Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 80715 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 404(@200wpm)___ 323(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80715 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 404(@200wpm)___ 323(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
“And what else?” His tone hardened like he knew exactly what else.
“Said he made a mistake.”
His stare was stone cold.
“That’s when you came in. So he didn’t say anything else.”
“I didn’t feel bad before, but I sure as fuck don’t feel bad now. A fucking peasant coming to a queen like he deserves a moment of her time.” He shook his head. “Better not show his fucking face around here again.”
“Are—are you jealous?”
He laughed, but it was packed with sarcasm. “Sweetheart, I don’t get jealous. But I’m protective, and if some asshole who broke your heart thinks he can kick up some dust, he’s fucking mistaken. I was there to pick up the pieces that he broke—so he can fuck right off.”
“How did you even know he was here?” Had he just happened to stop by at the right time?
He didn’t say anything for a while, like he wanted to hold on to his words a little longer before he set them free. “Because my men told me he was here.”
“Your men . . . ?” It took me a second to understand the implications of his words. “You’re—you’re watching me.”
“I’m not watching you,” he said. “I’m protecting you.”
“From?”
“Just because this relationship has barely begun doesn’t mean it’s not obvious to anyone watching me that you mean something to me. I don’t take risks, so yes, I’ve put some of my guys on your surveillance.”
“And you didn’t think you should tell me this?”
“You were already freaked out enough,” he said. “And to be clear, they don’t report your movements to me. I don’t know where you go or how you spend your days. They keep you safe—that’s all.”
“Is there someone to keep me safe from?”
“No. Not that I know of. But as I said before, I don’t take risks.”
I felt violated, and I didn’t know why. “I feel like this is something you should have told me.”
“If that asshole hadn’t swung by, you never would have known.”
“And that makes it okay?”
“Sweetheart.” He didn’t say it affectionately like he normally did, but sternly. “Did you see how quickly I got here? He was here for, what? Three minutes? And my men would have been here instantly if it was necessary. You’re afraid to pursue this with me because of the risks, but I’ve proven to you I don’t take risks. I protect you—always.”
“I still feel like I had the right to know.”
“All right, that was an error on my part. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.” He dropped his arms to his sides. “Can we move on now?”
My heart was pounding so hard in my chest that I wasn’t sure if we could just move on. “I—I don’t know.”
“You don’t know?” he challenged.
“In the last fifteen minutes, you’ve threatened to carve my ex’s eyes out of his head and informed me that every move I make throughout the day is being watched by men I don’t know. That they could be watching me through my fucking windows, following me on my motorbike when I go to the grocery store, watching me do my photoshoots by the Trevi Fountain. Jesus, it’s a lot. Not to mention I just witnessed you go ballistic . . .”
“Sweetheart,” he said calmly. “That was nothing.”
“I just . . . need some space. And I don’t want to be followed anymore.”
He stared me down.
“Not without my consent. And right now, I’m not giving my consent.” Every moment I thought I was alone, I was under the watchful eyes of a handful of men. When I hopped on my motorbike, they were probably right behind me—and I had no idea. I was a bit embarrassed that I hadn’t figured it out.
Constantine said nothing, but in silence, his anger was like a scream. “What does space mean?”
“I don’t know. Just some space.” I felt impaled by the bullets from his eyes. “The last fifteen minutes have been chaos. You’re the perfect guy, and I can’t believe that you’re real. I just wish you were . . . normal.” I regretted what I said the moment it came out of my mouth. I knew I fucked up the second I took a breath after I completed the sentence.
He wore a hard stare, all the cords in his neck popped like taut rope. His eyes were still and locked on my face, but there was no discernible emotion underneath, like he was sequestering his rage so I wouldn’t have to see it. “Normal . . .” He tested the word in his mouth like he’d just added it to his vocabulary.
“That didn’t come out right.”
“I’ve been really patient with you. More patient than the fucking pope.” He spoke calmly, but something about that sheathed tone was just as scary as when he’d yelled at Enzo a couple minutes ago. “One step forward, fifty steps back, back and forth, back and forth. But it was fine because you were worth it. But let me tell you something right now.” He took a step toward me and raised his hand to point at me. “I’m proud that I’m not normal. I’m proud of what I do for my people and my country. I need a woman who feels the same way, and that’s clearly not you.”