Page 80 of His Vicious Desire
“Before you do it, check your trust fund so you know what you can afford.Then budget for twenty percent to still be sitting there at the end of the month so you aren’t house poor.”
“How do you know about my trust?I don’t think I have money in it for a house.I’m pretty sure it’s just for my schooling.”
She rolls her eyes.“Because that’s what we have money.Trust funds that pay for our lives.But of course, our parents control every bit of it, and there are all these rules to control us.Like my trust will pay out five thousand a month, but only if I have either a four-year degree or have worked somewhere for four years with money that goes up the more you bank time, but if you don’t have those things, then you get barely enough to pay bills and rent.”
“So Sandro’s been hiding it from me?”
A shoulder lifts.“I doubt he meant to.He’s always taken care of you, so what difference did it make?Like he’d probably give you a good amount for rent or tell you right then and there how much you get, depending on all the rules.”
The idea of Sandro hiding a trust fund has me battling my temper.Although Kitty doubted Sandro hid it from me, I’m not so sure.The basic thing of mafia life, life in general, is that knowledge is power.Knowledge helped you figure out your moves, your options.
I’m not in the best mood when I get back to the penthouse.So, of course, she’s the first thing I see when I get home.
Too bad she really fucked Sandro over, because she seems kind of cool.Except I can’t forget that she ran out on my brother.
Rolling my eyes at her.“Of course, you have a body like a stripper.Sandro makes more sense now.”
“Excuse you.”She spits out at me.
“Excuse me?Oh no, Sandro won’t like that.If I tell him you were rude to me?—”
“Who the hell are you?”
“I’m Bianca, his sister.”The recognition and fear is the only thing that makes me feel good.For now, she believes I’m as important to Sandro as I once was—until she came.“Exactly.Watch yourself.If I tell Sandro, he will not be pleased.You’re the wife, but I’m his family.I’m the one he loves, not you.He’s stuck with you.He doesn’t want you.”
Not able to withstand how hurt she seems, I dismiss her and go into my room and slam the door.
I’m not invited to give my input on the changes in the penthouse.A reminder that what I want or think doesn’t matter.I’m here because they have to accept it, not because my own brother wants me here.So I tell her the wallpaper is ugly, even if it adds warmth to the space it needs.
When I go into the kitchen to make coffee, I find the cabinet for tea and mugs filled to the brim with so many teas and mugs that a person could open a store with them.Oh, that one is neat.I pull it down, and it catches on the one beside it.The second one falls to the floor and shatters, scaring the shit out of me and causing me to drop the one I wanted to look at.Fuck.
I hear her come running.
“Are you okay?”Her eyes are wide with concern.
“Oops, sorry.”I shrug as I look down at the broken mugs.“It was an accident.”Before I break down and apologize and beg her to forgive me, I go back into my room and get back into bed.
I’m spending too much time in bed.I know it, but I can’t seem to stay out of it.There has been no call or text from Gaetano, not a fucking thing.
Everything in me is aching as one day bleeds into the next without a word from him.Patience.God, it was so much bullshit.Why couldn’t he talk to me and tell me a damn thing?
One week drifts by in a haze.I try to change up my days, one in front of the pool, the next day in front of the television, a day out meeting with Kitty, then begin the routine all over again.
Sad, I roll out of bed and get dressed to go out.Today is a go see Kitty day.The only problem was that she was busy with her mom.Whatever, I can go to the bookstore.What I can’t do is spend the day inside again.
I decide to go with a pretty, blue shift dress.Running my hand over my stomach, I wonder if it worked.I don’t feel any different.I kind of thought I would.Sighing, I grab my purse and head out of the penthouse.
The parking garage is nearly empty when I step out of the elevator.Pushing the button to unlock my SUV and remind me where I parked it.Shit, I could have sworn I parked it closer to the door.Now, somehow, it’s in the corner farthest away.But I do like corners, I don’t like cars on all sides of me.Besides, my memory is shot; it feels like I can’t remember what I did yesterday.
At my SUV, I go to open it when suddenly a big body is behind me, pushing up against me at the same time, one hand covers my mouth, and an arm is around my waist, holding me still.I inhale, trying to scream.Immediately, from his scent, I know it’s Gaetano.Fucker.I begin fighting him, trying to kick out against my car.
“Damn it, it’s me, Bianca.”
I don’t slow down.Instead, I begin trying harder.
“Fuck, okay, I get your mad.Stop fucking fighting.”He growls from low in his chest.A growl I can feel all the way to the heart of me.
He’s got me in the backseat, handling me like I weigh nothing.I try to slap him, but he captures my hand in his and yanks me up against him.His kiss is punishing, and I hate the way I melt in him.Seven days without him have been hell, and I’m finally allowed back into heaven.
