Page 44 of Sinister Vows
“Blushing bride my ass.” I grunted, “The woman has more claws than a lioness. Teeth too.” I rubbed the spot on my chest that she bit the first time I took her the night before our wedding. The mark had faded, but her brand remained, deep inside of me.
“Does that really surprise you? She is a Rosetti after all.”
“Don’t remind me.” I fisted my hands on my lap, to stem off the desire to pull up the security footage of her in my home for the hundredth time today alone. Dr. Travis called me the morning after Arianna’s exam with her results. Turns out my wife wasn’t only fertile, but she was medically in perfect shape to create and carry my baby.
Babies if I had any say in it. Now we just had to wait a week longer to find out if I’d already managed to get her pregnant or not. Part of me was hoping she was, so the troublesome part was done, given her renewed dislike of me. The other part of me hoped she wasn’t so that perhaps I could return to Armarow and do it right.
Woo her.
Treat her the way she obviously desired to be treated.
But I wasn’t a man of romance, I didn’t know how to give her the things she wished for. Mostly because I only overheard her telling Dr. Travis what she wanted, and I had no idea how to give it to her. And hell if I was going to lower myself to ask her either.
“So,” Matteo continued ignoring my anger like only an old friend could do. “Spill it.”
“Would you drop it already?” I snapped, “Bother someone else with your meddling and curiosity, I don’t have the energy for it.”
“Weird.” He mused, “Because you were full of energy and more on top of your game the entire week we were at Armarow. Yet now that you’re away from the problematic wife of yours, you’re back to the miserable son of a bitch that you’ve been for years.”
“Fuck off.” I hissed, turning on him. “You think sitting there and insulting me is going to get you what you want?”
“Me?” He raised his eyebrows in surprise, “What is it that I want exactly?”
“My guess,” I challenged, “is into the panties of that blonde maid you can’t keep your eyes off of when we’re at Armarow.” I argued and his jaw ticked, “Perhaps that’s why you’re so overly eager to get me back there. So you can get a piece of ass from the sexy little thing?”
“Wrong.” He countered.
“Fine.” I shrugged, looking back out the window, “Then we’ll return to Armarow tonight, simply so I can fuck the maid in the middle of the dining room table at dinner time. You wouldn’t mind, would you?” I looked back over at him and his face was murderous, “God knows my wife isn’t going to let me near her without a fight right now, so maybe I’ll just tell sweet little innocent Molly to get on her knees for me to take the edge off.” I shrugged, “Thanks for the idea.”
He shook his head and cracked his neck, “You’re a real piece of shit somedays Nico, you know that right?”
“Well aware.” I agreed, “Don’t ever try to manipulate me for your own interests again Matteo. I know you too well, just as you know me.”
“I wasn’t trying to manipulate you.”
“Call it what you want, but it wasn’t genuine.” The car pulled up out front of the penthouse and I got out and walked through the crowded lobby, feeling the stares of the other patrons and guests watching my every move. I also spied the paparazzi camped out front, pointing their cameras in through the front glass, desperately trying to get a photo of me doing something exciting to sell to the highest bidder.
Halfway across the space, a woman stepped out in front of me, and I stopped, simply so I didn’t mow her over. She wore a blood-red dress that hugged her average curves and sky-high stilettos like she was trying to mix business and pleasure, but she missed her mark. “Mr. Capasso.” She purred as she flicked her brown hair over her shoulder, exposing the deep cut of her dress’s bust line to my eyes. Purposely, I’m sure. “Anna Devon,” She held her hand out and I took it, entertaining her. “I was wondering if we could chat about your recent acquisition of the Milton Logging company.”
“Ms. Devon,” I raised an eyebrow at her, “What interest do you have in my acquisitions?”
She smiled seductively as I let my eyes fall on the assets, she was trying to display for me. “I think I have something that may interest you, Mr. Capasso. Something that may lead to be mutually beneficial.”
“What’s that?” I fought the urge to shudder from the sexual prowess she was trying to drown me with and dropped her hand. “And don’t be vague.” I nodded to the crowded room. “I have no time for smoke and mirrors.”
I took a step forward, causing her to move back one so that she stayed in front of me, keeping my attention. “Information.” She hurried, “On Milton’s biggest competition in the district.”
“Who?”
“Devon and Sons.” She said, once again taking another step as I tried to continue my way to the elevator.
I paused, raising an eyebrow at her, finally interested in what she was trying to sell. “Familial connections?” Flashes from the photographers lit up the dimly lit lobby as I stood with the woman. She was giving them what they hoped to get when they camped out waiting for me, and that pissed me off.
“My husband’s family.” She raised her chin and fluttered her eyelashes in what I’m sure she hoped was a seductive manner. “A family I’m interested in making very uncomfortable for a time.”
I eyed her, seeing her for what she was. “Leave your info with the desk,” I nodded and then slid my hand around her hip to pull her in close and leaned down to her ear. She gasped and leaned in flush like she was melting into my touch. Which positively repulsed me. “And if you ever approach me in public like this again, I’ll strip you bare and chain you to the front window. Used and worthless to be photographed by the media when my men get done with you.” I kissed her cheek like I was saying goodbye to an acquaintance and smiled down at her as I pulled back. “Now get the fuck out of my way.”
I kept my face impassive, knowing the media had no idea what I actually said to her, but knew what it looked like occurred between us.