Page 44 of Where Dark Hearts Devour
My instinct is to argue, because I don’t let anyone tell me who I can or can’t look at, speak to, breathe in the vicinity of ... But Cristiano isn’t bluffing. There’s something dark and unequivocal in his expression, so I just blink at him rapidly.
A sinister growl erupts from deep in his chest. Before I can question it, Cristiano’s striding toward the exit, and since my hand is still enclosed in his, I can do nothing but try to keep up.
Cristiano
Never before has a walk to the car tested so much of my patience.
GoodGod, this woman.
I’m so angry I can feel my blood searing hot beneath my skin. My temples are throbbing, and the urge to gun down the next jackass to cross my path is overwhelming.
I unlock the car and don’t bother opening the passenger door for her. I’m far too angry to be chivalrous.
“Get the fuck in and sit the fuck down.”
She does as I say without a murmur, which makes my toes fucking tingle. I start the engine and grip the steering wheel until my knuckles turn white.
“I want you to do three things when you get home,” I start.
I can’t bring myself to look at her; I’m already boiling over withsomething, and I can’t guarantee the sight of her in that strip of fabric will help matters.
“One. Go straight to your room, and don’t come out till morning.”
Her eyes dart to me. I know she’s not a child, but not thirty minutes ago, she was behaving like one, so ...
“Two. Call your friend and tell her to erase Damiano’s number from her phone. She can do a thousand times better.”
I hear her swallow beside me.
“And three. Take off your dress ...”
She gasps. It’s a breathy, sexy sound that makes me want to see the look in her eyes—but I stay focused on the road.
“And throw that fucking thing in the trash.”
Her head pans slowly back to the windshield, and it’s a few seconds before she speaks.
“And what are you going to do?” she says quietly.
“I’m going to have words with your father.”
“You’re what?” She turns her whole body to face me, and I hold my breath before glancing at her.
“I don’t want you going on any more nights out with friends. You can’t be trusted to not get yourself into trouble, and I will not have you risk our family name because you had one too many fluorescent drinks.”
“You can’t stop me from seeing my friends.” There’s a warning in her tone that weakens when I harden my jaw.
“Yes, I can, Castellano. And I will.”
She sits back in her seat and folds her arms. “I’m going to talk to Savero.”
I chuckle lightly. “He’ll honor my recommendation. You want to know why?”
“Why?”
“Because he’s charged me with keeping an eye on you,” I lie.
She spins around again. “No, he hasn’t. He would have told me.”
