Page 11 of Contract of a Billionaire

Before step one of the fancy coffee machine was performed, Maman started ranting.

“Autumn, ma chérie, you know your père doesn’t like for you to spend time around the Russo men. Or any of their friends.”

I shook my head but didn’t bother glancing behind me. She’d see me rolling my eyes and another string of ranting would follow.

“I went to a funeral,” I explained. “For Branka. She lost her mother. I didn’t speak a word with her family.”

“But a whole flight from California to Quebec with Cassio and Luca King,” she retorted, a slight panic in her voice.

“They mainly kept to themselves,” I muttered. “Branka and I slept.”

“Oh, mon Dieu.” I didn’t need to turn around to know she was waving her hands dramatically. “They could have forced themselves on you, ma chérie.” Another annoying groan slipped through my lips while I rolled my eyes vigorously. “Don’t you roll your eyes at me, Autumn Michelle Corbin.” Of course she’d know I was rolling my eyes. She could probably see them in the back of my head. “You and Branka are close and I want you to be there for her. But you have to be smart about it. Always be alert around men like that.”

I was tempted to roll my eyes again but I didn’t.

“Understood and I will. But let’s not exaggerate. They didn’t force themselves on us,” I told her calmly. “Now let’s not ruin my last week before I go on the road.”

A deep, exaggerated sigh left my mother’s lips. “How is Branka?”

I glanced up at the ceiling, as if I could see her from here. She was finally resting. It wasn’t until the early hours of the morning that she finally calmed down enough to fall asleep.

“She’s upset,” I answered slowly. “She just lost her mother.”And she’s scared of her father.

But there was no way I’d say those words out loud. It’d bring another round of her ranting.

“Is she going to stay with her father?” It was clear by my mother’s tone that she thought it was a bad idea. “You should tell her to stay with her brother.”

Her brother. Alessio Russo. Alessandro. God, that name alone was so sexy.

Over the last four years, I’d convinced myself he wasn’t that good looking. But then I saw him yesterday, and just like before, when our eyes met, he held my gaze captive. The cemetery was full of people but Alessio dominated the entire damn city, never mind that little cemetery.

Branka’s brother was larger than life.

During the entire service, I had the urge to keep my eyes averted, away from him. Yet, they always landed back on him. Like a magnet that drew you in. Even with a yard of distance between us, his presence invaded my personal space. He stood tall, towering over people.

Impenetrable. Unemotional.

And the moment his attention honed in on me, my skin buzzed with something familiar. Something that hadn’t happened since the last time I saw him.

But being on Alessio Russo’s radar should be the last thing I wanted. The last thing I needed. He was a predator and I’d be his prey. Consequences would be… pleasurable, though. I was certain of it.

“Autumn?” My mother’s voice penetrated my thoughts and I whirled around to find my mother still standing in the same spot.

“Hmmm?”

“So what are her plans?” she questioned.

I blinked in confusion. “Whose?”

“I asked you if Branka will stay with her brother?” My mother’s tone turned slightly agitated.

“I think so,” I rumbled.

“She could stay here,” she offered.

I didn’t think her big brother would ever allow that but I didn’t say that. Instead, I just answered, “I’ll let her know.”

Chapter4