Page 45 of He Should Be Mine
Just not today. Today Riccardo wins. He gets to take everything I want. And I have to sit here and allow it to happen.
The front door beeps as it is unlocked from the outside by the electronic key fob. Molly and I both straighten and tense. I can’t look at him because if I see any fear in his eyes, I’ll break.
The sound of high heels clack down the hallway. That’s not Riccardo, so who the hell is it? I jump to my feet and hurry over.
Isabella Ajello pauses in the dark hallway. Her dark eyes fix on me. Her hair is immaculate. Her dress is lethal. She has dressed for battle.
“Dario,” she says.
“Isabella.”
“So my husbandiskeeping a little bitch.“ She holds up the key fob like the incriminating evidence it is.
“I want to talk to her.” Isabella strides forward. I move to stop her, but she pushes me aside and I’m not laying hands on the Ajello heir’s wife.
I turn and run after her.
She steps into the brightly lit living area and freezes. Molly is still sitting on the sofa but he has drawn his knees up and is hugging them while he stares at Isabella with wide blue eyes.
Isabella inhales sharply and the silence stretches.
“A boy?” she says, eventually. Then she sighs. “At least Rick doesn’t think I’m not woman enough for him.”
She steps towards the sofa, and Molly cowers. I’ve never seen him like this.
“Stand up, I want to see you,” she orders.
Molly meekly obeys. Even from here, I can see that he is trembling.
Isabella’s dark gaze rakes over him. Her lips curl. “Not exactly classy, are you?”
Molly wilts, and anger curls low in my belly.
“But you are a pretty little thing,” she says as she tilts her head to the side and examines Molly as if he is something to buy. Which I suppose he is.
Isabella’s attention snaps to me. “How long?”
“Six months,” I reply with a calm I am not feeling.
“Who knows?”
“No one,” I assure her.
She nods. “Keep it that way. I will not have people say my husband is gay and he keeps his boy toy four floors beneath my home.”
The penthouse is one of several of her residences. It’s hardly a home, but I’m not about to argue the point with her.
“Does my husband use condoms when he fucks you?”
Molly’s cheeks heat. He drops his gaze and shakes his head. My stomach twists. I didn’t know that and now the knowledge is itching along my skin. Uncomfortable and disgusting.
“That’s going to change!” Isabella snaps.
Molly recoils as if struck.
I step between them. “Riccardo is not going to listen to the boy’s request.”
It’s a request that has already been ignored, I’m sure of it. Molly is reckless and wild. Crazy and exuberant. Firmly set on a path of self-destruction. But he wouldn’t be stupid with this. I don’t know how I know this, but I do. I’ve never been more sure of anything.
