Page 64 of Dark Breaker

I immediately make a call to one of my guys who has a room lower in the building, and tell him to follow Rosa and keep an eye on her.

“She’s on the way down now,” I tell him.

“Don’t worry, I’m dressed and ready to go,” he replies.

“Have a couple of our guys rendezvous with you,” I say. “Keep me updated.”

I hang up.

I know I said I don’t want her fate to belong in the hands of someone else. But I can’t watch her properly today. I’m too distracted by what happened.

I shake my head.

She saysIlook at her with contempt.I.

Maybe I do. I keep telling myself how much I want to break her, but do I really? When her defiant spirit is what I like best about her?

It’s possible I’ve been trying to avoid falling for her, too. This always was meant to be an alliance of convenience. There weren’t supposed to be any feelings involved. I figured she was only doing this to protect her brothers, but maybe I’m wrong. Maybe it’s becoming more than that. I’ve already seen how much her body wants me in the bedroom, and how much mine wants her in return. Maybe it’s possible we could have something else.

No, I doubt it. What occurred today, this moment of vulnerability she showed me, will probably never happen again.

She might not even come home tonight. She said as much.

Maybe that’s for the best.

No. If there’s a chance that we can have something more, I should at least try to take it.

And I resolve to find a way to do just that.

After all, it will only strengthen the alliance between our families.

At least, that’s what I tell myself.

11

Rosa

Well that was… stressful. I didn’t think I’d be so jealous when I saw that woman in our apartment this morning, but heismy husband, after all. I can’t believe she had the audacity to make such a proposal. When I overheard them talking, I slipped on my panties and got up right away. When I saw her sitting in that chair, twirling her hair and smiling flirtatiously while Fabio was standing there shirtless in front of her, I wanted to jump on her and start ripping hair out, but I barely managed to hold myself back.

I listened instead, wondering if I’d catch Fabio in the act. Wondering if he’d reveal his true nature. But he behaved, lucky for him. I hadn’t realized she’d let herself in until after I stalked inside to confront him. I might not have been as angry if I knew that. Then again, when he told me about the key, I started wondering just how many other women he’d given a key to, which only pissed me off even more. I mean, will this be a monthly or weekly occurrence, with random women showing up looking for a fuck?

I suppose I shouldn’t be too angry with him. He did keep his cock in his pants. But a part of me wonders if he was only holding back because he knew I was in the next room. It wouldn’t surprise me if he already set up a rendezvous with her—who knows, maybe he’s even fucking her right now. He wants the Jackal, after all. And when Fabio wants something, he doesn’t hold back. Even if it means cheating on me.

He doesn’t love me, I remind myself. I’m just the key to his alliance.

This is all the crap going through my head while I sit here in psych class, completely unable to concentrate. I should have just skipped the class entirely, and driven around mindlessly for a few hours. But no, that’s a bad idea in my current state. It’s not good to drive a scooter around the busy streets of Palermo with tears in yours eyes. Assuming you want to live to see another day.

The class is half over when my phone gently vibrates in my pocket. I ignore it. I don’t want to talk to any of my friends right now. Though I could probably use the support. Plus my professor is very strict on phone usage during class. Then again, I’m sitting near the back today. It’s not like he’d notice.

I do wonder who it is…

Curiosity finally gets the better of me and I fetch my phone. When I see the sender, I lock the screen and shove it away without reading the message.

What the hell does Fabio want now? I start hyperventilating and feel my face growing hot.

I close my eyes and manage to get a hold of myself. I decide to check the message. I brace myself, knowing he’s probably going to piss me off even more. I just hope I don’t swear out loud or something in the middle of class.

I read the message.