Page 50 of His Prize

Then, the elevator doors closed. Leaving me with nothing but the memory of those words in my ear and the sight of her standing there etched forever in my mind.

With nothing but fear racing behind her eyes.

I’m sorry I failed you, my love.

* * *

I kept staring at that elevator. Even as I heard the encasement sliding down the shaft toward the lobby, I stood there. Hoping and praying that this was all a mistake. I felt tears lining my eyes. I felt my knees growing weak. And as Gio led me to a couch to help me sit down, his words kept echoing across my mind.

I love you, Bonnie.

“Bonnie,” Gio said.

I love you, Bonnie.

“Bonnie, can you hear me?”

I love you, Bonnie.

“I love you, too,” I whispered.

“Bonnie!”

I jumped at Gio’s voice. “What?”

He sighed. “I have a way to save Israel. But, you’re not going to like it.”

I slowly looked over at him. “What’s your idea?”

He patted my knee. “Wait here.”

I watched him get up from the couch, and I felt my gut clench. That man had always been a snake, no matter how much he touted the fact that he wanted to help us. I watched him walk down the hallway, disappearing into the kitchen. And when he emerged, I saw a file folder in his hand.

“Here,” he said. He sat back down next to me and put the file against my thighs. “Take a look at it. Go on,” he said.

I flipped it open before I shook my head. “No.”

He placed his hand on my shoulder. “Bonnie, just listen.”

I looked over at him. “No, Gio.”

“I know it looks crazy, but hear me out.”

I stood up, dropping the file to the floor. “I said, no.”

He snickered. “You don’t really have much choice, Bonnie. If you want to save the man you love, this is the only way to do it.”

I furrowed my brow. “Please, Giovanni. Enlighten me as to how marrying you will save Israel.”

He slowly stood. “If you marry me and give me the empire you’ve helped sustain so that I can merge your family with the Rossi’s, then we’d both have the power to—”

I giggled. “You're blackmailing me.”

He blinked. “What? No. Bonnie, seriously. Our families are never going to work together to—”

My giggles turned to laughter. “Holy shit, you’re really blackmailing me right now.”

He shook his head. “You have to listen to me. Time is of the essence.”

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