Page 165 of The Billionaire's Secret

"The fuck you talking about, woman. If you think I am going to let you put yourself in danger, you’ve got another think coming. I won’t allow it, Gigi, I—"

"You ready to leave, Victoria?" a new voice booms.

My heart slams into my chest. I swing around to face a familiar face.

"You?" I snarl, "The fuck you doing here?"

41

Victoria

"Hello, Antonio."

He comes forward, arm outstretched.

Beside me, Saint stiffens, "Get the fuck away from her."

"Afraid it doesn’t work quite that way, old sport." Antonio turns to me, "You going to tell your new husband, or should I?"

I tip up my chin, "I need a second."

"You’ve run out of time." Antonio smiles, white teeth flashing against tanned skin. He prowls toward me.

I shudder, take a step back. Saint’s warmth envelopes me; he wraps an arm around my waist. "You don’t have to do this," he whispers in my ear.

I do. I don’t have a choice.If I don’t do as he says, he’ll kill the friend who’s meant more to me than any family. No, I have to do this, with no help from anyone else.

I yank at Saint’s arm. His muscles flex, "I am not letting you go."

"I was never yours to begin with."

"The fuck?" he explodes.

I elbow him in the waist. He huffs and his grip loosens enough for me to pull away. I turn on him, "I’m leaving you."

"What?" He frowns, scans my features then chuckles, "You’re getting back at me for my asshole attitude, huh?" He lowers his voice, "You know that’s because I can’t help myself. It’s in my blood, I'm a born wanker." He raises his shoulders, "but for you, Gigi... For you, I’d change."

I swallow, then shake my head. "You...won’t."I don’t want you to."Your uncompromising meanness is too much a part of you. Besides…this entire arrangement between us was a farce."

"Not for me." He takes a step forward, "It may have started off that way, but I developed feelings for you."

"Like I care?"

"Of course, you do," he growls. "You love me, Gigi."

"No," I back away from him.

"Yes. You do. You’re too frightened to admit it." He glares past me. "What does he have on you?"

"Nothing." I retreat another step.

Antonio’s heat assails me. My skin crawls. My fingers jerk. Don’t shrink back;don’t show how afraid you are right now. His massive hand descends on my shoulder. The blood drains from my face.

"Don’t fucking touch her," Saint’s feet don’t seem to touch the ground as he crosses the distance between us.

"Don’t come closer," I swallow.

"Stop right there," Antonio snaps.