This had to be a fucked up joke. Why the hell, out of people, did I have to run into the one I was supposed to avoid?
Drake closed the door behind him as his father, the hoarse voice I had heard earlier, continued to yell at the poor doctor.
I ground my teeth as I stepped back and squared my shoulders. "I heard about your brother," I said solemnly. "Please accept my deepest ant sincere condolences."
Then, without waiting for any reaction from him, I did a shallow bow and made to walk past him.
He was faster. He stepped in my way again, blocking me. I groaned and made to sidestep again but this time, he held my wrist and pulled me back.
"So that's it?" he scoffed. "You're just going to offer your sorry ass condolences and walk away?"
I ground my teeth.
He narrowed his eyes and stared straight at me. "Why really are you here, Stephanie?"
"My mom's admitted in this clinic," I explained and turned to leave. "I've got to return back to her ward–"
He gripped my wrist again and dragged me back to face him.
"What are you doing here on this floor?" he demanded.
"You know I don't have to answer your questions, right?" I said defensively. "I don't owe you anything."
"You followed me here, didn't you?" he asked with a sly smile.
"Are you crazy?" I shot at him. "Why the hell would I follow you?"
"Because your dad kicked you out of his house and you need money to pay for your mom's treatment, of course," he said, a cold smirk playing on his lips.
"I don't need your money. And I'm not following you," I said defensively.
"Well, what then are you doing on my floor?" he asked.
I clenched my fists. He was getting me pissed and I might lose it any time soon. I took a deep breath to calm myself down.
"First, it's not your floor," I said calmly. "And if you have to know, my mom's on this floor too."
"Pfft," he scoffed. "Spare me that bull, Stephanie. There's no way you can pay for a VIP floor."
"So, what? You think I can't get that kind of money unless I follow you, crawling at your feet, begging for money?" I demanded.
"Yes. That's what I thought," he said and a lewd smirk pulled at a corner of his lips. "And I'm still willing to give the money to you," he paused and his hand went to his crotch, adjusting the growing bulge inside of his jeans. "But you have to prove your worth first."
"Your brother just died and you're–"
"My brother was a stupid idiot who got himself killed. And I'm a distressed man. The entire family is in distress," he said. "My mom just got her sedatives. But the only thing that can make me relax is you in my bed. We can do it the way we always did on the sofa..."
I gritted my teeth and balled my fingers into fists. He could see that I was getting worked up, but seeing me upset only made him the more excited. He rattled on.
"We can use one of the empty rooms here," he suggested and wet his lower lip with his tongue, flashing a sultry wink. "If you use your lips right, I might just throw some cash–"
"Ask the fucking slut you call your wife to suck you!" I snarled.
"Becky's attempt to satisfy me are the lamest things. She is pathetic in bed," he booed. "One of the reasons I left her at home." He moved a little forward, closing the gap between us. "But you, my dear Steph, you've got so many skills–"
My hand moved on its own, landing a steaming slap on his face. "You're sick!" I yelled and twirled, making for mom's private ward.
"Hey! I'm not done talking to you, bitch!" I heard Drake's voice boom across the hall. "Get back here!"
My heart fell when I saw through the corner of my eyes that he was coming after me. I inhaled sharply and darted forward. I was starting to wish that I had brought Buzo along with me, when a dark silhouette of a man appeared in the corridor. I vaguely saw him in the peripheral vision as I ran past.
Suddenly, a pair of strong arms wrapped around me, sweeping me to the side. I was pressed against him, feeling his distinct muscles and his broad chest on my breasts.
My nostrils twitched with the whiff of that familiar expensive cologne. I looked up and my eyes met his.
"Hey, sweet, missed me?"
Francesco Giacomo.
What was he doing here? My breath hooked in my throat and as I struggled to speak, before I could ask what he was doing here, Drake interrupted us.
"Who the fuck are you?!" he bawled.
Francesco moved his gaze to Drake's, shifting his grip around me, pulling me to his side. I didn't dare protest as he casually rested his hand on my hip. He slowly scanned my ex-boyfriend from head to toe. His face seemed to remain calm, but the feral glint in his eye was enough to make my blood curdle.
Drake failed to comprehend the situation and faced me. "Who's this fucker, Steph? A fucking client?"
Francesco raised his brows at the question and glanced at me as if he, too, was expecting my answer.
I ground my teeth for a while. Then I raised my head high, suddenly feeling a sort of pride about Francesco. "This is Francesco Giacomo," I said. "My fiance."
Drake stumbled back, his eyes filled with horror as his gaze drifted to Francesco. "Francesco...you're the next Don of...of the Giacomo family?" Then his gaze snapped to me and he laughed. "Is this a joke? There's no way he's marrying you."
Francesco let out a soft laugh. "She's telling the truth, Mr McConnor. Stephanie will soon become my wife." Then he smiled. "Do you have a problem with that?"
Drake let out a chuckle. "Forgive me, Mr Giacomo. I just didn't expect a man like you to be with..." his lips curved in an expression of disdain. "–a woman like her."
My anger rose inside me, boiling like lava, threatening to make me erupt like a volcano. Francesco must have felt the tension inside of me because his fingers began to slide up and down my side in a fluid, comforting motion.
