a tear.
She was tough as steel.
Dunbar texted me. We’re ready for you, sir.
I shoved my phone into my pocket and walked into the bedroom. London was sitting on the couch reading a book. She never watched TV or read the magazines my men brought for her. She had a very specific way of entertaining herself. “We’re leaving.”
She finished the paragraph she was reading before she gave me her attention. “For good?”
“Just for the afternoon. Come on.” I was in my jeans and t-shirt today since I had no meetings. I hit my private gym and went for a run along the countryside road before London had woken up that morning.
“I’m not a dog.” She snapped the book shut. “Where are we going?”
“Shopping. There’s a Valentino studio in Florence.”
“A Valentine what?”
I guess I shouldn’t be surprised she didn’t recognize designer clothing. She was too absorbed in school to care about fashion. “We need to get you a gown for the opening in a few weeks.” I never had to repeat myself so many times with other people. Anytime London and I spoke, our arguments just went around and around.
“You’re taking me to your distillery opening?” she asked in surprise.
“Yes. Now get your ass up so we can go.”
She finally stood up. “Why are you taking me?”
“What kind of question is that?”
“I’m not good for this sort of thing.”
“You did fine at the Holyrood celebration.”
She raised an eyebrow. “I hardly said a word, and I stuck to your side the entire time. I wasn’t much company.”
“I like a quiet woman.” I grinned because I knew that would piss her off.
And it did. “Interesting. I like a silent man.”
I loved her comebacks. “I’m not taking you for your conversational skills. I’m taking you because you look absolutely gorgeous—clothed or unclothed.”
The compliment didn’t affect her like my other ones did. “Take someone else, Crewe. I don’t want to go.”
Both of my eyebrows rose at her disobedience. “I don’t recall giving you a say in the matter.” Did I need to pull out the transmitter and remind her what was at stake? That I could kill her brother with the press of my thumb?
“Look, I don’t want to go. Take someone who would truly enjoy the evening and your company.”
“I want to take you. That’s final.” I didn’t want to hear another word out of her. My word was law. I always got my way—no matter what.
She crossed her arms over her chest and retained her angry look. “No.”
Now she’d crossed a line. “Do I need to remind you that your brother’s life is in my hands?” I inched closer to her, my jaw hard and my eyes unforgiving. I was tempted to grab her by the neck and throw her on the bed with her pants around her ankles. I wanted to spank her until her ass was blood red.
“I don’t want to be in the same room as that psychopath.” Her words escaped as a whisper, but her voice shook. She never showed fear to anyone, not even me. But the thought of Bones clearly made her uncomfortable, made her twist as if a knife had penetrated deep into her gut. “I don’t want to look at him. I don’t want him to look at me.” She finally broke our eye contact and turned her gaze in a different direction, as if she were ashamed of the confession.
I didn’t blame her for being so disturbed. He was so disgusting that I actually changed my mind about handing her over to him. When I’d pictured that chain around her neck as she cradled a broken arm, I’d turned soft. I didn’t want that fate for her. I needed to make Joseph pay for what he did, but I couldn’t waste such a perfect woman. She deserved better than that. This woman actually made me somewhat compassionate—which was an accomplishment. “He won’t lay a hand on you. I promise.”
“I still don’t want to look at him.” She stepped away as if she needed space. “I don’t want to be in the same room as him. I don’t want to breathe the same air. All I’ll think about is the way he grabbed my tits and punched me…like I was some kind of animal.” She turned around altogether, hiding her face.
I suspected tears had built up in her eyes. The only time I’d seen her cry was after her nightmare. She refused to show weakness to anyone, but she allowed me to catch glimpses. Her interaction