Page 56 of War Within
Not wanting him to strike me, I cleared my throat. “So, how’s Jane this morning?”
“She’s still resting but I have faith she’ll wake up soon.
“Can I go see her?” Valentina smiled, pleased with the news.
“I think that will be okay.” Mr. Rovati sighed. “Please be careful. She’s not supposed to really have visitors right now.”
Nodding, Valentina hurried out of the room. The moment she was out of sight, I turned to her father who was already glaring at me with his mug on the counter and his arms crossed tightly over his chest.
“Tell me something, Emir.”
Shit. “Tell you what exactly?” I ran my fingers across the back of my neck, smiling sheepishly.
“Where did you sleep last night?” He cocked his head.
“In my bed.” I gulped.
He smirked, but he was anything except amused. “And where did my precious, innocent, angelic, princess daughter sleep last night?
She was not innocent in the least last night. I gulped. “Uh, see—”
“That's what I thought.” He shook his head. “Emir, I said you could be with her, notbewith her.”
“I love Valentina.” Why was I constantly digging a grave when it came to his daughter? “I promised you I’d never hurt her.”
He ran his fingers through his hair, exhaling. “This is going to take some getting used to because I want to strangle you right now, but I know you’re a good guy.”
As I opened my mouth to plead my case, Valentina, the angel of grace who saved me at that moment, sprinted into the room.
“Dad! Come quick!”
My eyes were struggling to adjust to the light shining through the windows, reflecting off the snowy mountain. Valentina had just been in here speaking softly to me but ran out. Struggling to roll on my side, I glanced around the room, seeing my phone was missing. Panic set in as I had no way to call home and speak to my boss.
Falling backwards onto my back, I stared at the ceiling, trapped in Rovati hell. Now more than ever, I wanted to get away from here. While I appreciated being saved, I was not happy that I was stuck.
I was not getting out of this anytime soon and in order for me to complete my task, I had no choice but to just finally give in to his charm, toying with him in the process. He liked me, and by the time this was over, I was going to make him wish he never met me.
Wincing, I ran my fingertips over the tape on my arm. Picking up a cotton ball and medical tape off the table, I laid them next to me. Carefully removing my IV, I pressed the cotton ball to skin before securing it in place. Forcing myself to sit up, I grimaced, standing next to the bed, taking a few deep breaths.
“Jane, you're up!” Giovanni gasped, rushing to my side, placing his hand on the small of my back. “You should be in bed.”
I remained frozen and impassive.
“Jane?” Lightly circling my backside, he turned to his daughter and Emir. “Guys, will you give us a bit?”
“We'll be downstairs if you need us.” Emir escorted Valentina from the room, leaving us alone.
Unable to stand any longer, I collapsed into his arms. Channeling the amount of physical pain I was in, I forced the tears to flow down my cheeks. The only things I knew were, I was safe now and I would take this man for everything he was worth. He was too blind to see his future.
After everything I just went through because of him, he should have been the one in my place. He was about to fall in love with someone who would ultimately destroy him. It was my time to shine. I looked like I had been hit by a truck, and I felt like shit. It was time to put on the performance of a lifetime.
“I don't know what happened.” I buried my head into his upper body, nuzzling against him.
“You’re safe now.”
Pulling away slowly, I peered up into his worried eyes, purity seething from my every pore. “Giovanni, Marco is—”
“Shhh, I know.” He stroked my head, cradling my battered body gently. “We got you back safely. Don't worry about anything else right now. You still need to rest.”
