Page 50 of Wretched Choices

But for now, all I can do is trust him to protect me.

I sit down on the leather sofa, tiredness taking over as I wait for him to come back.

I stir when fabric wraps around my shoulders. Blinking, I open my eyes to Salvatore wrapping his jacket around me.

“I told you to wait,” he murmurs.

I didn’t realize how exhausted I was. The last two weeks, I tired myself out, not to mention the stress that came with this marriage and, most importantly, being Isabella Ruggeri again.

He buttons up the jacket on me. “Come. I’ll drive you home,” Salvatore says.

I blink. “You mean to the hotel?”

He stops what he’s doing and stares at me. “That’s where we’re living, so it’s a home.”

I stand. “You know, people have homes for a reason. Living in a hotel, even if you have your own floor, is not a home. I have a home, and that is my apartment. A suite in a hotel is not and never will be my home.”

He grabs me and pulls me to him by my upper arm. With my unsteady feet, I almost fall onto him. I brace my free hand on his chest. “You can say goodbye to your apartment because you are not going back there.” His voice is low.

I exhale, not in the mood to fight. I narrow my eyes at him. “I know that.” I pat his chest. His eyes follow the motion. “Now, drive mehome. I’m too tired to fight.”

With a low growl, he steers me out of his office and takes my hand, pulling me closer to him as we walk out of the club into his waiting car.

I slide into my seat and buckle in as Salvatore slides in. I look through the window, my eyes catching the man standing beside the wall near the entrance. My blood runs cold as my eyes lock onto his face. My eyes widen, and my mouth goes dry.

“Fuck,” Salvatore says from beside me. “He’s outside my club. Gray suit, purple shirt.” I hear the door open, and Salvatore is already halfway out, his attention on the man when I grab his hand.

“Don’t go.” He looks from the man to me before he comes back.

We watch as Dante and two other men I don’t know the names of walk out of the club. At the same time, a speeding motorbike drives by us, stopping just a few strides from the man. Hopping on the bike, they speed up before anyone can reach them.

Salvatore hits the steering wheel. “Fucking cunt.”

I exhale with relief that he is gone and relax into my seat. I close my eyes, exhaustion taking over again when Salvatore starts the car and drives away.

“I’m going to the hotel to find out what he was doing there. I want answers, and how the hell has he come near me unnoticed?” Salvatore barks orders on his phone while I try to relax as my body shakes. I take deep breaths.

I stir when my body is lifted, and no matter how I try to open my eyes, they’re too heavy.

“Sleep,” Salvatore murmurs in my hair. And I do. I wrap my hand around him and bury my face in his neck, only waking up again when I’m put in a soft place and my clothes are taken off.

Salvatore covers me, but before he can leave, I grab his hand, my voice hoarse. “Stay.” I squeeze his fingers, hoping he willbecause I can’t be alone tonight. “Please,” I say, opening my eyes, pleading with them.

Shaking his head, he says nothing as he takes his shoes and clothes off. I watch him reach the other side of the bed in a few strides, and he slides in beside me.

I turn onto my side, facing him. I want to look at him before I close my eyes.

Enigmatic man. If I’d just stayed away, I would never be on his radar and I would never know this feeling inside. But Icouldn’tstay away. Something brought us together. I just hope that I get out with my soul and heart intact.

He is lying on his back, one hand under his head and the other on his muscular stomach. He’s staring into space like he is sleeping with open eyes.

I take a moment to appreciate how beautiful he is. This is the first time I can really look at him without tension and threats around us.

“Sleep,” he grumbles.

I smile and close my eyes. The moment I do, darkness takes over, taking me to places I can only dream of.

twenty-one

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