Page 11

Wow, I guess she could follow orders.

Good to know.

And now that all the legal and important shit was out of the way, I could focus on putting my plan into action.

Let the games begin, wife.

4

I glanceddown at the band on my finger, feeling sick at the events of today. How could my father do that to me? He was a man I once looked up to, alongside Artem, his original right hand, however, he left out of the blue. He was more like a father to me than Victor ever was, and what’s worse, my father didn't seem to care. His focus was Miles, Miles, and Miles. I knew deep down he felt no remorse about packing me up and handing me to Lorenzo Ricci. I supposed having me gone would be one less thing for him to worry about.

“Anastacia, are you okay?” Red asked from the driver's seat.

“It’s Ana, Red, and I’m fine,” I lied. I wasn’t okay. I would never be fine, but I had to grin and bear it just as I had many things in my life.

“You don’t need to lie. He might be my boss as well as my friend but?—”

“But what, Red?” Lorenzo snapped as he slammed the door behind him. I hadn’t even noticed him open the damn thing.

“Nothing, just nothing.” He sighed, perhaps feeling sorry for me, but he didn’t need to. Give me a day or two and I would genuinely be fine.

Fine… A word I hated. I always knew my mother wasn’t okay when she used the word fine, and now I couldn’t stop saying it. It flowed out of me like bloody water.

“Let’s go. We have that meeting to get to tonight, and we can’t be late.” Lorenzo tapped on his phone, not paying attention to anything else.

“At least I won’t have to deal with you tonight then. I guess my prayers have been answered,” I teased, turning my attention to the passing nature. “You’ll probably end the night with a quick fuck to get your rocks off.”

“Jealous, wife?” he asked, cracking his neck.

“Of the poor woman who has to fuck you?” I scoffed. “Not in the slightest.”

He chuckled before the car fell completely silent. I was in the process of working out if that was a good thing or something incredibly bad. Then suddenly I had my answer, Lorenzo gripped my chin between his thumb and forefinger, forcing me to look at him. He leaned into me, the warmth of his breath brushing my ear.

“That mouth is going to get you into trouble, Anastacia,” he hissed.

“I doubt that, but then again, you won’t be paying much attention to me after today anyway. As you said, you want a quiet wife. I’m guessing one that’s seen and not heard.” I bit back, not faltering or letting myself seem rattled by him or the words he spoke.

“And is that what my wife craves? My attention?” He brushed his thumb over my lower lip, making my skin prickle unexpectedly.Dammit.

“I don’t need, nor do I want, your attention. I’m content being alone.” I let out a steady breath, my confidence coming back in full force.

“Lying isn’t a good look on you.” In one swift move, he fisted my hair, causing my head to jerk back just enough so he had access to my bare neck. His stubble scratched my sensitive skin before he roughly sucked on my neck.Did that bastard just give me a motherfucking hickey?!

I saw red. Rearing my hand back, I wasted no time in letting it collide with his face. The sting radiated through my palm and his cheek reddened.

“Touch me again and it’ll be more than just a slap,” I threatened, shoving his body away from mine as I saw the rage written all over his face. “Why would you do that anyway?!”

“I can do whatever I want with my wife. At least now any man who sees you without me by your side will know you’re taken.”

“And the ring on my finger isn’t indication enough?” I threw my hands up in despair, wanting to smash his damn face in.

“No, not nearly enough.” He scowled, his eyes darkening as he spoke.

I turned my back to him, not wanting to feed his ego with more attention. No matter if it was good or bad, he didn’t deserve it.

It wasn’t long before we turned onto a long gravel driveway that led to what could only be his house. It was magnificent, I had to admit. It was grander than the one I shared with my family. The driveway must have been over a mile long and was shaded by bushes and trees, hiding security cameras no doubt. As we reached the entrance, we circled around a fountain that replicated a work of art. Red parked at the bottom of the steps leading to the front door.

“Welcome to your new home, Ana.”