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I glare at him. “No.”
I don’t even know how that would work, but I want no part of it.
“Aw, Ollie’s grumpy again,” Polina says. “Here, Ollie, hold a sleeping puppy. I promise it’s the cure for what ails you.”
Christ.
I have the cure for what ails me, and she’s upstairs laying clothes out, waiting for my next command.
I turn on my heel and walk away before I lose my cool and say something I regret. As I head back to Renata, the weight of responsibility presses down on me. I have to protect my family, no matter the cost, even if that means making impossible choices that might tear me in two.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Renata
Every second thatpasses is like a ticking time bomb. Every heartbeat that passes brings us closer to destruction.
God.Carlos is on the move. It sickens me to know I’m going to hear from him and terrifies me that I haven’t yet.
I have to get married. That’s the next step forward.
I find some toiletries and quickly wash my face, brush my teeth, and run my fingers through my hair. I hear the door open. When I go to exit the bathroom, Ollie storms in, looking murderous. Fury burns in his eyes like a storm about to break.
I face him head on. “Someone storm the castle? Attack the moat?” I tip my head to the side. “Has your armor rusted?”
“I told you I didn’t want the dog on our bed.”
I have to admit, there's something about clean, freshly shaved legs and minty breath that perks me up a little bit, so much so that I almost forgot that I have a steely-faced future husbandright in front of me. But whatever would've disturbed me quickly evaporates when I see my fluffy little fur-ball. He’s wagging his tail and licking Ollie's hand. Before he catches me looking at him, the tension between his brows softens just a bit. We’ll soften him yet.
“Well, Polina watched him, and then he fell asleep. Also, we need a name.”
He shrugs and mutters with a curl of his lip, “Sodogisn’t original enough?”
“How about… Princeton? I like Princeton.”
He wrinkles his nose. “Sounds like he needs a stroller and a diamond collar.”
“I can arrange that.”
He grunts, turning away from me as he walks to the dresser and rifles through the clothes. “Yeah, somehow, I find that very easy to believe. Polina’s got a dog sitter and bought a bunch of shit for him.”
Aww.
"It’s time to go. You’ll wear a dress I pick out and nothing underneath.”
My belly flips, but I play it off with a toss of my head. "Oh, how original," I snap, which earns me a hard smack to the ass.
“Haven't gotten to the original part yet, Renata," he says with a growl. "I have another delivery of sorts that's on its way.” Turning me to face him, he brushes his fingers over my chin. “Be patient, little Renata."
I should be offended. It should feel demeaning, but I remember the man behind the fury—the one who saw me, not just the danger that presses in on us. I remember how he would occasionally let his guard down and talk to me, person to person.
I remember all of it. Sometimes, I wish that I didn't.
I lift the sleek, sleeveless dress he hands me and step into it. My breasts fill it out well as I smooth it down and slide on a pair of flats. The fabric is forgiving. It lifts and tucks in all the right places. "Nice choice."
I walk back to the bathroom and do a quick braid in my hair, bringing the thick plait to hang over my shoulder. I snap on gold hoops, a gold necklace, and a little bracelet. I'm pretty much feeling like myself already, even though I would really appreciate shopping for myself instead of relying on the charity of someone who hates me.
My stomach growls with hunger.
