Page 111 of The Proposal

“Fuck.” This is worse than I thought. Giuseppe Salvatori is a madman. An absolute psychopath.

“I can’t marry him, Dante. I just can’t. I’m sure you’ve heard the rumours of what happened to his other wives.”

I’ve heard a lot more than rumours. It’s not just his wives that need to fear him. Anyone who crosses that psycho is in for a fate worse than death. He once skinned a man alive. Edoardo got off lightly compared to what he would’ve faced at the hands of that man.

“Has a date been set?” I ask.

“Yes.”

“When?”

She breaks down into sobs before getting out, “Forty-eight hours.”

I pinch the bridge of my nose as I try to think of a plan. I’m going to have to go over there. I don’t have a choice. I’m not sure what I can do, but there’s no way I will let this wedding go ahead.

“Is there somewhere you can go until I get there?”

“No, nowhere.”

“If I send a car to pick you up and take you to my family’s estate in Italy, do you think you could get out of the house?”

“I could try.”

I whip my head towards the doorway as I hear Arabella’s voice. “What’s going on? Who are you talking to? Has something happened?”

Shit.There’s no way I can keep this from her. I gesture for her to come closer, pulling her body against mine the moment she’s within reach. “It’s your sister. I need to go to Italy.”

“Why?”

“Your father has organised for Lucia to marry.”

“Who?”

I wince. “You don’t want to know.”

“Who?” she repeats, this time, more forcefully.

“Giuseppe Salvatori.”

Her pretty green eyes widen to the size of saucers. “Oh my God, no! That man is pure evil.”

“Don’t worry,Bellezza,” I say, pulling her closer and rubbing my hand along her spine. “I’ll sort it out when I get there.”

“How?”

“I don’t know, but I’ll think of something.”

“I’m coming with you.”

“No, you are not!”

“You can’t stop me, Dante.”

“Wanna bet?”

I lost the bet.

Right now, I’m at the airport, not just with my wife, but the whole damn family.

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