Page 56 of Vengeful Vows

He takes a step toward me, wrapping me in his possessive, masculine scent.

Helplessly I retreat, backing into Sergio’s unyielding bulk. “Stay away from me.”

“Then get your ass in the car.”

Realizing I have no choice, I nod. “You promise that you’ll leave me alone?”

He hesitates. Just when I think he won’t answer, he softly says, “For now.”

Though it’s not the agreement I want, it’s probably all he will offer.

Sergio steps aside.

“We’ll talk tomorrow, Bella.”

“No.”Not if I can help it.

“Defiant to the end?” he asks softly.

I hate that a traitorous part of my heart still wants to be in his arms, yielding to him.

Anxious to get away, I hurry to the car and slide inside.

Instead of waiting for the door to be closed, I yank on the handle, sealing Nico out.

Sergio climbs behind the wheel, but my eyes are only for Nico.

He’s still where he was, arms folded, a finger resting on his cheekbone. And maybe it’s my runaway imagination, but the scar on his forehead seems even more pronounced.

It’s a reminder of how little I know about him.

“Where to, Ms. Calabrese?”

I’ve been thinking of myself as the future Mrs. Donati, so the sound of my own name jolts me.

Quickly I scroll to my contact list and find Amelia’s address and read it to Sergio.

He nods.

“Is it too much to hope that you won’t tell Marse—I mean Nico?”How often will this happen?

“My loyalty is to the boss.”

I collapse against the back of my seat. And then mutinously I lean forward and pour myself a shot of my former fiancé’s scotch.

“If he doesn’t ask, I won’t tell him,” he offers by way of a compromise.

“He’ll ask.”

Sergio doesn’t respond, telling me I’m correct.

I down the burning alcohol, then shoot Amelia a text to let her know I’ll be on her doorstep momentarily.

It’s about fifteen minutes later when Sergio pulls to the curb in front of her small home.

“Shall I wait?” Sergio asks as he opens my door.

Bastard had left it locked so I had to wait for his assistance. “No.” Then, my ingrained manners assert themselves. After sighing, I add, “Thank you.”