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“And that’s not exactly what the contract says, Mr. Belfiore. We can enforce our part, too.
I see a Marini Spa retreat on this land. What do you think, Rocco?” a male voice mused.
“I’ll take it all, and Adelina.”
I touched my chest that went tight.
“Over my dead body,” Mr. Belfiore shrieked. “I don’t want you here in my home. Get out.”
I moved quickly down the stairs and slowed to a stop a few steps from the bottom. Rocco stood in all black next to a handsome blonde male in a charcoal grey suit, his expression amused, and he shifted his eyes to stare directly at me.
Rocco turned his head, and my heart jumped into my throat. His gaze bore in and locked.
The pained look on his face broke the heart he had already shattered. It broke the walls I had so carefully erected my entire life. These feelings he arose in me were tearing me apart and I had no way to hide them.
“Per te farei di tutto, mia Bella,” he said in a deep voice that was a sweet caress.
I clasped my burning throat, my eyes filling. Rocco said in Italian before everyone that he’d do anything for me.His, Bella.Did he really mean it? Or did he still need me for something? I hated that I had to doubt it all. I hated that I couldn’t take that romantic profession and wrap it around myself in comfort. But even his declaration wouldn’t go far now. He delayed and broke our contract. I was now promised to Percy.So why is Rocco here?
“Did you hear me? I want you gone,” Mr. Belfiore yelled at him.
Asudden movement beside me drew my attention to Grandmother, breaking my focus away from Rocco and the intense situation. She stayed next to me, leaving Mr. Belfiore to stand alone in front of Rocco and the man with him.
“How dare you come into my home and threaten me,” Grandfather growled. “I want you both to leave now, or I will call the police.”
My mind raced, trying to come up with a quick solution. Rocco couldn’t miss his grandfather’s funeral. And though I doubted my grandfather’s police threat, their fight had to stop.
I took a step forward, and Grandmother clasped my arm.
“You stay out of it. This is between them,” she whispered.
I frowned. “But it’s wrong.”
“Just wait.”
Chime.The doorbell sounded. But I couldn’t tear my gaze away from Rocco as his head lifted to me. The impact of his attention was always intense, filled with his charisma and beauty. But there was more there when his gaze bore down on me. It was electric and commanding. Without even saying anything, I could feel the visceral pull he had on me. Still, my feet remained planted as my heart raced in my chest. I couldn’t help but think about our conversation last night. I told him to move on without me. Yet here he was, with all he had on his plate, demanding. Demanding what?To take me back to live with him?Why when he had a way out of our arranged marriage?
The sound of heels on the marble floor drew all of our attention. Brenda, the family liaison, appeared in the foyer.
Mrs. Belfiore stepped forward, her hand reaching out to touch mine. I felt a surge of conflicting emotions.Should I follow her?“Perhaps we can all go to the dining room and talk?” she suggested.
“Great idea, Constance,” Brenda chimed in, immediately assessing the tension in the air.
“There’s nothing to talk about,” Mr. Belfiore grumbled. “The arranged marriage is over.”
“Contracts don’t end because you say so,” the man next to Rocco told him. “There was a clause for unforeseen circumstances in it, which Mr. Marini is well within his rights to act on as part of our legal agreement. We’re here to act on the issues raised by Mr. Belfiore.”
“Well, I see Mr. Marini has his lead lawyer, Gunnar Crane, with him,” Brenda said in an even voice. “I see no reason we can’t have a meeting. What do you say, Mr. Belfiore?”
“We have one more person joining us,” Rocco told her.
“We also have a funeral to attend,” Gunnar said in a harsh tone. “Forcing Rocco in this position is not only poor but indecent. He intends to leave with Adelina.”
Mr. Belfiore eyed him coolly and walked ahead.
My heart panged knowing that today may be the last time I see Rocco. I hated to hurt him, but then Percy’s voice echoed in my brain.
“He fucked you because you’re easy, but he never planned to keep you.”