Page 40 of His Prize

I didn’t like how Israel chuckled at his comment. Hell, I didn’t like how this man had navigated his way up to this penthouse with us in the first damn place. But apparently, how I felt didn’t matter in this situation.

“So! Israel.”

“Yep?”

“When are you going to marry that diamond woman or whatever?”

The entire room fell silent as I slowly looked over at Israel. “What?” I asked.

Gio finished pouring his drink. “I mean, Bonnie here could be your mistress, and no one would be any the wiser. You’d make Dad happy, and you’d continue to have what makes you happy. Win-win, all around.”

I snickered. “All around? And what about me?”

Gio threw back his drink. “Hey, you’d still get Israel out of the deal.”

Israel’s hardened voice rose from the kitchen. “If you utter one more word about that disgusting woman, I’ll throw you out the window myself.”

Gio paused. “Wait, so you don’t want to marry Alice?”

Israel’s voice boomed from the kitchen. “I’ve been working hard to keep that bitch from sinking her talons into me and my life. I’d appreciate it if you didn’t try to help with the situation.”

I nodded. “I would, too.”

Gio snickered. “My apologies, then. I didn’t realize my brother had planned on openly defying Dad on this one.”

Israel stormed into the room. “You can either shut your fucking mouth on the topic or get the hell out of here.”

Gio turned to face him. “Are you really willing to give up everything to be with Bonnie, though?”

I blinked. “Give up everything?”

When the room fell silent again, the pieces fell into place. That’s what this was all about. This crap with this woman who was his ex. His father was pressuring him into this and holding his future over his head as manipulative collateral. The thought made me sick. The idea of the man I loved losing everything because of me made my heart break. And for the first time since openly defying my uncle, I didn’t know where to step next.

I wanted what was best for Israel. But, I also wanted him in my life. I needed to do what was best for the man I loved, but what if that meant losing him? What if that meant walking away from him for good? Could I really do that?

I mean, I’d be happy as a poor no one, so long as I had Israel at my side. But, was he the same way? Could he be happy with a life full of nothing?

Is anything in my life ever going to play in my favor?

16

Bonnie

I buriedmyself in work at my uncle’s office as I scribbled across open documents and took notes in the margins.

I had so much catching up to do that it was sickening. But, more than that, it was nice to be out of that penthouse for once. I needed to get this office moved, though. Every time I stepped foot onto my uncle’s estate, I risked bodily harm. Or worse. However, with things in such upheaval right now, I had nowhere to set up shop. Israel and I had been bouncing around so much and tiptoeing around one another so often that we hadn’t even thought about what comes after the hotel suite, much less where I was going to move my office.

But a knock at the study door pulled me from my thoughts. “Come in,” I called out.

I didn’t look up when the door opened, but the smell of Chanel No. 5 raised my head. And when my eyes locked with Alice’s, I set down my pen.

“Ah. Miss Esposito. Take a seat,” I said.

I held out my arm for her, and she sat in the chair in front of my desk. I didn’t like the look behind her eyes, though. I didn’t like the way she sauntered in and swayed those hips of hers before taking a seat on the very edge of the seat. As if the leather lounger was too grimy for her precious little ass to sit against.

“I’ll cut to the chase so we can both save ourselves some time today, Miss Moretti.”

I nodded. “Go right ahead.”

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