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)
The blood in my veins froze. Not knowing what the note said, I at least knew it would be disastrous for Matteo to read it. “He passed nothing on to me.”
“I saw a piece of white paper in your hand, Ella. Don’t lie to me.”
The crowd cheered and danced as the musicians played a rousing rendition of "Tu vou fa l’Americano."
Matteo grabbed my upper arm and dragged me across the piazza back to the car. “I want an answer, Ella. Show me the note.”
My fingers closed around a piece of white cardstock inside my pocket. I pulled it free and handed it to him. “Here. This is what you saw.”
He stared down at the coat’s price tag.
I shrugged. “It was in my pants pocket. I pulled it out intending to toss it.”
His jaw shifted to the side as he focused his gaze on me.
I crossed an arm over my middle. “You can apologize any time now for being an overbearing boor.”
Giving me no warning, he pinned me against the side of the car. With his forearm on one side of my head and his hand at my throat, he leaned in. “It will be a cold day in hell when I apologize for being overprotective of you. You’re marrying a jealous man, colomba mia. Get used to it.”
His mouth claimed mine.
There was no stopping his tongue as it swept past my lips to taste and plunder. The insistent press of his hips pushed his hard cock against my stomach as I rose on my toes to try to escape the onslaught, to no avail.
He only deepened the kiss. Crushing my lips against my teeth as he tightened his fingers around my throat, holding me still and under his command.
When he finally lifted his head, I was breathless and dizzy, but it did not stop me from shooting daggers at him with my gaze.
Matteo chuckled as he cupped my cheek. “Save your poison looks for someone else, babygirl. And before you try to object one more time to us marrying, I’ll remind you I’d have no qualms about bending you over the hood of this car, flipping up your coat, and fucking you right here in the street.”
The air I was sucking in became a gasp. “You wouldn’t—”
“Dare? Trust me, I would.” With both palms rested against the top of the car, he once more leaned over me. “And there isn’t a damn person in this entire village who would stop me. You know why?”
I slowly shook my head as I stared back at him, mesmerized by the fierce threat of his words.
“Because I’m a goddamn Cavalieri. And that’s why my name is going to protect you from your father’s retribution and why"—he kissed my forehead—“you’re marrying me whether or not you like it.”
Keeping his gaze trained on me, he reached over and swung open the passenger-side car door. “Get in.”
I hesitated for just the barest of seconds.
Matteo reached for his belt buckle.
With a cry, I dipped my head and dove inside the car.
Heat radiated off my cheeks at his amused chuckle which carried into the car’s interior as he circled around and got in behind the wheel.
I crossed my arms over my middle. “I hate you.”
“Keeping telling yourself that, babygirl, and I’ll keep enjoying proving you wrong.”
As we drove back to the winery, I watched him out of the corner of my eye as I slipped my hand back into my coat pocket and touched the traitorous note from Fino.
CHAPTER 37
ELLA
My back pressed against the closed bedroom door.
After waiting a moment to reassure myself that Matteo had not followed me, I unfolded the note.
Meet me at 8pm.
By the gate off the library veranda.
Do not disobey me.
-Fino
I crumpled the note and tossed it on the floor. Then, stumbling over the side table that I forgot was there, I raced across the room to find my phone. I had left it behind because I didn’t want to risk Antonia calling while I was with Matteo. I did not know we’d be gone for so long, though.
My poor sister had probably been trying to reach me this whole time in a panic.
It wasn’t there.
For half a second, I feared Matteo had taken it.
Then I realized none of my stuff was here. Or technically none of my sister’s stuff, but especially not my cello.
I spun in a circle, taking in the entire bedroom.
All my belongings were gone.
Forcing myself to think, I tried to reason where my belongings would be. I dove for the closet doors and swung them open. Empty.
Just for good measure, I fell to my knees and checked under the bed for the suitcase. Nothing.
Peeking into the bathroom, I could see even my few toiletries were packed up.
Where on earth?
Then it came to me.
Matteo’s suite.
My hand covered my mouth as I stopped myself from screaming in panic and humiliation.