Total pages in book: 123
Estimated words: 118245 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 591(@200wpm)___ 473(@250wpm)___ 394(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 118245 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 591(@200wpm)___ 473(@250wpm)___ 394(@300wpm)
As was the idea of letting Ella go.
She was mine now.
And right now, she was still playing the part of her horrid whore of a sister, for my benefit.
It was time to put a stop to this bullshit game of hers.
“Goddammit,” I cursed, tossing the wrench aside. The heavy metal tool clanged where it bounced against the tiles as I launched myself off the wheeled cart to my feet.
Lowering my head, I charged toward her.
With each step, my anger grew as she pulled nervously on the hem of her skirt and hid behind her hair. Not understanding men, she probably thought she was diffusing the situation.
She was wrong.
She was inflaming it.
All my men saw was a cascade of soft, golden waves and her hand drawing attention to the curve of her hips and the exposed skin of her upper thighs.
“Knock it the fuck off,” I shouted.
The men fell silent and turned back to their work.
Her eyes widened as she observed me stalking toward her.
I closed in on her.
With a slight cry, she tried to turn, but stumbled in the ridiculously high heels.
Her shoulders shifted as she turned toward me. Holding up a small hand, she only got out a faint, “Wait—”
Before I lowered my shoulder and swept her up high.
My men cheered as I adjusted her squirming form on my shoulder and kept walking without missing a step.
“Back to work,” I yelled, tightening my arm across her upper thighs.
“Put me down,” she cried out as we crossed out of the building and into the sunshine.
Her nails dug into the fabric on the back of my T-shirt in her attempt to lift her torso.
With my open palm, I gave her ass a sharp spank. “Keep still.”
After that, the only peep I heard from her was a gasp and a plea not to drop her on our way across the courtyard to enter the villa via a side door, taking the servants' stairs two at a time. With determined steps, I stormed down the interior corridor to her assigned bedroom.
The moment we got inside, I tossed her onto the bed and strode over to lock the door.
By the time I turned back, she had already hopped off the mattress and was backing up to the furthest corner of the extensive suite.
I tried but failed to check my rage. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing strutting around dressed like that, Ella?”
Her hands went to her hips, emphasizing her curves even more. “I can dress however I— What did you just call me?”
I stalked toward her. “You know damn well what I just called you.”
She blinked several times, backing into the sofa arm and then moving around it. As if something like a piece of furniture would keep me from grabbing her. “I’m Antonia.”
I ground out through a clenched jaw, “No more lies. Do you have any idea the danger you both have put yourselves in with this childish prank?”
Her chin rose. “It wasn’t a prank! I mean… I mean… I’m Antonia! How dare you call me my sister’s name! It’s an insult.”
My hands curled into fists in my effort to resist the urge to wrap them around her upper arms and shake her.
We circled the room. When she neared the door, she pivoted on her heel, throwing out over her shoulder, “I don’t have to take this!”
Her fingers barely grazed the doorknob before I pounced.
Vaulting over the sofa, I spun her around and slammed her against the wall. Anchoring her there with my hips. “The hell you don’t.”
I reached up to grab her jaw when I realized I still had my thick canvas work gloves on.
Leaning back, I wrenched them off my hands and threw them to the floor, hitting a nearby brass trashcan.
The contents spilled out, drawing my attention.
Strewn on the floor was a dress. A dress with a clear come stain on the fabric, next to a crumpled note with the name Toni.
Ella leapt forward, kicking the dress and note under the table.
Pushing her aside, I snatched the dress and note from the floor. Unfurling the wrinkled paper, I read the message—and saw red.
I’m sorry.
I’ll try to save you from Matteo in a few weeks.
Wait for a message from me.
Love,
Toni
With a lowered brow, I lifted my head up and glared at her.
It was all a lie. Every fucking bit of it.
I had assumed my innocent Ella had been dragged into this farce by her manipulative sister. The thought of her being so heartlessly used as a pawn had angered me more than the initial subterfuge. And that was despite the fucking hot mess their prank had created for my family and Dante.
But now.
Now I knew another man was involved.
A man who had professed his love for Ella.
My Ella.
And make no mistake, she was mine now.
I had branded her smooth skin with my hand and my riding crop. I had tasted her sweet pussy. She had swallowed my seed. I would kill any man who even tried to touch her now.