Chapter 54
fifty-four
. . .
“Is that a yes?” my uncle asked, stepping closer, his eyes bright with expectation.
Six weeks had passed since I last heard from Remo and by day twenty, I gave up hoping he’d return.
Dr Carlo arranged for me to work out of the Boston Healing Heart Medical Centre.
While I missed my friends and we connected on video calls, the new opportunity gave me a chance to get to know Kai.
Unfortunately, we were never allowed to be alone.
Always chaperoned or we met at Ajay’s home where the walls had ears and eyes.
Sighing heavily, I glanced over my uncle’s shoulder at my brother, smiling at Ajay. Clearly, Kai doted on the man, and so far, Ajay had turned out to be anything but the hostile man I’d expected the day I met him.
The word left my lips before I could stop it. “Yes.”
“Oh, Ishika.” My uncle grasped my arms, pulling me into a hug that smelled heavily of mint tea. “I’m so glad you decided to marry Ajay.”
“You accepted?” Ajay asked, his smile wide as I stepped out of my uncle’s embrace.
“She did.” My uncle answered for me, already stepping away with his phone in hand. “I need to call your aunt, your parents, Ajay and get the preparations going.”
Panic swirled in my stomach for a moment, regret already clawing up my throat as I watched him dial. Was I making the right decision?
“Thank you, Ish.” Kai’s soft voice brought an immediate calm, grounding me when the room started to spin.
He slid his arms around me, resting his chin on my shoulder, and that alone answered my question. What harm could come from marrying Ajay when it meant keeping Kai safe?
“This calls for a celebration,” Ajay said as Kai and I broke apart, his hand settling on the small of my back with possessive ease. “Dinner tonight?” he asked me.
“Sure, maybe Kai can join us?”
Kai shook his head, his eyes apologetic. “Nope, you guys need to get to know each a little more before the pending nuptials.”
I rolled my eyes and both men laughed, the light sound telling me everything was going to be alright, that just maybe, something good might come of it even if I wasn’t ready for marriage.
Then my uncle turned around, announcing, “it’s all settled. The families have agreed to an intimate engagement ceremony later this evening and a big wedding in three weeks.”
Tiny butterflies began a slow circle in my stomach again, and I settled a hand over it, forcing a smile as the three men chatted.
However, when we got to the restaurant, abrupt thoughts of Remo surfaced, thoughts I tried hard to squash.
When he walked away, one part of me mocked the part that missed him.
I found myself dreaming about him, succumbing to an arousal I’d never satisfy and looked for him in every corner.
Few women would be able to handle a man like him yet somehow, I stupidly managed to fall in love with him, the very monster I’d hated at every turn.
Maybe Dia had better luck with him, maybe she’d succeeded in dominating him like she’d promised.
The thought tightened my chest, and I bit back the tears with a firm command, “no, Ishika, you’re not doing this, not here, not now.
” A sarcastic laugh slipped out as I stared at myself in the bathroom mirror and rubbed my ring finger.
Tonight, I’d become an engaged woman and there was nothing I could do about it.
A relationship borne out of trade wouldn’t go places Remo took me in his bed alone.
Brushing a hand through my hair, I left the bathroom, admiring heavy velvet drapes and the dark wood paneling, the air filled with the scent of delicious food and expensive wine. Closer to the table, I paused a moment to study the man seated at my table.
Ajay was everything Remo wasn’t. Calm, polished, softly spoken, said all the right things and ordered wine only after I chose. It should’ve felt easy, safe. But all I could think about was how quiet the air felt without the Rossi danger breathing down my neck.
Taking a deep breath, I neared the table and smiling, Ajay stood. “Everything all right?”
“Yes.” I took my seat and after he sat, I picked up the menu.
Was it strange that the second I heard the door open behind me, I held my breath? Some bizarre fever licked at my nape, spreading heat down my body in a rolling storm. And I knew without turning around, he’d be standing there, eyes intense, watching, waiting.
Slowly, I turned my head, my body unconsciously pushing upward to stand. He walked further into the restaurant, like he owned the place. Black shirt, matching pants, open collar, rolled sleeves, blue eyes sweeping the room until they landed on me.
My heart stuttered, the menu I held gliding to the floor in a soft swoosh. “Remo,” I whispered, pain, desire, anger, relief all poured into me, each fighting to usurp the other.
