Page 33 of Sinful Wrath

After the little stunt she pulled today, she’s right back to her spoiled brat persona that has me seeing red. But that’s exactly the sort of wakeup call I need.

I can’t have her thinking she can just do as she pleases and expect me to just roll over and take it because she bats her eyelashes at me and pushes her breasts together.

It’s a good thing I decided to cut my morning meeting with my brothers short to come back to the townhouse to check on her.

I knew Lucia would be pissed about having to stay in the townhouse alone, but there was no way I was going to bring her with me. I couldn’t risk my brothers becoming distracted by her charm and quite frankly, her beauty.

Two of my brother’s might be happily married, but they’re not blind.

But the second I walked through the door, I knew she was gone. I was stupid to put so much trust in a girl who is proud of not using her brain cells.

And this little stunt could have gotten her killed.

She has a fucking target on her back and yet, she just walked straight out the front door without a care for the consequences.

I guess part of me was hoping that she wouldwanttolisten to me. After all, I went through with her ridiculous bucket list and helped save her fucking life.

The least she could do was stay home for a few hours.

It took me less than a minute to decide to call Anton and have him come over to fit a lock on her door. Despite what Lucia might think, I take no pleasure in locking her up, but she didn’t give me much of a choice.

She’s Massimo Conti’s daughter for Christ’s sake. He’ll have a lot more than my balls if something happens to her on my watch.

I don’t particularly enjoy having Massimo breathing down my neck, so the sooner this situation is dealt with, the better.

Until then, I’ll happily play the villain in Lucia’s story if it means she’s safe. And it doesn’t hurt to have her so angry with me either.

I’m meant to be getting her to call off this wedding, not plan one.

I head straight back to my family’s penthouse to put some distance between us. She might be locked up, but that won’t stop her from crawling her way into my thoughts, and I need to stay focused.

As I’m driving over there, a call from Anton comes through the speakers, and I fight the urge to send it to voicemail.

The second I answer, I wish I had gone with my instincts as it seems my cousin is in the mood to press all of my buttons.

“How’s playing house with the party girl going? Did she like her little present?”

“That’s why you’re calling me?”

“Just catching up, Mikhail. I take it Lucia made it back in one piece?”

“Yes, thank fuck.” I run my fingers through my hair.

“Is this payback for the little incident the other night?”

“She’s staying with me until we find out who the guys that attacked us are working for.”

“Alexei told me about your little run in. Still no word on who’s behind it?”

“No. I’m hoping we’ll have something soon.”

“But until then you’re having to play babysitter?”

“Yes.”

“You really are naïve.” He chuckles.

The sound grates on my nerves, and I tighten my grip on the steering wheel, my knuckles turning white as I dodge in and out of traffic.