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There’s that infamous Luciano ego. Glad to see she wasn’t spared.

“Is it working?” I ask with a playful tilt of my head.

Damien lets out a low chuckle at that. I can feel his eyes on me but I don’t look at him. I’m focused on Sofia. She’s not convinced but that’s okay. I don’t need her to trust me. I just need her to tolerate me enough that she doesn’t make my life here anymore difficult than it needs to be.

Breakfast is mostly quiet after that. I say just enough to seem friendly. A comment here. a question there. I keep it light. I don’t smile much though, I’m still a prisoner after all. Damien watches me like a hawk. Not with suspicion. Curiosity, maybe?

He’s probably trying to figure out my angle. I’ll keep him guessing till the end.

Sofia leaves as soon as she’s done with breakfast. I make sure to thank Renata for the wonderful meal and then I leave with Damien. We walk quietly in the direction of the stairs and it isn’t until we get to the foot that he speaks.

“How was your night,bella? Did you sleep well?”

“As well as I can,” I reply lightly. “I’ve been meaning to ask. Rafael. How long has he been watching me?”

He doesn’t seem surprised by the question.

“He must not have done a very good job if you can recognize him,” he mutters. “Then again, three years is a long time to spend orbiting your life without you noticing.”

My eyes widen, “Three years?!”

“Yes. He’s been assigned to you all this while. Protecting you, watching you.”

My mouth dries, “That’s… that’s an invasion of privacy.”

He arches an eyebrow at that, as if to say he doesn’t care and it’s nowhere near the worst thing he’s ever done. God, he’s insufferable. I take a moment to breathe and relax before speaking again.

“You’ve known you’d marry me for three years? When did you make the deal with my dad?”

“Four years ago. As I told you, originally you were betrothed to my brother. But then something changed and I knew I had to have you. Which is when Rafael became your guard, your personal shadow. He reported your actions to me.”

“Creep,” I mutter.

He pretends not to hear that.

“What was it?” I question.

“What?”

“You said something changed which is why you wanted me. What is it? I can’t figure it out and it’s driving me crazy. What did I possibly do to warrant being wanted by someone like you? You’ve been acting all possessive and saying mine, mine, mine. And I’m not delusional enough to think it’s because you’re in love with me or anything like that. I don’t think you’re even capable of that. So what is it?”

He doesn’t want to answer that. His lips press into a thin line that has my eyebrows rising. His eyes never leave mine though. It’s a pretty amazing gift he has. The ability to make his eyes look like they’re burning when mere minutes before they were so cold they sent a chill through me.

Now it feels like he could set me on fire with just a look. Heat coils low in my belly, sharp and sudden, and my knees damn near buckle. What the hell is wrong with me? This man is the enemy. Danger wrapped in tailored perfection. Still, I can't look away. I part my lips to say something, anything, but he speaks first.

“I have urgent business,” he states. “I’ll see you later tonight.”

“Wait. You can’t just leave in the middle of a conversation. I have questions.”

He pauses, considering that. Finally, he huffs out a breath.

“Fine. We’ll talk tonight. In the lounge. Would you like a new bottle of whiskey tonight as well?”

My eyes roll. I think he’s teasing me.

“No. I’d like a margarita. Cocktails are my favorite.”

“I’ll get you anything you want,” he says, his voice a low promise, eyes raking over me with that same heated hunger that nearly had my legs giving out moments ago.