won’t have to ask. Now have a good wedding. Give your little American beauty a kiss for me,no?” He chuckles. “Ciao.”
Before I can even tell him to go to hell, he hangs up.
I feel clammy and cold, a sharp contrast to the blazing fire of anger that burns hot in my belly. I look over at Amy, seeing her laugh and try on different shoes.She’s so beautiful.All the more reason that I need to protect her. I need to protect usboth.
And if that means hunting down anyone who threatens to harm her, then so be it. I won’t sacrifice our love because of some pathetic man on the other side of the world.
23
Amy
The view from the Empire State building is pretty great. The wind is sharp, but it’s not so bad. I pull my cardigan tighter around me and enjoy the view. I look behind me at Alasdair, who’s standing against the wall next to the elevators, watching me. I give him a little smile and wave, and just gives me a single nod of his head.
Something definitely happened in that store. I don’t know what, maybe the sales clerk told him I was rude, or he didn’t like my outburst of honesty with him about the whole thing, I don’t know. All I know is that, once I finished shopping, he suddenly felt cold and distant. He didn’t say anything as he paid for what I picked out, and it sent a spike of anxiety through me. Did I pick out too much stuff and he was mad? I’m baffled. Clearly, I got too accustomed to his sweet and flirty behavior with me.
Well, maybe flirty is the wrong word for it. I thought that was the case, but maybe it wasn’t. Maybe it was just him being charming.
Whatever it was, it’s gone now. For the past few days, he’s stuck by my side, usually with his hand on the small of my back or on my arm, but now…he’s not even near me. Jack and Liam are closer, although I can tell they’re trying to be inconspicuousas they keep an eye out. They’re doing their jobs, so their distance makes sense, nor is it abnormal. But Alasdair’s distance is.
I turn back to the view, trying to stay positive. Alasdair seems to still be continuing with whatever plans he has for today for us, and I’m not sure I’m glad for it. If he’s upset with me, he should just say so and bring me back to the hotel. I hate when people aren’t up front about whatever is going on, especially if I did something wrong.
The elevator is quiet as a group of us head back to the bottom floor of the Empire State Building, including Alasdair, Jack, Liam, and me. A family chats in the corner, and an elderly couple whisper to each other, laughing softly.
The man next to me, however, feels like he has ice for a personality, a stark contrast to his warm demeanor earlier today, with his cheek caresses, laughter, and promises of spoiling me.
I wish he hadn’t said any of it at all. I was fine with being distant and business-like, that’s what I had planned on when I first learned of this arranged marriage. But now he got my hopes up, and it’s a bitter disappointment.
I take in a deep breath, and I notice his gaze shoots to me before looking away again.Maybe I’m just overthinking this.Maybe he’s tired. Maybe he doesn’t like heights…I don’t know. I’m trying not to overreact, but I pick up on people’s moods so easily that it’s hard as I struggle to understand their social cues. Something is off, I’m sure of it. Something that’s centered aroundme.
Maybe that’s egotistical of me to assume. I don’t know, it’s just a gut feeling.
As we leave the Empire State Building, there’s already a car waiting for us. I’m silent as we all slide into one car, which I find odd since Liam and Jack came separately before. I fully expect to see the hotel come into view any minute, but instead, we justkeep driving. I watch the world go by with furrowed brows the longer it takes. I’m not totally sure, but I would’ve thought that we’d be there by now.
I’m surprised when I see the buildings break and the sight of sunlight glittering on the surface of water up ahead.Where the hell are we?
I start to get nervous. Alasdair said that we wouldn’t be having anything to do with hisbusinesstoday, but I can’t see why else we’d go to the waterfront. Is this the docks? Is he showing me off to the guy that owns them to ensure he gets access to them?
Or is it worse? Am I about to experiencesleeping with the fishesfirsthand? Had things changedthatdrastically in the store while I was shoe shopping and feeling carefree like an idiot?
Panic steals away my breath, making my throat feel tight and my chest constrict. I hide my hands within my sleeves, gripping them together until they ache. I don’t even realize my leg is bouncing with anxiety until I feel a hand on it, causing it to still. Alasdair’s large hand gently rests on my leg, giving it a small squeeze of comfort.
