I sigh and nod. “Okay, I guess there’s no other way out of this.”
“No, there isn’t.” Alessandro almost looks like he’s gleeful, and I hate it. He’s torturing me for amusement. What an asshole.
I smile. “If she has to stay with me, then I will be staying at the estate.” I look at him smugly. “After all, my normal place is too small for the two of us.”
“Your apartment is big enough,” he comments, “but there is more security at the estate. Make the arrangements. See you tomorrow.”
I wave him off and wait out front. Andres comes out and offers me a cigar. I take it, and he lights it.
“Well done,” Andres says. “This is the start of a glorious union.”
“I don’t really care,” I say. “I’m more like a point-and-shoot guy. Point me in the right direction, and I’ll shoot.”
“Ah, but now you get to defend the beautiful Sofia,” Andres grins. “Not too bad, I bet, getting to watch that gorgeous woman every day.”
I scoff. “She’s a pain in the ass. She’s a real princess who doesn’t know how the world actually works.”
“Most women don’t know what happens in this world,” he agrees with me. “But she’s not stupid and knows more than she’s letting on.”
“I don’t think she’s stupid. I think she’s naïve. There’s a difference.” I take a deep drag on my cigar, and a throat clears behind me. I turn to see Sofia looking at me coldly.
“The princess is ready to go now,” she says with an icy voice.
I sigh. Excellent—I’ve managed to piss her off, and now she’s going to be staying with me on the estate.
I nod and hand the half-finished cigar to Andres. “Good luck on your mission.”
“Good luck yourself,” he says quietly. “Because if looks could kill, you’d be dead.”
I shake my head and walk toward the car. I help Sofia get her bags into the trunk, and finally, we climb in. I pull out of the driveway and into traffic, not saying a word.
“I’m not any happier about this arrangement than you are,” she says, spitting with anger, “but don’t underestimate me.”
“I’ve been with you for a few days, Princess. I know what you’re like. You’re probably going to get us all killed,” I snap, irritated that I upset her. I know it doesn’t make sense. Why do I get irritated with her when it’s my fault she’s angry, but I can’t help myself?
She turns away from me, watching the road.
I pull into the driveway of the estate up to the gate a while later. It’s a beautiful, old home in an older suburb of New York but with decent security. The guard at the gate lets us in, and I drive us to the front of the house.
“We’re here,” I comment, wanting to see if she’s still mad.
“No shit.” Yup, she’s still mad.
We climb out, and she slams the car door. I sigh and reach to get her bags, but she tries to shoulder me out the way. It doesn’t really work, but I step away and give her space.
“I can do it myself. Contrary to what you believe, I’mnota princess,” she lifts her bags and carries one in each hand up the stairs leading to the front door.
I reach the door and open it for her. “You can stay in any of the bedrooms on the second floor except the one at the end to the right. That’s mine,” I comment.
“I’ll be taking the one furthest away from yours,” she says, marching up the stairs. I follow slowly and wait until she gets to her room. She looks at me. “Are you following me for a reason?”
“I need to go grab some things. There are guards here, should you need anything. Otherwise, just stay put. The kitchen is stocked if you’re hungry, and there’s a bar in the entertainment room if you want a drink.”
She moves to close the door, and I stop her. “I mean it, Princess, stay put. My guards won’t let you out, so don’t try them.”
She glares at me and snaps, “Is that all? I’m fucking tired and want to get some sleep.”
I let the door go, and she slams it shut in my face.