Page 72

I reached for the glass in her hand and set it down on the small table beside us.

“My life doesn’t work like that.”

She studied me for a moment. “Sometimes I feel like there’s a lot about your family I don’t understand.”

I brushed a strand of hair from her face. “That’s on purpose.”

“You’re always protecting me.”

“Always.”

She stepped closer, resting her forehead against mine. “You’re a good man, don’t ever forget that.”

I kissed her again.

This time slower.

Gentler.

I lifted her easily, setting her on the edge of the outdoor couch.

Emily laughed softly under her breath before pulling me down with her.

For a little while, Monaco didn’t feel like a battlefield at all.

CHAPTER 24

Azaria

“I Forgot To Be Mad”

Seven in the morning felt disrespectful, especially when I had already told this man I wasn’t going anywhere. Somehow, I was standing in the middle of my room while one of the maids packed the last of my clothes into a trunk as if we were preparing for a damn royal tour.

Garment bags covered the bed with silk dresses, new jeans, blouses, and other clothes that still smelled like the boutiques they came from. Ares had bought me enough shit to cover half of Paris’ fashion district over the last two weeks, and now he had the staff packing everything as if we were relocating.

I put gel through my curls, brushed them into place, and looked over at the maid.

“Did he say when we’re coming back?”

“He said only God knows when you’re coming back,” she answered while zipping one of the garment bags.

“That sounds like him.”

I was still standing there irritated when the door opened and Ares walked in fully dressed in a black T-shirt and black jacket. He looked around at everything being packed before looking at me.

“Your clothes will get to you.”

Before I could argue, he handed me a coffee and a warm croissant.

“Let’s go.”

He grabbed my duffel bag from the chair without giving me an opportunity to complain, and five minutes later, we were walking down the estate driveway toward a black Aston Martin parked near the gates.

The car was low, sleek, and expensive enough to make some of my old friends lose their minds.

Ares opened the passenger door for me with a smirk.

“You ready for a nine-hour ride with me?”