Page 31 of Claiming His Throne
“You know, a friend wouldn’t interfere in my business dealings,” she says.
“Agoodfriend would be honest and tell you their intentions straight up. That makes us really great fucking friends.” I openthe door to her suite, and the two soldiers I had stationed there last night step aside. “Morning. I’m heading to the hangar,” I tell them, knowing they’ll follow in a separate car.
They both nod and walk behind us as I lead Molly to the bank of elevators, my hand possessively on her lower back.
“Are all of your dresses fitted like a glove?” I ask, looking at the black knee-length dress she’s wearing. It hugs her ass fucking perfectly.
“I like my dresses,” she says.
“So do I,” I mutter, staring at her ass as she enters the elevator.
“Stop staring at my ass, Alfie,” Molly scolds.
“Sweetheart, you do not wear dresses like that if you don’t want your ass appreciated,” I tell her.
The two soldiers step into the elevator, and Molly’s cheeks turn pink with embarrassment.
“Don’t worry, if anyone else looks at it, I’ll cut their eyes out,” I whisper into her ear.
Molly frowns, but then she smiles a little and shakes her head. “You’re insane.”
“You don’t know the half of it,” I tell her.
Chapter Thirteen
Ican’t believe I’m doing this, getting on a private jet with Alfie Giuliani. The guy just told me he had someone’s head explode on him last night. What the hell am I doing? All sorts of thoughts run through my mind. He wants me out of his city. Is this his way of luring me away from civilization toget rid of me?
I’m not a stupid woman. I pride myself on making smart decisions, but this might just be the stupidest thing I’ve ever done. It could also turn out to be the worst.
After speaking to my dad, hearing the worry in his voice about my mom, I couldn’tnotgo home and see him. I feel horrible for staying away so much, but it’s really hard to look at your mom and have her not know who you are.
Sure, she asks for me every day. But she’s looking for the young, teenage version of me, not the grown-up version. As easy as I’ve tried to make my father’s life by providing all the care, covering all of their expenses, it’s not enough. I can’t be there, though. I have to work. I also don’t have the mental capacity to deal with it. I know that makes me a shitty daughter but it’s the truth.
My father’s a saint. Not once has he complained about caring for my mom or ever alluded to the fact that she’s a burden to him. He loves her, and he’ll do anything for her.
A small tear escapes me and I’m quick to wipe it away. Not quick enough, though. Alfie reaches over the seat, grips my chin between his thumb and index finger, and turns my face towards him.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
“You’re crying. That’s not nothing,” he says. “What did your father say to you that has you running home, Molly?”
“We’re not doing this, Alfie. I appreciate you helping me get home quicker than a commercial flight would get me there. And don’t give me that bullshit that you were already going to Seattle. We both know you weren’t. But this… We’re not friends. We’ve had sex a couple of times. That’s it.”
“Correction: we’ve hadreally greatfucking sex a couple of times.” He smirks. “And we have a date Saturday night. We are friends.”
Another tear escapes my eye. I don’t like him being this nice to me. I don’t know how to handle it. I don’t want to like him.
Alfie wipes the tear away with his thumb. “You know I can’t help you if you don’t tell me what’s wrong.”
“You can’t help me either way,” I whisper. “My mom is dying. She has a brain tumor, a couple of them actually. My dad is struggling to come to terms with the fact that he’s going to lose her and there isn’t anything I can do to make it easier for him.”
Alfie stares into my eyes. “I’m sorry,” he says. “You know you don’t have to have the solution for everything alone. I can get some doctors in, get a second opinion?”
“I have the money and resources to do that. Ihavedone that. It’s not new, Alfie. It started when I was sixteen. She had a tumor, got treatment, and it went away for a while. Now it’s back and there is no treatment.”
“I’m sorry you’re losing your mom.”
