Page 2 of Don’t Break My Heart (Secrets of Ravens Hollow #3)
“Don’t ask.” He sucks in a sharp breath, and I see the sadness that washes over him, and I know Reef no longer has a job.
Fuck, he lost his job because of me. My chest aches for him.
“He and Onyx will be your security while we stay in Italy.” He slips his hand free and stands carefully, sucking in a labored breath as he does.
“Better help get your bags packed, we can’t keep him waiting.
” He moves into the walk-in and returns with an armful of my stuff, carefully folding each item before placing them in the bag.
He removes what I already had in there as well, neatly folding every item until it’s packed the way he likes.
I stare back at him, my body too numb to move.
“Go get your stuff from the bathroom,” he encourages me.
But I can’t move, I can’t help pack the bags that will see me dragged away from my life. I’m devastated for Reef, devastated for myself. How can this man have so much control over all of our lives, and there is nothing any of us can do about it? It’s so wrong.
He takes my shoulders in his hands and helps me to standing, turning me in the direction of the bathroom. “Quickly, Sloane.”
I give a small nod. On autopilot, I move into the bathroom and take everything I need from the drawers.
On the counter are a couple of toiletry bags that I fill.
I also grab my pills, the ones I have been so good at only taking my two a day.
It’s why the boys trusted me with them again.
I glance over my shoulder to make sure Romeo isn’t watching before I pop open the top and grab another two out.
I toss them back with a handful of water from the sink.
Some days are just harder than others and you need it, I tell myself, even though I know I shouldn’t be taking more than my prescribed dose.
Today I need them to block all of this shit out.
To numb the constant pain my body is in.
I pop the bottle in my jacket pocket just in case I need more.
When I return from the bathroom, Romeo has two bags stacked on the bed, one with clothes, the other shoes, handbags, and accessories.
The sight of it all makes me feel sick, Orlando really does see me as some doll he can play dress-up with.
Why else would he buy so many designer items for me?
He’s dressing me to be his wife, his pretty possession standing quietly at his side.
“Where do you want these?” I ask, trying not to act guilty as hell after taking more pills than I know I should.
He takes the bags from me and places them in with the shoes, trying to shove the thing closed. “How do you have so much stuff for your island stay?” he asks with a half-smile. I know he’s trying to lighten the tense mood, even if his smile doesn’t meet his pained eyes.
“Orlando,” I whisper, feeling kind of bad at how I treated him earlier.
Especially now that I know what he’s been through.
But he did this to us. He could have come clean with me anytime and told me I was already his wife, and he didn’t.
I pick up the ring box again, not sure what to do with it.
He clearly left it here because I need to wear it, but I don’t know if I can.
Sliding that piece of jewelry onto my finger as a permanent reminder of who I am to him feels like admitting defeat. “The club?” I ask Romeo instead.
He takes my hand, squeezing my fingers tenderly. He knows what that club means to me. “It’s okay, doll face, we can run that place from anywhere in the world. At least now you can come out of hiding and communicate with your staff again. ”
A small amount of hope ignites inside of me. I get to talk to my girls. I’ll take any silver lining I can.
Orlando’s voice comes from the doorway. “Are you packed? It’s time to leave.” He looks awkward, not sure if he should enter his own room or not.
“I’ll see you on the boat,” Romeo says, giving my hand another reassuring squeeze before he collects one of the bags and wheels it past Orlando.
Orlando closes the gap between us, standing just out of reach. “You need to wear it,” he demands.
I glance back at the ring then back to him. “I don’t want to be married.”
His eyes flash with something dark and unhinged. “But you are.” He snatches up the box and takes the ring out of it. “When this is all over, you can have a divorce if that’s what you want.”
“When this is all over.” I huff out a laugh. “We both know there is no way out of this situation you have me trapped in.”
With a cruel smile, he takes my hand and slides the ring onto my ring finger, looking satisfied once it’s in place.
“There never was for me. It’s always been you, treasure.
” His voice is lighter and filled with the warmth he normally holds for me.
But his body language and features still hold a hard edge to them that says don’t fuck with me.
The ring sits heavy on my finger, like a lead weight dragging me down.
My heart races as I stare back at him, the intensity of his words too much to take in my fragile state.
This is what he wanted all along. For me to be his.
His papa might be enforcing our contract, but he’s all in.
And I know there is no way out. I’m his wife.
Owned by the mafia and their soon-to-be new don.