Page 27 of Wounded King

Alejandro is a good driver, but he sucks at making small talk. Good thing I'm schooled in it. Working as a nurse has made me perfect at one-sided conversations. "Do you like it?"

His head whips from the road to me. Yeah, I guess that was a stupid question. I might as well have asked if there was a status quo on how many people he had to kill a year.

"Mr. Orsi is a good boss. Generous. He takes good care of the people working for him."

"Oh yes? That's good. I'm glad you like him and what you do." Shit. I did it again. I'm not sure if biting off my tongue at this point will actually do anything for me. Alejandro snickers under his breath. I wish I could see his eyes, but they're hidden by dark shades once again.

"Are you nervous, Miss Meade?"

"A little," I confess, grateful he let my faux pas slip and finally decided to join in the conversation.

"No reason to be. Like I said, he's a good boss." He turns, lowers his sunglasses, and winks, "as long as you don't piss him off."

"Get out," I say flatly.

Mina freezes mid-step, standing too close to my hospital bed like she belongs there.

"But Marcello," she pouts, lips trembling like it'll do something to me. "We're engaged. Of course I jumped at the chance to book the venue. That place is filled for years. Do you really want to wait—years?"

"No," I admit. "I don't." I don't want to wait. I don't want to marry her, period.

Her eyes well up, tears clinging prettily to those high, sculpted cheekbones—cheekbones I paid for. "Please, Marcello?"

I shake my head. "You've gone too far, Mina. Cancel the reservation. Pack your shit. You're done."

The crocodile tears spill, perfectly timed, rolling down her chemically perfected face like she thinks I'll cave.

I don't.

"Look, I'll make it easy. I'll put you in an apartment downtown, keep the allowance running for a few more months. Long enough for you to land on your feet—or your back. Your call."

She stiffens. "Do you think you can just buy me off?"

I don't even blink. "Do you want me to stop the payments now?"

"No, no, no—that's very generous of you," she rushes out, scrambling to recover. "It's just…"

She's looking for the hook. Something to reel me back in. What she doesn't get is that the only reason she had me once is because I let it happen. This time? She's not getting that chance.

She'd barely made it through the door before declaring our wedding date was locked in. Like we were some happy couple just ticking boxes. I didn't say anything at the time, but that was her last move.

"I love you so much," she whines, hand fluttering over her chest like she's about to collapse from heartbreak.

I drag a hand down my face instead of wrapping it around her throat.

"You love me?" My voice drops to lethal quiet. "Like you loved me when you fucked your bodyguard in the hotel bed I paid for? While I was laid up in a coma, fighting to survive?"

She flinches. Good.

It takes effort not to lose my temper—but she's not worth the mess. Piero's already been dealt with. I don't tolerate betrayal. Not from anyone. Not ever.

I've put up with this whore longer than I should have. Now? We're done.

"Is that what you think of me? Oh, Marcello, no. Don't be jealous. Piero and I, we never?—"

"You made a mistake, Mina." I don't raise my voice. I don't need to. My tone is enough to freeze a room. "Now leave before I forget how patient I'm trying to be." I point my finger at the door, giving Luciano a nod.

"With pleasure. Come on, Mina." He takes her arm.