My plan was an epic fail. I hadn’t even made it over the front gate before Marcello caught me in another compromising position. I had my dress hiked up to my waist, my legs dangling from the brick post like branches hanging from a tree. Fear was a motherfucker. If I hadn’t taken in the twenty-foot drop, I would have been on my way to freedom.
I was so close I could taste it.
Headlights flashed, forcing me to shield my eyes with my forearm. Marcello parked his black Maserati on the flagstones as I yanked my dress down to my knees. He’d seen me in my undies twice already, but I wasn’t trying to make it a regular habit. I had to maintain some decency, after all. But who was I kidding? My body clearly responded when Marcello was near, like his cock was a beacon, sending off signals to my undersexed lady bits.
He popped his thick head of black hair out of the driver’s side window. “Where the fuck do you think you’re going?”
I rolled my eyes at the prick. “Nowhere, I guess, since I can’t get away from you.”
My mouth watered as he brushed his hair off his forehead, reminding me of a young Johnny Depp with his messy on purpose look that made my fingers long to touch his soft locks. He was oblivious to his sex appeal and the effect he had on me.
Because you’re not supposed to be looking at him, he’s your future husband’s brother. Your almost-brother-in-law.
I needed a damn lobotomy.
In all the years I had known Marcello, I’d never noticed him this much. Maybe because until now, I was hopeful Luca would change. I wanted to believe the Devil would retire his pitchfork and swap his horns for a pair of angel wings. But I knew better. Luca craved chaos and destruction like an addict needed their next fix.
With an irritated groan, Marcello opened his door, placing one foot on the ground. “Can you get yourself down from there?”
I held up my hands and shrugged. “There’s an upside to falling.”
Nostrils flared, Marcello got out of the car. “Can you get down or not? If not, I’m coming up there to get you.” He moved onto the grass below me. “Jump. I’ll catch you.”
“I was never good at the trust fall thing in gym class.”
“I got you,” he growled. “Get your ass down here.”
“You have such a way with words, Marcello. I bet you could charm the chastity belt off a nun,” I said with a chuckle.
“Look who's got jokes.” He shook his head, his jaw set hard enough to cut through steel. I rolled my eyes, and he raised his hand in the air, wiggling his fingers. “You have two seconds before I climb up there, princess.”
“Fine,” I agreed, mumbling fucker under my breath. “Make sure you catch me.”
“Turn yourself around.” He made a twirling motion with his fingers to demonstrate. “Use the brick post as an anchor point and then jump into my arms.”
Trusting people gave me fucking hives. That was not something I freely tossed around to anyone. I tore a hole into my cheek from deliberating my next move. Getting up here was easy, but every time I dared a glance at the ground, my throat closed up.
For a moment, I was back at the ski resort in the Pocono Mountains. Aiden had talked me into separating from the group. He always sought danger. We’d ventured to the black diamond slope that was shut down for the weekend. Unfortunately, we learned the reason for the closure too late. They were replacing a fence that kept skiers from falling off the mountain. If Aiden hadn’t grabbed my arm when he did, I would have plummeted to my death.
“Stop fucking around,” Marcello said with an attitude.
“I’m afraid of heights.”
Marcello inched toward the wall, shoving his jacket over his shoulders.
“What are you doing?”
“Coming up to get you,” he said as if I asked an idiotic question. “Unless you plan to sleep up there.”
“It beats the alternative,” I shot back.
“Like sleeping next to me was so horrible,” he challenged. “You didn’t even know I was beside you. And if I hadn’t been there, you wouldn’t have slept a wink.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “What are you talking about?”
He shrugged his suit jacket back on and inched closer to the wall. “We’re not having this conversation right now.”
“Tell me, and I’ll jump without question.”
“You woke me up, screaming in your sleep, but you didn’t open your eyes. I held you until the tremors stopped, and then…”
“And then what?”
“I passed out and got up a few hours later to the sun in my eyes. When I came back from taking a shower, you were hitting yourself in your sleep. That’s when I woke you up.”
I wracked my brain for any memories of last night.