Page 6 of Bought By the Mafia

The elevator came to a stop at that moment and opened the doors to the parking lot. My other bodyguard, Lex, had already gone down and had the car ready for us. “Me and Judy go way back,” I said, offering my hand to help her get in the car. She ignored it and entered on her own. I followed her. “The Morelli fund was the first investor in the company back in the eighties. I recouped the investment when I took the reins of the investment firm, but we’ve been on good terms.”

She smirked. “So, after all this time, you knew where I was working. You seem to be more interested in me than I thought.”

“I never gave you the time of day, Simona, no matter how much your narcissistic brain like to imagine yourself as the center of the world.”

She whipped her head away from me and turned her entire body towards the door, suddenly finding the passing city appealing. The dig hit its intended target, but it was not true. Ihadthought about her ever since we last met. Hell, I only found out Judy and Saccone were connected through a brief background check I did before we got married. An occupational hazard. This led me to learning more about Judy’s recent financial straits and that she had gone to Saccone for help. And all the while, I couldn’t help but wonder if Simona had any connection to it. Thankfully, she was just as oblivious to what her boss was doing as was most of the workforce at that company.

I tried to stop thinking of her, but I could not. Pictures of her in a blue swimsuit kept popping up in my head whenever my mind wandered, followed by dirtier thoughts. Other images came as well. Images of her betrayal. Memories of her treachery, and then I would remember her chest hid a heartless void. She could not fool me. I had to remain vigilant about what my new wife was capable of. That is why I had to keep her close. I could not care less what she did, but she had to do it where I could see her. She had ruined me once. She could do it again. I wasn’t going to let that happen again.

3

Five years ago

Afamiliar musical tone took me out of my warm sleep and instantly ruining the peaceful moment I was having. The once cute kitten-meowing ringtone was getting more irritating ever since I came to Santorini. I closed my eyes again and willed my phone to stop. Maybe if I don’t cut and let it ring, she’ll think I’m not near my phone. Maybe she’ll stop calling.

“Is it not important?”

I opened my eyes again and this time, a man stood in front of me, blocking the sun. A very handsome shade, a random thought of mine suggested. He looked local, but sounded American. He was in his trunks and stood with a casual confidence that I’ve seen few pull off. It was easier for him with the type of body he had. Washboard abs and lean muscles on a tall frame. And then there was his face, chiseled cheekbones, deep black eyes hooded by thick eyelashes. Maybe I was still asleep and dreaming of a Greek god. I was on a Greek island, after all.

“You should put in on vibrate at least if you don’t want to pick it up.”

I turned to my phone just as the ringing ended and then back to him. A blush spread all over my body as I realized I was ogling. “I’m sorry, was it too irritating?”

“I don’t mind hearing a cat meowing, but when it happens endlessly for—”

The phone rang again. I picked it up with a renewed sense of embarrassment. “Sorry,” I muttered as I put the phone on vibrate. “There, now you can enjoy your holiday in peace.”

I was sure this was going to be our last conversation, and if we were ever to meet again, it would be at a distance or at the breakfast buffet, but it wasn’t. Far from it. This was our fateful encounter.

“I don’t think that will be possible after now,” he said.

Oh no. It seemed like I had made the Greek god hate me. Just my luck. “Please don’t tell me. I’ve just ruined your afternoon.”

“Quite the opposite actually,” he said, sitting down on the chaise next to mine. I looked around. There were a smattering of people on the beach, and a lot more unoccupied chairs than occupied. His choosing to sit next to me was deliberate. My pulse beat a little faster. “I was looking for company, but if you don’t want to talk…”

“Oh no, it’s fine,” I said, sitting upright. “We can talk.”

“I’ll start. Who’s calling you? Not a boyfriend, husband or lover, I hope?”

It was my mother, actually. “None of the above.”

He smiled the most heart-warming smile. The type that made a woman forgive a man all the bad he’s done. This is dangerous. He was dangerous, and if I wasn’t careful, he was going to make this week that much more tough. A distraction was the last thing I needed.

Now

This was my punishment. That was the only explanation. Otherwise, why would he take away my only source of joy? He wasn’t over Santorini as much as he acted like the past was behind him. He was going to use this marriage to punish me. This act of cruelty was proof.

After he dropped me off at the apartment and posting one of his big and scary bodyguards, he drove off to work and left me fuming and pacing, until my legs were tired. Then I sat fuming until I tired of being angry. Slowly, though, my rage got replaced with retribution. I wasn’t going to let him bully me, just because he had an upper hand in this marriage. I had to strike back. But before I could think of how I was going to exact vengeance of my own, I heard him enter. I looked outside, and it was already nighttime. The moment he entered the room, my breath hitched in my throat. Despite our history, my body still reacted to him like it was the first time. The loose tie and unbuttoned collar did not help. My gaze was immediately drawn to that spot that showed part of his chest. Focus. Remember what he did to you.

“Surprised you didn’t run away while I was gone?”

“You know what’s stopping me?”

He smirked. “There’s a good girl. Doing what she’s told. You have grown, it seems.”

I rolled my eyes and stood up. “It doesn’t mean I’m no longer angry at you. Or that I’m actually behaving, as you as say. I still want my job back.”

“Sorry. Can’t have it.”

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