“Ishika?” I heard Ajay’s soft call, my body though, refused to obey, entranced by the monster prowling toward me.
His gaze shifted, studying Ajay, analyzing, deciding and reaching a conclusion quickly.
I heard the hushed whispers, witnessed the awe, admiration and desire as my gaze floated around the room.
Men and women alike were impressed with this man.
Why wouldn’t they be, he possessed the confidence of the devil and the prowess of the almighty.
When he stopped in front of me, I didn’t know whether to smile or frown. “What are you doing here?” I asked instead.
He cocked his head, that wayward grin in place. Like the last six weeks hadn’t passed. “I came to meet your fiancé. Aren’t you going to introduce me?” Even though he addressed me, his piercing gaze remained on Ajay who’d somehow ended up beside me.
They didn’t know each other, but undisguised tension pressed the air between both men. Where Remo smirked, Ajay scowled, his eyes narrowed.
I needed to do something. “Ajay, this is Remo Rossi,” I said, hoping for a quick nod to each other before Remo left.
Sadly, I was mistaken.
“Who are you?” Ajay sneered, something I’d didn’t think him capable of since he’d been nothing but polite and calm, and slipped his hand across my shoulders, staking his claim on me.
Remo’s expression was a subtle transformation from smirk to evil incarnate, his eyes moving to where Ajay held me. “I’m the man she’ll beg to fuck her sweet pussy in a minute.”
I gasped the same time Ajay took a step forward. “What the hell did you say?” He gestured for his two bodyguards standing against the wall.
Remo’s movements were easy, flawless, and so unbelievably quick, I hadn’t even inhaled yet and the men were on the floor, their necks no longer supporting their heads, their eyes vacant stares of surprise.
Amid the shocked echoes of other guests, I heard Ajay let out a flabbergasted sound, something between a gasp and a groan. “Who are you?” he repeated.
Ignoring Ajay, Remo held out a hand to me. “Come.”
It would’ve been easy to defy him, that look in eyes though, warned I’d be in a lot more trouble than the men on the floor, if I did. As I stepped forward, Ajay grabbed my wrist, keeping me in place, his other hand holding a gun I hadn’t seen him draw.
Hands in his pants pockets, his gaze drifting between the gun and where Ajay gripped my wrist, Remo’s blank expression gave nothing away. To save my so-called fiancé from imminent embarrassment, I twisted my hand to release his hold, his fingers however, dug deeper.
“You’re rejecting me for this asshole, Ishika,” he snapped, glaring at Remo.
“I could’ve taken you by force any time I wanted, instead I courteously asked for your hand in marriage.
I deserve some respect.” He shifted his gaze to me.
“Now, before I kill him, convince him to leave you the fuck alone–”
Ajay never got to finish his words because Remo stepped right into his gun, their gazes locking, tension staining the air. The silence was so potent, even a feather floating to the floor would be heard.
“Corpses have no power over their destiny,” Remo’s words were quiet, yet his tone was a deep shuddering conviction that had me holding my breath. “Unless they walk tall, even in death. And I never stoop.” His dare was clear; he was coaxing Ajay to pull the trigger.
Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed another two of Ajay’s men slowly approach the same time Gian appeared behind Remo, his gun drawn, one finger waving from side to side, warning the men to stand down.
Their eyes steadfast on the other, Ajay and Remo refused to back off.
It didn’t take a genius to figure out that Remo would emerge the clear winner.
Because we all know that the monster in the dark would eventually get us, and he lived his entire life there whereas Ajay quite clearly thrived on fake superiority.
And the only thing more treacherous than ignorance was false arrogance. It would get him killed.
I had to stop this from escalating into a blood bath. “Ajay.” I pulled at his fingers still firm around my wrist. “My uncle and your father won’t like where this is going. Just let me have a moment to talk with Remo and I’ll come back.”
He hesitated for just a moment then released my hand. Expecting Remo to lead me away, I gasped when he slid one hand around my waist, the other into my nape and yanked me forward, his lips crashing to mine in a quick kiss that was pure possession while his eyes stayed open, watching Ajay.
When he broke away, he cocked a brow at Ajay, challenging him. While my pulse hammered with crazy familiarity, just one thought came to mind. Only Remo Rossi would laugh in the face of death. Then his hand closed around my wrist, rough and warm, before he led me toward the kitchen.