CHAPTER 42 - RED
CHAPTER
Red
IACT LIKE I don’t give a shit, but in reality I’m fucking furious. Galvatore, that old bastard, calling up my casino and “demanding” to speak to me, the fucking wanker.
But nothing that lying, two-faced piece of shit does can take away that me and Arianna have turned a corner. Last night and this morning showed that we are going to be okay, and I can’t begin to explain how fucking good that feels.
How fucking good she feels.
Moving behind, I pull silky hair away from the nape of her neck, place my arm around her waist and press my lips against her velvet skin.
“Do you want to go and keep Maria company while I call your father?” I murmur, resenting I’m bowing to that crooked old bastard’s demands rather than cocooning myself back in bed with this woman.
“No, I don’t.” Arianna leans against my body, sending blood straight to my dick. “I’d rather listen to what he has to say.” Wriggling out of my arms, she hands me my phone.
Huffing, I bring up Emiliano Galvatore’s contact details and press the call button, clicking on the loudspeaker. If Arianna wants to listen to this, she’s more than welcome. I no longer have anything to hide.
“Galvatore.”
Emiliano Galvatore’s voice echoes around the room, immediately making my blood boil.
“When I called you three days ago, I was told never to contact you again, yet here I am, minding my own business, when I receive word that you called my casino ‘demanding’ to speak to me.” My hand forms a fist, at odds with the sarcastic sneer plastered across my face.
“What is it you want, Galvatore? I’m a busy man. ”
“You filthy English have the breeding of stray dogs,” Galvatore snarls, his voice more abrasive than ever through the tinny speaker.
“Breeding?” I sneer. “Yeah, yeah, you and your retard son know all about that! I’ll ask once again - what the fuck do you want? If you’ve demanded I call for you to throw half-baked insults at me, then...”
“I’d like to know what gives you the right to involve yourself with my family? You’ve already got one of my daughters for nothing, Bateman, but not satisfied with that, you now steal the other?”
Arianna’s body tenses with her father’s veiled reference to her being a sellable commodity yet again, and my eyes warn her against speaking out. That reference wasn’t something I missed either, but I’m used to the shit this wanker spouts.
“I’m more than satisfied with my wife, Mr Galvatore,” I drawl, enjoying winding him up. I can just imagine his face turning puce with rage, his wrinkled hands trembling with fury. “And being as I am extremely happy with my wife, I’m not sure why you think I would want your other daughter too?”
“Don’t play games, Bateman. I know you have Maria,” the voice seethes.
“She wouldn’t just disappear; she’s not the sort.
Not unless someone has put it into her head.
Someone like you and that treacherous troll you married, taking it upon yourselves to interfere because of nonsense you’ve made your purpose to believe. ”
At this, Arianna bolts from the chair, about to shout down the speaker, but I pull her towards me just in time and silence her with my mouth. She fights me for a couple of seconds before yielding to my exploring tongue.
Galvatore continues to rant through the loudspeaker. I admit I wouldn’t have thought it possible to become fueled with lust with him trapping off in the background, but Arianna has that effect on me.
“Are you still there, Bateman?”
Arianna pulls away, breathless, her cheeks flushed.
“Yeah, I’m still here - just bored listening to your drivel.” I wink at Arianna.
“Make sarcastic remarks all you like,” Galvatore snarls, “but hear me now because this is the only notice you’ll get. You have six hours to return Maria. That is all I will say.”
I stare at the phone as the call disconnects. That’s the second time the prick has hung up on me. “That went well.” I shrug.
Arianna grabs my hand; her face now etched with worry. “Even without the Bristonis, Papà’s still got plenty of men working for him. He’ll take action. Maria’s disappearance on top of mine will raise more questions, as well as eyebrows. He won’t stand for that.”
Pulling Arianna back into my arms, I smile.
I’m aware this isn’t an idle threat, but I won’t allow that old toerag to outwardly ruffle my feathers.
“Your father might not ‘allow’ it, Arianna.” I plant a kiss on the end of her nose.
“But he’s got no choice because Maria won’t be returning to him or going anywhere but here, where she’s safe.
I’ll call the security team here now for added protection for you both.
In the meantime, I’ll give Maria that training like I promised. ”
I wrap Arianna tighter in my embrace. Once I’ve made sure my wife and her sister are fully protected, I’ll head to the Scorpio Lounge and wait for the retaliation I expect to come my way at some point during the small hours of the night.