Page 23 of Prince of Vice

"Teddy!" I snap, rising from the couch. "Do you realize how much trouble that could cause?"

"Hey, hey! Calm down, scary lawyer lady," he stammers, backing away with a nervous laugh. "I was just trying to help!"

"But you're not helping! You obviously knew that because you were trying to hide it from me!"

"Okay," he says, backing away further, his features still lighthearted like he's not taking this matter seriously. "I can tell you're angry, but if you just let me explain."

I cross my arms and wait for his words, but they never come. Instead, he turns on his heel and bolts down the hallway, legitimately running away from me.

"You can run but you can't hide!" I call after him. He laughs in response and then I'm left alone in the foyer.

As I stand in the silence of the mansion, the seriousness of the emergency hearing and Primo's reckless actions presses down on me. My mind races, trying to reconcile my desire for him with the mounting legal challenges we face. The stakes are higher than ever, and I can't afford to lose focus – not now, not when everything hangs in the balance.

I try his cell phone but it goes right to a voicemail box that hasn’t been set up yet. I resist the urge to scream in frustration.

I eventually make my way upstairs to Primo's office. Time seems to move slower than normal, and I lose myself in my thoughts as I wait for him to arrive.

Past midnight, shadows dance on the walls of the dimly lit room, casting eerie patterns in their wake. The grandfather clock in the corner ticks away the seconds, each one dragging on longer than the last. I sit in a plush armchair, unable to sleep, my thoughts consumed by Primo and the emergency hearing that looms over us.

The door creaks open, and Primo steps into the room, his tall, imposing figure silhouetted against the darkness. I can tell from the way he moves that he's exhausted, drained from whatever business matters pulled him away earlier. His voice is thick with fatigue as he speaks.

"Isabella…you’re here?”

“Yes, and waiting for you," I reply, my tone sharp. "We have an emergency hearing on Monday, and we need to prepare."

"Ah, yes," he sighs, rubbing his temples. "I don't have the energy for this right now, Isabella. Can't it wait until morning?"

"No, it can't," I insist, rising from the armchair to face him. "I've been waiting here for hours, Primo. This is important."

"Fine," he grumbles, clearly not interested in discussing the matter further. He glances out the window and notices something. "Whose car is at the base of the driveway?"

"Mine," I admit, my cheeks flushing with embarrassment. "It broke down on my way here."

Primo seems lost in thought for a moment, his brow furrowed, before shaking his head and making his way toward the staircase. "I'm going to bed, Isabella. We'll talk about this in the morning."

"Primo, you're not going to bed," I declare, planting myself in the doorway. My heart races as I stand my ground, determined not to let him slip away without discussing the hearing. His dark eyes lock onto mine, a mixture of amusement and irritation dancing across his features.

"Isabella, don't play this game with me. You'll lose," he warns, leaning in close enough for me to feel the heat radiating from his body. The intoxicating scent of his cologne fills my nostrils, and I find myself momentarily distracted by the rippling muscles beneath his shirt. He catches my lingering gaze and smirks, attempting to lean in for a kiss.

"Get off me!" I snap, raising my hand to slap him, but Primo's reflexes are too quick. He catches my blow effortlessly, laughing softly before bringing my fingers to his lips. His warm breath sends a shiver down my spine as he murmurs, "Such hands could be put to good use doing other things."

"Infuriating," I hiss, wrenching my hand free from his grasp.

"You may say that, but your body cannot deny that it wants me," he retorts with a devilish grin. I glare at him, my frustration boiling over.

"Why aren't you more concerned about the emergency hearing coming up?"

"Because I trust you," Primo confesses, his tone shifting to one of sincerity. "I believe you can handle it."

My breath catches in my throat, taken aback by his words. This is the first time he's shown faith in my abilities, and it both warms and unnerves me.

"Now," he says, his tone still somewhat amused. "I'm going to bed, and I wouldn't object to you joining me."

"Go to hell," I immediately snap back.

"Oh, sweet girl," he drawls. "I've already built my forever home there."

"I'm going home," I say to him.

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