Page 35 of Tempt Me
"I'm not going anywhere," I say blithely, giving them both a broad grin. "I enjoy the fresh air."
Rue's frustration as she tries to hide her smile is gorgeous, but she is getting seriously mad with me.
Too bad.
I was sworn to protect her, and I will do that until I take my last breath and if Antonio wants to test me. Let him.
Chapter21
Isaac
It’s too difficult. Too painful.
I know I should be by her side, but seeing her with that ring on her finger, makes me want to kill that man so badly, my hand is aching to grab hold of Bessie.
Clenching my jaw painfully tight, I force myself to move out to the terrace where she went. Confronted with the sight of her and Antonio facing off with Luca, pushes my pain away, and I stride forward.
“What’s this?”
Rue spins to me, her face that rigid mask she has had on all night, that fake smile that would dazzle anyone, but I know her eyes. I saw her want to leave.
“Nothing,” she says brightly, taking Antonio’s arm and practically dragging him past me as if her ass were on fire.
His smug smile winds me up, and I clench my fist, daring him to make a move. I know he has his guys watching me. I’m not a fucking rookie at this. The question iswhy. What does he know, think he knows or is worried about? He has an ulterior motive: setting off every red alert I have, but until I have something concrete, I can’t go to Vik and Fran. They arranged this, they have their reasons, which I’m sure are political and have nothing to do with me or Rue, in a way. It sickens me that they’ve done this to her, but I also know that she can take care of herself. I know this, and so do they.
Reluctantly turning back to Luca, I ask, “What did you see?”
“Not much. But the tension is there. He was holding her too tightly.”
The low growl that escapes my lips is filled with fury. “And you did nothing?”
“He let her go, and she said everything was fine. She’s not fine.” His desperate look stops me from ripping him a new one. Running a hand through his hair, he adds, “I don’t trust him.”
“Do you know anything specific?”
He shakes his head. “I’m going to be keeping my eye on him. Rue came out here, but he followed and did or said something to her. He knows about the blackspot.”
Narrowing my eyes, I grimace. Fucking blackspot. Too bad for everyone involved, it is no longer a blackspot.
After I was tasked with dropping the snake off at the Coe Bay Zoo yesterday, with instructions to never return with a dangerous snake or otherwise, I made a stop at the Electronics store to buy two wireless cameras. Then I fitted them to the only place where Vik won't notice them…on the balcony of my bedroom, which just so happens to face the blackspot. I now have video and audio, although the quality will be less than great, it’s at least a start to securing this damned villa and ensuring Rue’s safety.
“Seems everyone knows about this fucking blackspot,” I comment when he glares at me for a response.
He makes a noise of disgust and goes up a notch in my estimations. I still don’t trust the asshole, but I can see he is as pissed off about it as I am.
“You care about her,” I venture, not really knowing where I’m going with this.
“Yeah, what of it? You do too, and you’ve only been here a few days,” he growls in reply.
Okay, so apparently, I wasn’t hiding that as well as I thought I was. I need to work on that poker face around her.
“Then do everything you can to protect her.”
“You don’t trust Antonio either.”
“He’s an asshole.”
“I just hope Vik knows what he's doing,” he mutters and stalks off, leaving me to saunter back into the party and head straight toward Rue, who is standing with Antonio and her parents, that fake expression still adorning her beautiful face.
