Page 97 of Savage Vows

I don’t bother with subtlety. Instead I slam my knuckles against the door, the force rattling it in its frame.

The laughter stops. For a moment, there’s nothing but silence. Then the sound of light footsteps approaches, and the door opens slightly, just as far as the safety chain will allow.

With the way Bella’s positioned herself, I can’t see beyond her into the suite.

“I’m here for Alessia.”

“It’s girls night,” she tells me, as if that explains everything.

“I’m not here to argue with you,” I say. “Where is she?”

“Right here.”

Alessia’s voice is calm, steady, as she gently nudges Bella aside.

Everything inside me slams into overdrive, relief, frustration.

My bride is in casual clothing—a soft sweater and lounge pants that make her look impossibly young, impossibly fragile. Her gaze meets mine, unflinching. Her eyes are haunted. Did I do that to her? “I want you to come home.”

She shakes her head, her expression unreadable. “No, Matteo. I’m not ready.”

With that she closes me out.

“Alessia!”

Down the hall, other guests pop open their doors and stare.

“Matteo.”

The single word cuts through the chaos, cool and authoritative. Rafe Sterling, owner of this property and half the hotels in the world, is striding toward me. He was at my father’s funeral, and tonight he’s wearing a practiced smile, one to smooth over the toughest situation.

“Welcome to the Uptown.” He extends his hand.

“Fuck that.”

His expression hardens slightly. “I run a secure establishment, not a battlefield.”

“I’m here for my wife.” The knot inside me is threatening to come unraveled.

“As I understand it, she’s a guest here this evening, and she intends to enjoy her stay.” He’s a practiced hotelier and Titan, and he’s a force of nature. “I’d like to buy you a drink in one of our bars. But I’m asking you to leave this floor.”

“Alessia is coming with me.”

“Let’s not escalate the situation.”

Nico arrives and shakes hands with Rafe as if they’re old friends.

“I just offered to buy Matteo a drink.”

“Excellent idea.” Nico levels a cold look at me. “I could use one too.”

“As I said?—”

“As your advisor, I recommend you accept his invitation.” Nico leans closer so that no one can overhear us. “Police are on the way up.”

I glance at Rafe, a man I had considered a friend. He’d have me arrested?

“Thirty seconds to make the right choice,” he affirms, as if reading my mind.

---