Page 16 of Dark Breaker

“No, but someone texted me about it.”

“Only texted?” I ask. “I’m almost surprised someone didn’t film the whole incident on their phone.”

At the periphery of my vision, I see her nod. “Everyone’s camera-happy these days, aren’t they? Though it beats trigger-happy. Or punch-happy.” She says that last accusingly.

I hesitate, then: “He tried to pinch your ass.”

“I can take care of myself,” Rosa says. “I’ve been doing it for twenty years. I’ll do it for another twenty.”

“Maybe you actually believe that,” I tell her. “But if you’re actually going to do this, actually become my wife, you’ll be in more danger than ever before. I have a lot of enemies.”

“The Morettis do, too, in case you haven’t figured that out yet,” she replies scornfully. “And I’ve always been fine.”

“I’ll send guards to watch over—” I begin.

“No guards,” she interrupts.

I look at her, and I can’t help the anger burning in the pit of my belly. “Look, as my wife, you’ll do as you’re told. I wouldn’t insist on guards if I didn’t have a good reason. People could use you to get to me.”

She finally meets my eyes. “Why do you care if someone hurts me anyway? It’s not like youloveme or anything. As far as you’re concerned, if someone killed me, they’d be doing you a favor. Besides, I’m not your wife yet anyway.”

I purse my lips, considering for a moment. “Good point. You’re right, no guards.”

She half rolls her eyes and then looks back to the sea. “Why did you agree to marry me? Are you really so firmly under your father’s thumb?”

“Why didyouagree?” I retort. “Are you the slave of your brothers?”

She shrugs. “As far as I’m concerned there is no wedding.”

I stare at her, confused for a moment. And then I’m not sure whether to feel enraged or relieved. I experience a bit of both.

I let my gaze drift to the sea. “So that’s it then. Deal’s off?”

“Deal’s off,” she agrees.

I grin and pull out my phone, wanting to spite her. I got Massimo’s number yesterday during the meeting and I hit quick dial next to his name.

“What do you want?” Massimo asks, a bit roughly for my tastes.

But I force myself to keep smiling and put him on speaker phone. “My wedding to your little sister, is it still on?”

“Of course it’s on,” Massimo replies. “Why, are you backing out?”

“Nope.” I gaze at Rosa triumphantly.

The little she-devil suddenly leans forward and shouts into the phone: “I’m not marrying him!”

“What?” Massimo says. “Rosa? Where are you? Fabio, if you’ve hurt her…”

I quickly pull the phone away, flick off the speaker mode, and hold it to my ear. “I assure you, I’ve done no such thing.”

“Where are you?” he presses. “Are you stalking her?”

“I wanted to get to know my future wife a bit before the wedding,” I reply. “Is that not allowed?”

“Of course it’s allowed,” Massimo replies. “As long as she’s okay with it. Where are you?”

“On the ferry to Ustica,” I tell him.