"You're right," he said, his lips forming a small smile. I shouldn't be with her. No good girl should be with a beast like me. But I couldn't help it." He kept his gaze on Drake as he lowered his head and kissed my forehead. "She's just too irresistible."
I stopped breathing. The touch of his lips, his fluid touch, his fingers. They were all too much. I knew this was an act, but my body refused to acknowledge that part. My heart began to race and a surge of heat coursed through my thighs. I nearly forgot that Drake stood in front of us watching, and I would have ignored him if he hasn't cleared his throat.
"You shouldn't let her innocent look fool you, Francesco," Drake said. "She's anything but pure. Stay away from her. Just a friendly advice."
I should have said something. His words should have incensed me further, but I was too distracted by Francesco's fingers now forming a firm, possessive grip around my waist. "You claim she's not pure. What, then, is she?" he demanded with a terrifying calm.
A wise man would have known better than to answer his dare. In any case, Drake was anything but wise, so he chose to answer.
His lips formed a smirk. "She's worthless. The only thing this bitch is good at is sucking dicks."
"You fucking bastard!" I shrieked and lurched forward. No attempt from Francesco to soothe me could have worked as I moved forward, my hand raised.
The satisfying sound of a slap echoed through the corridor. My palm burned from the heat and the impact on Drake's cheek, but the red mark on his cheek was rewarding enough.
Drake bared his teeth. "Bitch!" he cursed and raised his hand. But an inch was all he could do before Francesco grabbed his wrist.
I gasped. How did Francesco move so fast?
"You know that, Drake," Francesco's voice was back to it's usual baleful purr. "I thought you were smart enough to know when to keep your mouth shut. You proved me wrong."
His hand moved quickly, twisting Drake's hand in his grip. Drake groaned, earning him a grin from my contractual fiance.
"You know what I think, Drake?" Francesco asked, ignoring Drake's grunts as his bone crunched. "I winde if I should take away every part of you that ever touched her. Or maybe just one part," he said and drove a punch into Drake's groin.
I winced despite myself.
"Or I should let her choose," Francesco said at last and pushed Drake back. "Stay away from her."
Drake stepped back, trembling. "You wouldn't dare..." he stuttered. "My family–"
"Means shit," Francesco finished. A smirk broke on his lips as he slid his arm around me again, and his gaze remained fixed on the dickhead before us. "Just so you know, Mr McConnor, I know about the little stunt you pulled at your wedding."
"I don't know what you're talking about," Drake said, taking another step back.
Francesco's smile faded. "The person who tried it is dead. What do you think I'll do to his employer?"
My heart began to thunder. I knew that Francesco had done something to hurt Bernoulli, but I didn't dare ask him if he was responsible for his death. And how could he say Drake was behind all of this? I barely assumed my crappy ex-boyfriend was involved in all of this, yet Francesco said it like he was sure...
Drake's throat bobbed as he swallowed, his eyes shifting to me as if begging for rescue. He saw the rage in my eyes and dropped his eyes to the floor.
"I swear I didn't know that...he would–"
"You'll live only because I don't want your parents to lose both sons in one day," Francesco said coldly, and his icy tone sent chills down my spine even though the words weren't meant for me. "But from tomorrow, well, it might change."
"You want to kill me?" Drake choked out.
"Only if she wants it," Francesco replied, a dark smirk on his lips as he fixed his gaze on me.
Just one look at Francesco and I knew he wasn't joking. He was letting me decide. With just a few words, he was giving me terrifying power. A surge of excitement rushed through me. A part of me knew this was wrong but another part of me wanted so badly to give the word to put Drake's body to the ground. Drake was the worst kind of scumbag and I wanted so badly to let him die.
But this wasn't me. I would not play God just like these men of the underworld did.
"As you said, his parents just lost their son..." I said slowly. "It would be unfortunate if they were to lose another one." Then I straightened my chin and gave Drake a sour look. "Just leave."
Drake ground his teeth and tightened his fist. I could feel the curses forming in his mouth but he sealed them. He held my gaze for a few heartbeats before he turned quickly and scurried away.
I let out a long sigh.
Then I stepped back and looked at Francesco. "What are you doing here?"
His brows rose. "Shouldn't you thank before the interrogation?"
"Well, um...thank you for scaring the hell out of my ex," I said slowly. "So?"
"I figured I should at least pay my future mother-in-law a visit," he replied simply, with a nonchalant shrug.
"Why?" I queried. "My mom's in a coma. And by the time she wakes, we'll most likely have already–"
"Divorced?" he completed.
"Yes," I replied emphatically.
He chuckled and his lips spread into a savage grin. "Divorce is not part of the plan," he said.
I studied him with a suspicious eye. I knew this was all a game to him. "You say that now?"
He inched closer and I stepped back, hitting the wall. His hands flew to both sides of my head. "Once you become my wife, I'll claim you inch by inch. Until even your soul bears my mark."
I shuddered.
But he was not done.
He leaned over my ear and whispered, "You will enjoy every second of it." He bit my earlobe gently. "And you will beg me for more."