Page 34 of Valentino

He narrows his eyes as he sums me up and honestly, men are so fucking stupid.

If I took my clothes off right now, I know for certain that I could be riding him on the couch in five minutes flat.

“We need to get going, you’re going to be late,” he replies.

“All work and no play makes for a very boring existence, Valentino.” I smile. “Maybe we both need to let off some steam.”

He drops his head and rolls his lips as he battles to hold his tongue, and I walk out into the living room so that he doesn’t catch my smile.

“Bring Anna’s car around,” I hear him snap to someone on the phone.

I walk back into my bedroom and smirk at the girl staring back at me in the mirror.

Underestimate me one more time, I dare you.

VALENTINO

“Anna,” I call. “Your car is here.”

What is she up to?

The woman here with me this morning is not my Anna. This woman is a calculating seductress, she’s spoken to Carlo overnight; I know she has.

She must have another phone hidden somewhere.

And I know their fucking plan…. Distract me, seduce me into a stupor until I lose focus on the target.

“Coming.” She walks down the hall toward me, all hips and legs and tits, and fuck…my eyes instinctively drop to her toes before I snap them back up to her face. “Do I look okay?” She seductively runs her hands down over her hips.

Fuckable.

I stand. “Very nice.”

We walk out to the elevator, get in and turn to face the doors. Her perfume is like a noose around my neck, tightening with every breath.

“Are you coming over tonight?” she asks.

“Uh-huh.” I clench my fists in my pockets, what did he fucking say to her? What’s he making her do?

Stop it, you’re tripping.

It’s Anna.

I close my eyes to briefly block her out, the consequences of betrayal have cut me deep. Scarred my already dark soul, it’s one thing to be who I am. But to be that person and no longer have any idea who I can depend on is a bitter pill to swallow.

Trust evades me, blinding betrayal is all that I see.

I know that there is no way out of this and no gray area, kill Carlo Bernetti or be killed by him.

It’s no accident that she went to bed as my Anna and woke up as his.

He got to her. He got to her good.

Last night she was the temptress that I wanted, this morning she’s the distraction that’s going to end it all.

“You okay?” She smiles up at me.

“Of course.” I stare straight ahead. “Why wouldn’t I be?” The doors open and we step out into the foyer where her two guards are waiting for her. “Stay with her.” I turn to go to my car.