“My uncle said something just before the chaos began.”
I pull the shirt on and turn to her waiting for her to continue.
“Are you going to make me marry you so the cartel is forced to work with you and not Rinaldi?”
Asshole Jacob.
I study her, try to get a feel for where her head is. Although I can guess. She’s about to be told that yes, she will be forced to marry a man she hates. Or should hate.
“Better than Marcus Rinaldi forcing you to marry him, isn’t it?”
“They’ll still kill you if they can.”
“I have no doubt they’ll try.”
She slips off the bed and comes toward me, then stops, folds her arms across her chest.
“No.”
“No what?”
“I’m not doing it.”
“I’m hungry. Let’s go get some food.”
“Did you hear me?”
I open the door and look at her. “I heard you fine and yes, you are doing it. Let’s go.”
“No.”
I sigh, close the door and go to her. She doesn’t move away, and I grasp her arms, rubbing up and down, then close my hands and squeeze just a little.
“I understand the circumstances you’re coming from, but you need to think now, Scarlett.”
“I am thinking.”
“What are your options?”
“You can let me go. That’s an option.”
“Let me rephrase. What are your realistic options? Sit down.” I don’t wait for her but walk her backward and sit her on the edge of the bed. “The way I see it, you have two and both roads lead to the altar.”
“Is this all I’m ever going to be? A pawn for men’s games?”
“This isn’t a game. Not even close. You marry Rinaldi and you become a party to the flesh trade, not to mention drugs and probably in time, arms dealing. If you stay alive long enough, that is. And that’s not even taking Noah into consideration.”
“Leave my brother out of it.”
“I wish I could.”
“You may not deal in flesh, but those other things are just as bad, Cristiano.”
“Yeah, but here’s the catch.” I have never said what I’m about to say out loud. Not to anyone. Not my uncle or brother or Charlie. Not even to myself. “I don’t care about it. Not any of it.”
Something must change on my face because her expression shifts. Becomes confused then almost worried.
“What do you mean?” she asks more quietly.
I decide I can’t say it now, either. Shaking my head, I pick up the box on the nightstand that contains the engagement ring. I open it and look down at it.
“I mean I just want Rinaldi. That’s it. I want to know what he said to my mother after he—” I break off. I can’t say the words. “And then I want to kill him.” That’s what I want. It’s the reason I survived. And it’s all I have been living for.
I turn the box around to show her, but it takes her a very long moment to drag her shiny eyes from mine to the ring. She spares it a quick glance. If she’s impressed, she doesn’t let on. But she’s not the type to be impressed by something like this.
“What happens to you after?”
Smart girl.
“That doesn’t matter. You’ll be free. I’ll make sure you’re taken care of, financially I mean, and any other way I can to help you disappear if that’s what you want or need. You and Noah both.”
“But you said he’d be a soldier.”
“You’re both mine until this is done. When it’s done, when I know what Rinaldi said to my mother and when I’ve killed him, then and only then are you free.”
23
Scarlett
I study him. He’s got a cut high on his cheek but it’s nothing compared to his chest and back. He looks like he rolled around in shards of broken glass.
I remember my panic when he’d passed out after the doctor reset his shoulder. I remember exactly how it felt like my heart stopped for a moment. I try to tell myself it’s just because if he died, it’d be worse for Noah and me. But I know that’s not the whole truth.
“Scarlett?”
He gestures to the ring. It’s beautiful, a Princess cut diamond set amidst jagged blue stones.
“Sapphires?” I ask.
He nods.
I study the jewels. Remember how my brothers had plans to deal in diamonds too. Nothing was off the table for them.
I know I don’t really have a choice in the matter here. He is right. This is a better option than Marcus Rinaldi would offer me. But if I have any room to negotiate, I’m taking it.
“I want Noah upstairs tonight. No, now.”
“Tomorrow. After you’ve said I do.”
“Tomorrow? This is happening tomorrow?”
“We’ll surprise Noah with our happy news.”
“We’re getting married tomorrow?”
“Problem? Time is of the essence.”
“No. No problem.” I mean, what does it matter. If Marcus and my brothers had had their way, I’d already be married.
“Good. Anything else?”
“No sex. I sleep in—”