Page 21 of The Don's Prisoner

I took a deep breath and let my brain settle. Gio had gotten me all worked up, both with showing up to take me to lunch when I wasn’t expecting and then with that kiss at the end. My body still tingled from his effect. How could he do that to me the way that he did? How could my body react like that to him? He was an asshole, and he was threatening both Vito’s life and mine just to get what he wanted. Giovanni De Carlo was not a good guy.

Then why did I want to go back and kiss him again when I already had a perfectly nice boyfriend to kiss?

It wasn’t like Rex wasn’t a good kisser. We had spent a few nights making out in his car like a couple of teenagers, but I had never let it go farther than that, even though it was clear that he wanted it to. I just hadn’t felt that spark yet—that need that settled deep in my gut and refused to let go until he had me. Rex didn’t inspire that kind of feeling.

Gio certainly did.

Well hell, was I actually attracted to my fiancé?

I hadn’t seen that coming. Especially not after being so pissed at him. After being so scared that he was going to kill Vito.

I still had no doubt in my mind that he would kill Vito if I walked away from him, which was why I couldn’t and why I needed to start planning a wedding.

It was also why I needed to break things off with Rex.

Plan in mind, I went around to my desk and sat down, looking at the sketches I had been working on when Gio walked in. They were alright, but they weren't quite what I wanted them to be yet. I think the overskirt needed to be less frilly and have more of a light flowy texture to match the satin material underneath. And the top didn’t have to be that much of a contrast. Besides, the cupcake look wasn’t in style right now. Maybe next year? I could set the trend…

And I was stalling.

I picked up my cell phone and called the number Caroline had jotted down for me. It was different from the one I had in my phone for him, which was a little odd, but maybe it was his work number? Maybe he had an actual job that he hadn’t told me about?

I doubted that, but it sounded good.

The phone rang three times before he picked up.

“It’s about time you called,” he said, his voice was stern, and the slight hint of an accent that he had was a lot thicker than usual.

“I-I’m sorry. I was out,” I stuttered, thrown off by his tone. It was like he was angry that I hadn’t called him when I had said I would or something. “Is everything okay?”

“No, it’s not,” he said. I heard voices on the other end and then what sounded like the shutting of a door. “Would you mind telling me why the fuck you are hanging around Giovanni De Carlo?”

My mouth went dry, and my brain froze. How would he know that? And why was he so angry about it? I hadn’t told anyone yet about our arrangement. I hadn’t even completely accepted the fact myself yet. Had he seen us kissing in the parking lot? No, that didn’t even make sense. Or if he had, why didn’t he just confront me then? Or confront Gio? Why had I needed to call him?

“My brother had some business with him that I ended up getting dragged into,” I told him honestly, letting my annoyance at being questioned leak into my voice. “Why? How do you know Giovanni?”

“I know him because he killed a good friend of mine last year,” he answered, and I froze. “He also happens to be the son of the Don for the Italian Mafia. Did you know that, Vicky?”

I kind of hated how he called me “Vicky”, but I hadn’t told him that because our relationship was new and I didn’t want to step on his toes. My brother always shortened my name, but I preferred if others used the full name.

“Yes, actually. He just told me.” There was no use in denying it. Rex already knew too much, but I wasn’t quite sure how he knew I was with Gio. “How do you know I’ve been around him?”

“That doesn’t matter,” he spat. “What matters is that no girl of mine should be hanging around another guy, let alone Giovanni De Carlo.”

“Just because we are dating doesn’t mean I’m your possession,” I countered. “And who I speak to is none of your business. My brother had a problem with him, and I needed to solve it. I’m not going to not help my brother just because you don’t like me talking to other guys.”

Where had this sudden possessiveness come from?

“Oh Vicky, you seem to not understand our relationship then. You are my girl, which means that anything I say goes. And I say you can’t talk to Giovanni De Carlo.”

Oh, hell no.

“Well, then I say we aren’t a couple anymore—not that we were ever an exclusive couple to begin with. But I’m done, Rex. I refuse to be told ‘what’s what’ by a man,” I barked. He laughed.

He fucking laughed.

“Oh, we aren't done, not by a long shot. I haven’t even gotten to fuck you yet. You think I’m going to let a hot piece of ass like you get away without even getting a taste? Not a chance in hell.” I heard an intake of breath and then a slow release. Was he smoking? He never told me he smoked.

“Well, unfortunately for you, I am half of this relationship, and not only are you never going to get fuck me, but you and I are finished just because I say so. Who the hell do you think you are?”

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