CHAPTER 33 - RED
CHAPTER
Red
I ’M PULLING Arianna away from my office too fast. I should slow down, but I have to get away from that room before I’m unable to control my actions.
Liam crossed the fucking line. Bringing Bristoni’s corpse into my office just to get a cheap fucking dig? I can barely believe it and could gladly kill him.
I might yet.
Brother or not, I definitely would if things weren’t so fraught.
“Red, wh...?”
“Please don’t ask questions, Arianna,” I snap.
“I’m not in the mood.” And I’m not. I’m absolutely furious.
When Arianna walked in before the ceremony started, just for a short time, I forgot what my life entailed.
I forgot that my entire existence is a web of lies, bullshit and contrived agreements to ensure my firm runs smoothly.
I forgot everything comes at a price - usually mine .
I should be used to it - and I am, but just for a split second, I glimpsed what it might be like to live a “normal” existence, where things happened because you wanted them to.
Arianna looked like a dream.
She still does.
I risk a quick glance at her as she clatters in her heels along the corridor to keep up with me. What Liam did was a dig at her more than me, and a cruel one at that. “Are you all right?”
She doesn’t speak, just nods as I continue my rapid pace. I haven’t got the time to factor in the length of her wedding dress. She’ll just have to keep up and hope she doesn’t fall. I need to get this announcement over and done with. “Remember to act the part in front of the press.”
“Press? W-What press?”
I frown as I continue walking. “I’ve invited them here so I can give a statement about our marriage. As I said before, we must come across as believable.”
The mood I’m in now, I’m unsure if I can, but I must push Liam and all of his shit out of my head and do what I usually do - flick the switch and be whatever I need to be - the master of disguise.
As we near the casino staff entrance, I turn to Arianna, the worry clear on her face. “Leave everything to me. You don’t need to say a word. I’ll do the talking.” I force myself to grin. “Just smile and pretend you love me.”
“ This is what you meant when you said you’d expose the Bristoni lies?” She looks up at me with pain in her eyes. “It... it will make me look like a traitor...”
The sadness on Arianna’s face almost convinces me to scrap the idea of the press conference.
Almost, but not quite.
I’m not stupid. Arianna won’t get her claws into me, using her female wiles to manipulate me. It was bad enough having to lightly kiss her at the end of the wedding, when all I want to do is claim her mouth with savage abandonment, along with the rest of her.
I stare at her cooly. “I told you what I intended to happen, and I expect you to run with what I do and say.”
Arianna grabs the lapel of my suit - a worried gesture, not an aggressive one. Her touch sends desire rushing straight to my balls. Her eyes then drop to where her hand lies, and she rapidly removes it.
“What if the press ask questions, like how can I remarry when Roberto’s not been dead a week? Won’t they think... I don’t know, doesn’t it seem rather... suspicious?”
“Don’t worry about that. It’s all in hand,” I say confidently.
Actually, I haven’t given that any thought, but I’ll say whatever is needed to put her at ease.
She must play ball, otherwise the effect will fall flat on its face.
I want the Bristonis and the Galvatores choking on their own fucking tongues with impotent rage when they read about what’s happened today.
I smile reassuringly. “Trust me, it’ll be fine. If any hacks are stupid enough to ask volatile questions, I’ll come up with something. ”
Arianna looks no less worried by my assurances, so I attempt one last tactic. “You look beautiful, by the way.”
“You don’t need to say that. We’re not playing to the public yet!”
I laugh, despite my annoyance at my brothers and the pressure of the situation.
She’s right - we’re not in public yet, but I meant what I said all the same.