Aurora
"This is all wrong, all wrong." I pace back and forth, back and forth in my room.
After Christian stalked off, the proceedings somewhat lost their color. The brothers peeled off to their different chalets—yeah, there’s no concept of just a room for each one of them. There are enough chalets in the complex that each of the brothers have a house to himself.
Michael and Karma were, clearly, relieved that they have their own space. Karma confided to me that this was the main reason Michael agreed to come on this getaway.
The other Sovrano brothers, too, were more than happy to have their own private retreats. Guess that’s what happens when you have so many alphas together… They are just too big to share the same space for too long. They need their own territories where they can hold their own.
The more I observe the Sovrano brothers, the more I realize what a feat it must have been for Nonna to actually get them to come away and stay for a few days together like this. A bonding experience may be what she intends, but will these men actually survive this time together without breaking into some kind of a fight, I wonder? And leading the pack may well be my fake fiancé.
I hold up my fingers, and light bounces off the golden yellow stone. It’s surrounded by tiny diamonds that accentuate the depth of the piece. It’s unlike any stone I have ever seen. More brilliant than a yellow sapphire, more depth than a ruby. And it fits. Gosh, how did he guess my size so accurately? And he managed to come up with it overnight? What does that mean? Not that he was very happy with Nonna insisting that he toe the line she’d drawn, but at least, I’ve managed to buy myself some breathing space. Though how long that’s going to last is anyone’s guess.
My phone vibrates. Yes, Nonna had given me my own phone. Shocker! Apparently, the old lady is definitely more in touch with the times than my one-time captor had been.
I glance at the screen.
Blocked number.
The blood drains from my face. My pulse begins to race. The phone vibrates again, and I pick it up.
"He-hello." I gulp.
"I am still waiting for the information," a man's voice drawls.
It's him. OMG, it's him. "How did you get this number?"
"That's not your concern," he informs me. "What about the information?"
"I ... I still need more time." I swallow.
"Remember, it's your family's life at stake."
Like I could ever forget.
"I, uh, found another way to get closer to them. In fact, I am positive that I'll be able to get you what you need," I murmur. "Only—" I hesitate. Say it, do it; it's now or never. I draw in a breath, "I want something in return."
"This is not a negotiation," he says in a flat tone.
"I am aware of that," I swallow. "I also know that you desperately want information related to the Sovranos, which only I can get for you."
The silence stretches a beat, another. My heart begins to race, the pulse pounds at my temples, my stomach ties itself in knots, and I am sure that I am going to be sick. Hell, I played my card and I lost. Now, this man is definitely going to kill me and the rest of my family. What's wrong with me? Why did I have to bring this up, why—
"What is it you want?" He asks.
"Christian Sovrano..." A shudder grips me.
Am I really going to do this? But what other choice do I have? He's threatening my family, unless I do as he says. And I can't do that. I don’t want to do that. I left the Mafia behind so I wouldn't have to do anything with them and here he is, dragging me back into their inner circle, and as a mob wife, no less. It may be a pretense, but he's going to make the most of the situation, I have no doubt about it. The chemistry between us speaks to the fact that he'll be fucking me the first chance he gets. He'll seduce me, he'll strip back all of the layers I have carefully built against the world and force me to acknowledge just how much I want him too... and I can't have that. The fact that I am so attracted to him means I'll probably enjoy what he does to me and that... I will not allow. I don't want to feel this powerless, this... completely at his mercy. No, the only way out is to take this guy's help to escape from Christian. That way, I’ll have one less problem to contend with.
"You want him dead?" the man asks.
I try to force the words out, but my tongue refuses to cooperate. My fingers tremble and sweat slides down the valley between my breasts.
"Well?" He snaps, "Do you?"
I hesitate.
"I take it that's a yes?" he drawls.