“That’s okay. There’s a lot of sparkly stuff in here I want to stare at. Hard.” She gives me a shy smile, then turns and bends over to look down into a case of watches, her ass on display.
Fuuuuuck. I have to turn away, then I answer my phone. “What?”
“Where the hell are you?” His stress level is at its peak based on the high tone of his voice.
“What’s wrong?”
“The Ferrars are already coming for us. You need to get back to the house. We need a game plan. And you need a woman. Zoey won’t shut the fuck up about it. The delusional bitch thinks you’re going to marry her, even though I told her your first act as the new head of the family will be to kick her gold-digging ass to the curb.”
“Don’t say that.” I hear her whine in the background.
“I’ll be home soon.” I glance at Maddie as she peers into another case, her round ass still perfectly displayed. “And I already have the wife picked out.”
I hear him gasp. “What the fuck do you mean you alre–”
I end the call, then return to my sweet little bird, soon to be all mine. Forever.
6
Maddie
“I can send Antony to collect the rest of your things, little bird.”
“Antony is super nice, but I should be able to get most of it.” I jerk my eyes away from the ring on my finger, having been distracted by it yet again. I mean how could I not? My attention span isn’t the best to begin with, never mind having something so flashy on my finger.
I’ve never owned something so beautiful before. I’m scared I’m going to knock one of the stones loose. Renato reassured me that he’d replace it if I did, but I can’t help but worry over it.
“But my bed and dresser, what about those?” I ask.
Renato is standing inside my tiny bedroom, making it seem smaller than it already is. “Does it mean something to you? My home is fully furnished, but if you have some kind of attachment to those things, I can definitely have them brought to you.”
“No, can we donate it or something? I’d hate to just throw it out. I found it at the thrift store for a hundred bucks. I know it’s not much to most people, but to a girl with nothing, a nice bed frame and dresser had meant the world to me. I’d like to give it to someone else that might think the same.”
He tilts his head, his eyes softening on me. “That can be arranged. You make a list for me of what should be brought to the house and what can be donated, and I’ll have it all handled.” He always makes everything sound so easy and simple. I merely say it, and it’s done. It puts me at ease. “But you should grab some clothes for now and your undergarments. I don’t need my men packing those for you.”
“No!” I hadn’t thought of that. I get two bags out of my closet and stuff my bras and panties inside before I grab a few of my favorite sweaters and jeans. I don’t have a ton of stuff, so it doesn’t take me long.
“This is my place. The fuck, man!” I hear Aubrey shout.
He wasn’t home when Renato and I first arrived. I texted him to let him know that I was going to be gone for a while. The only response I got from him was that I would still owe rent whether I was here or not. That we had a lease. I don’t recall signing anything. It was more him telling me that I needed to pay rent at the first of each month.
“Finish packing, little bird.” Renato drops a kiss on the top of my head before turning and leaving my bedroom. He closes the door behind him.
I quickly grab the rest of my things and my laptop before I make my way back toward the living room area. Aubrey is stomping around the tiny kitchen, banging the one cabinet. I spot a stack of cash sitting on the counter.
“Hi,” I chirp.
Leo makes a muffled whimper from his doggie bed beside the narrow sofa.
“This is mine,” Aubrey says, holding up my petal pink tea kettle Caroline had gotten me for my birthday. I use it every night to make hot cocoa. “Just because you’re breaking your end of the lease doesn't mean you get to take all the crap in our apartment.”
“I wasn’t planning on breaking the lease. I’m still going to pay my share.” What if I need to come back at some point? I’m not sure how long we’re going to be married. It might only be a few months.
“The lease is already broken and paid in full,” Renato says. There is an edge to his voice. One I notice he often has when he talks to other people.