Chapter 396 398

Chapter 396 398
“I haven’t seen him since then,” I point out. “I want proof.”

He stills for a moment, eyeing my carefully. “Proof?”

“I want to see him.”

He looks irked at the mere request, but he’s trying to contain it. He’s trying to act as though he’s not jealous. But I’ve always been able to read jealousy. It’s not an emotion that men can handle or hide easily.

“That is inappropriate.”

“Almost as inappropriate as forcing a girl who’s less than half your age to marry you?” I ask. “I doubt it. I’m giving up a lot here. My freedom, my autonomy, my happiness. I’ve agreed to marry you and I’ve agreed not to embarrass you in front of your guests. All I’m asking is to see Kian. One hour a day. That’s all.”

Rokiades likes that part even less. “An hour every day?”

“Yes.”

“Not a chance in hell.”

“I’ll wear your mother’s dress without complaining,” I tell him. “I’ll smile as I walk down the aisle. And I’ll… I’ll give you the heir you want so much.”

His eyes go wide at that.

Apart from demanding a few wet kisses from me, he hasn’t tried to force himself on me. God only knows what’s keeping him away. But I know that will change after we’re married.

I also know that the only reason he hasn’t raped me already is because he’s terrified I’ll shut down and that’ll ruin the precious image he wants to offer up on the wedding day. An image of power and control for all the other dons in the city to fall for.

“You’ll give yourself to me?” he asks. “Willingly?”

“Yes.”

He smile spreads across his face. “Fine,” Rokiades says with a curt nod. “You can see him. But one hour is out of the question.”

I open my mouth to protest, but he holds up his hand, silencing me.

“Fifteen minutes,” he says. “That’s all you’ll get. And you will be accompanied by two guards at all time. Nor will you be permitted in his cell. I don’t want that animal’s hands to touch what’s mine.”

I flinch back at the possessive bent of his words. “Fine,” I mutter. “Deal.”

He nods once more and pivots away from me, but I can tell there’s something on his mind. Something that’s troubling him.

“How did he do it?” he asks, turning back slowly to look at me.

“Do what?”

“Make you fall in love with him.”

I bristle instinctively. “I’m not in love with him.”

Rokiades cocks his head to the side and gives me an almost pitying expression that makes my stomach twist. “You’ve bound yourself to me for life in order to save his,” he points out. “Why else would you sacrifice yourself for a man like him, except for love?”

My heart beats unsteadily, but I try and remain calm.

“So tell me, Renata,” Rokiades presses, “how did he do it? I understand the surface appeal. He’s rich, good-looking, powerful. But that can’t be the only reason he—”

“I don’t love him,” I say again. I want so badly to believe it. For one instant, I do. I close my eyes and say it again, as if to convince myself. “I don’t love Kian. I just don’t want to see anyone suffer on my behalf anymore.”

I can feel Rokiades’s gaze raking over me as he weighs that. In the end, he shrugs. “If you say so.” His footsteps shuffle across the floor as he heads for the exit.

His voice oozes from the hallway as he gives orders to the seamstresses. “Lola, you may begin taking her measurements. And make sure they’re precise. I want the dress to hug her figure. Let the world see what I now own.”

I feel a kernel of dread as Lola and her assistants re-enter the room. The wedding is only two weeks away now. I just hope my body doesn’t go through any major changes in the meantime.

Hold on, little one, I whisper silently to the life in my womb. We’ll get through this. Just stay with me. I’ve got you.

50

Renata

I’m flanked by two guards. Both are older men with expressionless faces. They lead me to a hidden building at the very back edge of Rokiades’s property.

It feels weird that Kian has been so close to me this entire time. A stone’s throw away—but with a whole fucking world between us.

When I walk into the warehouse, the large wooden plinth-like structure that he’d been tied to is gone. I can’t see him anywhere. “Where is he?” I ask.

Neither guard answers me. Instead, they lead me silently to the back of the warehouse, towards a line of doors with small square partition windows at the top. I know immediately that the second door on the right is Kian’s room because there’s a guard stationed just outside it.

Before I can head over, the door opens and none other than Dr. Lenore walks out. She’s wearing one of her signature baggy shirts and her head looks freshly buzzed. The guard locks the door and follows her as she makes her way towards me.

“Renata,” she says with a pleasant smile, as if we’re old friends. “You’re looking well.”

I glance over her shoulder. “Were you treating Kian?”

“I was.”

“Is he okay?”

She gives me a sympathetic smile. “His injuries will all heal in time. How are you?”

Her question is pointed. I know what she’s really asking. “Tired,” I respond. “But otherwise, good.”

I’m about to move past her when she reaches out and grabs my wrist. “Renata…” I look down and she drops my hand immediately. “I have to tell you: Don Rokiades has requested your medical file. And when he sees it…”

I freeze. “Oh.” She doesn’t have to say the unspoken part. When he sees it, he’ll know your pregnant. He’ll know it isn’t his.

“He’s expecting me to hand it over in a day or two,” she says. “I can’t stall much longer than that.”

I nod. “Thank you for telling me.”

“Good luck,” she says before walking away.

I close my eyes for a moment, trying to determine to how handle the coming shit storm. I decide that there’s nothing more I can do but brace.

For now, I need to see Kian. I take a deep breath and open my eyes. “Stay here,” I tell my guards authoritatively.

Neither one seems inclined to listen. I stop and turn around slowly. Drawing myself up to my full height, I look each man in the eye. “I am to be your don’s wife. Do you really want to get on my bad side so early?” I ask.

“We have orders—”

“Your orders are to watch me. I will be within your line of sight, talking to the man through a closed door. Let’s not be precious about this.”

The two guards exchange a glance, and then the taller of the two shrugs slightly. Then, in unison, they retreat a few steps back down the hallway. Smart boys.