Page 70 of Taking His Heart

“Why not? What’s wrong with me?” Faith asks, sounding offended.

“Some things are worth dying for, sweetheart. A night in the sack with a hot woman isn’t one of those things. Sorry.” Aiden looks from Faith to me. “Tell me more about this party and exactly how we’re going to let your old, ball-and-chain of a husband actually let you go to it?”

“Excuse me?” I blink at Aiden.

“Come on, Daniella. We both know there is no way CJ is letting you out of this house,” Aiden continues.

“First, I don’t need permission to leave this house and I certainly do not need permission to go to a party. Faith, give me ten minutes. I’ll be dressed and ready to dance. And I’m bringing Rosie. She could use a night out too,” I tell my friend. I then look to Aiden again. “As for your brother, he can either come with us, or not. I don’t really care either way.” I shrug.

It’s a lie. I really do want CJ to come, but I’m not asking anyone for permission to do something or go somewhere. I get that some crazed cartel prince has it in for me, but he’s not even in this country.

Before I head upstairs to change, I find CJ on the back deck with Aurelio and Elias. “I’m going out. Faith is throwing me a party at her family’s nightclub. You can either come with me or not,” I tell him.

CJ laughs, actually laughs. “You’re not leaving this house, Daniella.”

I tilt my head. “I guess that’s a you’re not coming. Well, have a great night.” I turn and slam the door on my way back inside.

It takes less than thirty seconds for my husband to be right behind me. “Daniella, think about this. It’s not safe for you to be out right now,” he says.

“It’s perfectly safe. That guy isn’t even in this country.”

“We don’t know that. We can’t take chances. Please… I’m begging you to just stay here. You want to have a party? I’ll throw you one right here. In this house.”

“That’s not the same.” I sigh. “Seriously, you’re overreacting. It’s not a big deal. Nothing is going to happen.”

“Daniella, please. I get that I can’t stop you. Other than by physically chaining you to a fucking bed, which I’m prepared to do. But I’d really prefer to save that for the honeymoon. Just stay here. It’s only for a couple of days. Everything will blow over and then we can go out to your heart’s content.”

CJ is actually pleading with me, which makes me feel a little guilty for being so bratty.

“Okay,” I concede. “I won’t go out tonight.”

“Thank you.” He sighs.

Jesus, I think I almost gave the man a heart attack.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Thank fuck Daniella agreed to stay inside this house. I was not looking forward to her wrath when she found out I was going to go through with tying her ass to a fucking bed if I had to.

Instead, we’re now sitting in the De Bellises’ dining room with a ton of pizza boxes lined up on the table. The pizza is absolute shit, but I don’t say that. Instead, I make sure Daniella eats and that her glass is full of whiskey, because I want her to have fun with her friend. I just want her to have that fun within the safety of this estate.

Elias has been oddly quiet. Rosie is giving everyone who looks her way a mean-as-fuck death glare and Aiden? Well, he’s being Aiden. The life of the party. Keeping everyone entertained with his endless anecdotes and general stupidity. And then there’s Aurelio, who just looks bored.

“Are you having fun?” I whisper into Daniella’s ear.

“I’m always having fun when I’m with you,” she says.

“I meant with your friend.”

“I am. Thank you. Why aren’t you eating?” she asks me.

“Because it’s shit pizza,” Elias says, in Spanish. I only just catch his meaning because my Spanish isn’t the best.

I chuckle. “I’m not hungry,” I tell Daniella.

“What did he say?” Faith points to Elias.

“That his cold-ass heart is feeling… warmer for the first time in forever,” Aiden tells her.