Chapter 46
ITALY, ROME
HOTEL
2:35 p.m.
“Here are your room keys.”
The hostess has a gorgeous Italian accent. She hands the keys to Alexander, who takes them with one of those smirks that makes every woman melt. She blushes and bats her lashes, leaning forward to reveal the plum–colored bra beneath her blouse.
On the plane, I slept. On the way to the hotel, Alexander and I didn’t exchange a word. He was too busy taking calls from his associates to even look at
- me.
A tall, slender woman with striking blue eyes and blonde hair welcomed us in front of the hotel where we’ll be staying.
How can I even describe the look on her face when she met my “husband’s” gaze?
Since then, she’s been shadowing us everywhere. I know in luxury hotels, staff are trained to stay close to clients, but I can’t stand the looks she keeps giving Alexander. I feel like I’m in the way.
“Thank you for your hospitality. It’s nice to know the staff
Sere are so attentive.”
I raise an eyebrow hearing how fluently he speaks Italian.
Worse, his accent is sexy and captivating. I hate him.
She looks at me with disdain, like I’m trash. I completely ignore her.
There’s no way I’m competing with another woman for him.
“I hope you have a wonderful stay. If you need anything at all, don’t hesitate for a second, my door is wide open.”
Just like your legs, right?
To remind him I exist, I snatch the keys from his hand and slide them into the lock.
The door, which wasn’t locked, swings open from the pressure of my body.
What’s this hostess even here for, other than to flirt with that idiot?
I walk into the room, with Alexander right behind me. I glance at my suitcases–and his–already placed in a corner.
The room is stunning. I’ve rarely stayed in such beautiful, luxurious places despite my social status.
It’s more like a huge furnished apartment than a room.
When my father sends me on missions abroad, it’s always to sketchy hotels that sometimes don’t even have hot water.
“Doesn’t the little doll like it? Not luxurious enough for you?”
I turn to him with raised eyebrows. He’s watching me with a mocking smile.
He knows perfectly well this room is incredible and just wants to hear me say it.
“I didn’t know you spoke Italian.”
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A little deflection to dodge his teasing.
“You thought I was just a brute?”
“Yeah.”
Let’s be honest, right?
“You were wrong.”
“Speaking another language besides French doesn’t make you any less of a brute, you know.”
He shrugs.
“I speak more than one language besides French.”
“Oh really?”
I try to hide my interest.
“I speak Italian, English, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Arabic, and Chinese. I’m not too bad in Japanese either.”
Impressive–but no need to let him know.
“So you’re not as ignorant as I thought.”
“You think I got to where I am just by knowing how to fight and hold a gun?”
He’s not wrong there.
“You had private language tutors, didn’t you?”
“Exactly. And you, doll, what languages do you speak?”
“Italian, Spanish, English, and Portuguese.”
He studies me with a smile. I look away and notice there’s only one double bed in the suite. I glare at him.
“What the hell is this?”
“Don’t act shocked. We’ve already slept together.”
His nonchalance infuriates me.
“I wasn’t aware we’d slept together–you took advantage of me while I was asleep to put me in bed!”
He shrugs and gives me a mocking grin. I clench my jaw.
“You did it on purpose! I’m sure of it!”
“It hurts that you’d think that of me.”
He places a hand on his heart, pretending to be offended, still smirking.
“You’re sleeping on the floor.”
“If you think that, you’re even dumber than I thought
I sigh.
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“Book another room and everyone’ll be happy.”
“May I remind you we’re supposed to be newlyweds on a honeymoon?”
“No one cares here! No one knows us!”
Should I remind him he flirted with the hostess right in front of me while we’re supposed to be married?
No point–he’d think I’m jealous.
“Wrong.”
“What? What do you mean?”
“I’m trying to avoid raising suspicions from customs and the Italian mafia.”
I raise my eyebrows in confusion.
“You should sit down. This might take a while.”
I sigh and sit on the bed. He stays standing, facing me.
“In this city, two mafias are at war for control. They show no mercy–rape and murder are daily business. Since I started running my network, I’ve been dealing with the left–side mafia boss, got it?”
I nod.
“No one’s ever known about our dealings. If the right–side boss finds out, he won’t hesitate to go after the left–side members. They’ve been under truce for a year, and this would be the perfect excuse to break it. The right–side boss won’t accept that the left–side boss is working with a Frenchman and making a ton of money doing it, you get me?”
A mafia war? Just what we needed to make this trip truly exceptional.
“I know we’ve been under surveillance since we landed. They’re making sure we’re not enemies or threats. This hotel’s probably full of right–side mafia men watching and analyzing all the tourists, checking for dangers to their boss. Our cover has to be perfect. Even here. We’re being watched. The only truly safe place is this room. Armed men are probably waiting for the slightest mistake to fill us with bullets.”
I can’t believe what I’m hearing.
“You can’t trust anyone here. Most of the city’s corrupted. We haven’t gone unnoticed–we’re two rich young French people.”
How did I end up here again?
“I’m sure that tonight, as soon as we leave, our room will be searched by men checking to make sure we really are a harmless tourist couple.”
I bite my lip to stop myself from cursing him out. He’s completely serious. No sarcasm in his eyes, no mocking smile–just a blank, frozen expression.
The risks if we’re exposed are real. No one will save us. We’re on our own, and our only way out is to play our roles perfectly.
“You didn’t tell my father about any of this! We were just supposed to pick up weapons and leave! You never mentioned these two mafias fighting for
dominance!”
“I’m not his partner. He doesn’t need to know everything.”
“You could have warned me!”
“I just need to pick up my weapons and we’ll leave as quickly as we came.”
“If it’s that simple, why didn’t you say anything before?”
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“I knew Khalid wouldn’t let me take his little princess if he knew she was in danger here. I hid the truth so he wouldn’t ruin my plane.
Istare at him intensely and slap him hard.
The slap might as well have been a pat–he didn’t move an inch. He didn’t even try to dodge or block me.
And he’s usually so fast he stops my hand before I can even think to hit him. That means he let me slap him.
I’m tired of being his puppet–and Khalid’s.
They treat me like a pawn to move at will, never caring how I feel.
“Stay calm. I let you hit me so you could release your anger here and not outside. That could get us killed. Let me remind you we’re supposed to be in love.”
“I hate you.”
“Maybe. I’m not asking you to love me. Just play the role of a devoted young bride madly in love with her husband.”
I clench my fists.
“I promise you I hate you. Never doubt that.”
He shrugs and steps dangerously close to me.
He tucks a strand of my hair behind my ear,
lingering on my lips.
“You hate me, sure. But some tiny part of you burns with desire for me and wants to fuck me like a wild animal in every corner of this room to finally satisfy that craving.”
He suddenly steps back.
“You made the right choice staying with me. I’m the only one who can protect you.”
I cough to regain my composure.
“I hope you die before I do.”
“You show so much hate, I’m starting to think it’s actually love in disguise.”
He smirks.
“Tonight, you and I are going out.”
“Where to?”
“We’re going to make our cover more believable so I can retrieve my weapons without any trouble.”
“You’re not answering my question.”
“Don’t be so impatient. I told you I have a plan, and we’re sticking to it so
everything goes perfectly as planned.”
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