Page 28 of Abducted By the Mafia Don
A ripple of relieved laughter goes through the room as he saunters back to Anwyn and sweeps her up for a kiss.
Jealousy stabs at me, and I have to look away. I wonder what it would be like to have that. A genuine relationship. A marriage based on trust so deep that it can stand a public… whatever that was.
Lily and Willow invite Blythe Blackstone onto the stage for the first auction lot, holding a brown-wrapped oblong that is large enough to do some damage in a fight.
“This is a spicy fantasy romance, signed by the author, in anexclusiveleather-bound edition…” she explains.
Taggie’s face is a picture of longing. She’s gripping my fingers and her eyes are glistening.
I don’t understand buying books. Never have. But I do understand wanting something beautiful and special. I totally get the desire to possess that’s so strong you’d do unspeakable things to have it. After all, for two years, that has been revenge, and my life. And after a week, that obsession has been eclipsed by Taggie.
The bidding starts and Taggie’s shock as it increases is such a delight.
I let my colleagues have their fun, battling over it. There are gasps around us at the price reached when Canary Wharf finally bails, and Taggie has covered her mouth, eyes wide.
“That’s so much!” she whispers to me.
“All done?” Lily says as the rival bidder folds.
My hand shoots up. “More.” I wasn’t even noting theamount, I was watching the only thing that matters to me: Taggie.
“What?” Lily looks at me like I’m crazy.
“Just more,” I clarify. “Whatever he bids.” I nod towards Streatham. “More than that.”
“Richmond has finally lost his marbles,” says Lambeth idly.
“Ten thousand more?” asks Streatham, glancing at his wife. “What do you think, Sophia?”
“Ten more on top,” I counter immediately.
Taggie grasps my arm. “What are you doing?”
“A hundred.” Streatham’s tone is irritated.
“Sure,” I reply, then add to Taggie, “Getting you the book you want.”
“Hundred and fifty?” Streatham offers.
“Let him have it since it’s important to the newlywed,” Sophia says before I can also up my bid, and shoots Taggie an indulgent look.
My fake wife just blinks back, not understanding.
“Fine,” grumbles Streatham. I’m on my feet in a second, and there’s applause as I weave quickly through the tables to the stage, and take the wrapped book from Blythe.
“Enjoy,” she says, and winks at me.
When I return to our table, everyone is smiling except for Taggie, who looks faintly alarmed. Then as I sit and place the book before her, her expression shifts to all-out shock.
“Dom, I...”
“Open it,” I tell her roughly. “It’s a late wedding present, bambola.”
Someone coos.
“I can’t!” she says in panic, glancing around. “It was soexpensive.” But she has picked up the package, and turns it over in her hands.
“It’s foryou.”
