Page 12 of Christmas Mafia Prince
Is he… giving Adriano his number?
Jealousy greener than Kill’s hair floods my stomach then rises in my throat like acid.
He ismyhusband, and I will not let him forget it.
Chapter 5
Killian
I’mnotnewtolove bombing. But since I also know I’m likely to fall for it, I need a contingency plan. From the moment we left the plane (I didn’t know a planecouldhave a shower) I’ve gotten the full Pretty-Cinderella-Woman treatment, and it feels like a fairytale.
I want to believe Damen’s story. I want to believe he’s this attracted to me, and that there’s a real chance for a relationshipat the end of this. I’m a hopeless romantic despite the numerous evil exes. Or just useless cheating ones. They all amount to the same outcome.
The conclusion? I’m unlovable. Not worth being loyal to. Not worth being honest with.
So sue me for being scared of going all-in with a man who is more of a dream than human. Murder aside. Though even the guy he killed deserved it so…
“Just take this, hide it and read it later,” I whisper to Adriano as I pass him a note, because I don’t have time to explain. Damen could be back any second.
The clerk blinks, glancing at the piece of paper in his hand, but when his gaze trails over my shoulder and eyes widen in recognition, I know I’ve chosen the worst possible moment for this.
I want to shout,Abort! Abort!, but nobody is listening, and by the time I notice movement in the corner of my eye, Damen is reaching for the secret message, all fake smiles.
“I’ve been gone for two minutes, and you’re already flirting with someone else?”
I’m a heartbeat away from hyperventilating when Adriano takes a step back. “Oh, no, that is not what happened.”
“Sure as hell looked that way to me. What is this,dear? Your phone number?” Damen asks and unfolds the message.
My heart beats so fast I can’t think anymore, because in the message I scribbled, I asked the clerk to inform the police if he doesn’t hear back from me in the new year.
I suppose he’s lucky he didn’t get to read it before we were discovered.
I’m sweating shards of ice when Damen reads the words written on the piece of paper. His face doesn’t change, but when our eyes meet, it’s like being drowned in concrete.
“It appears we need to have a conversation in private,” he says, his voice a sharpened knife.
Adriano clears his throat, clearly relieved about being off the hook. “By all means. Of co—”
“We’ll be in the back. Do not disturb us,” Damen says and places his hand on my back, nudging me toward the changing rooms.
A cold knot forms in my stomach, but I don’t dare give Adriano a pleading look. I’m in a hell of my own making, and the devil himself is guiding me behind a heavy velvet curtain.
Damen’s gaze is like a hot poker on my neck, branding me. Being excited about his jealousy is exactly what gets me into the beds of the wrong guys.
The changing room area is as luxurious as the front of the store. Several booths hide behind curtains, and a velvet-cushioned sofa sits at the very end with a single box on the seat.
“It’s a misunderstanding,” I whisper, not daring to face him just yet, but that won’t help, because the wall to my right is one big mirror, and I can’t help but feel a tinge of excitement at the way he towers over me in our reflection.
He guides me all the way to the sofa, but instead of making me sit down for a lecture that’s surely coming, he places his scalding palm on my nape. I doubt he’s intending to hurt me, because that would mean he couldn’t return to his favorite store, but I still anticipate pain. My wrist being twisted back. Choking. A fist to my ribs. I’ve been there before, but it makes something inside me crack every time.
The fact that he’s touching me without yet causing pain makes this worse, because I still don’t know what exactly is going to be unleashed on me.
I want to cry, but that would only make him angrier, so I bite the inside of my cheek and let out a strangled whimper when his hand moves to my shoulder.
“We have an agreement,” Damen whispers, sending hot air to the bare skin of my nape. “I promised you safety, but if you continue behaving like this, you will be a liability to me and my whole family.”
And I will protect my family, even if it means getting rid of you, seems to be what’s left unsaid.
