Chapter 17
Chapter 17
“What are you doing here?” I kept my voice light, a practiced smile fixed on my face. Years of family gatherings had taught me the art of masking contempt with politeness.
“Why? Can’t I drop in to check up on the love of my life?” Primo’s words dripped with honey, but his eyes told a different story. That familiar smug look – the one I’d seen right before discovering his betrayal – made my stomach turn.
Dad beamed at us both, completely blind to the tension crackling between us. He raised his coffee cup. “It’s good to see you two together again. Just like old times.”
I caught the slight curl at the corner of Primo’s mouth, the way his eyes glinted with satisfaction at my discomfort. He knew exactly what he was doing, showing up here unannounced, playing the role of devoted lover in front of my father.
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“Would you like some coffee, sweetheart?” Dad gestured to the empty chair beside Primo.
My fingers twitched at my side. The thought of sitting next to him, pretending everything was fine while breathing in his cologne – it made my skin crawl. But I couldn’t let Dad see that. Couldn’t let him question why his daughter suddenly couldn’t stand being in the same room as the man he thought of as a son.
“Actually, I have an early meeting.” The lie slipped out smooth as silk. “But it was… nice seeing you, Primo.”
The word ‘nice‘ tasted like ash in my mouth.
“Nothing you can’t skip for your fiancé,” Primo purred, the words setting my blood on fire.
He moved closer, his arm snaking around my waist in that possessive way I’d grown to hate. The gesture screamed ownership,
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marking his territory in front of my father. My muscles tensed beneath his touch as I tried to inch away without making a scene.
I managed to create a sliver of space between us, but Primo’s eyes darkened. He shifted his weight, ready to close that gap-
A hand appeared between us, reaching for the coffee pot. Adrian’s presence filled the kitchen, his calculated movements breaking Primo’s attempt to corner me.
“Good morning, everyone.” Adrian’s voice carried its usual warmth as he poured himself a cup. His eyes met Primo’s, his smile never wavering. “Oh, Primo. Nice to see you again.”
I caught the barely perceptible tightening around Primo’s eyes at Adrian’s interruption. The temperature in the room seemed to drop several degrees despite the morning sun streaming through the windows.
Adrian extended his hand toward Primo.
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“Proper introductions are in order, I believe.”
Primo’s smile didn’t reach his eyes as he gripped Adrian’s hand. His fingers clenched, trying to assert dominance through pain. I caught the slight twitch in Adrian’s expression – not from discomfort, but amusement.
Adrian’s grip shifted. The veins in Primo’s wrist stood out as Adrian’s hand closed like a vice. “Strong grip you have there,” Adrian’s tone remained pleasant, but I saw Primo’s knuckles whiten.
“Likewise.” Primo yanked his hand back, flexing his fingers at his side.
Dad glanced between them. “Oh, you two know each other?”
“Yes, actually.” Adrian took a casual sip of his coffee. “Met the other night at Eclipse. Asteria was kind enough to introduce us.”
I kept my face neutral, though my mind flashed to that night. It was nothing like the
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civilized club meeting Adrian described.
“Small world.” Primo’s jaw clenched, but he played along. “Eclipse has become quite the hotspot lately.”
“That it has.” Adrian’s gray eyes held a warning as they met Primo’s. “You never know who you might run into there.”
Dad smiled, oblivious to the undercurrent of tension. “Well, it’s nice to see Asteria’s friend getting along.”
I caught both men’s subtle reactions – Primo’s fingers curling into a fist, Adrian’s slight tilt of his head. Neither corrected my father’s assumption about friendship.
The tension in the kitchen hung thick as molasses. I watched Dad refill his coffee, still blissfully unaware of the power play unfolding in his kitchen.
Primo cleared his throat. “Actually, I came here for another reason as well.” His eyes locked onto mine. “I spoke with Vincent. this morning.”
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My stomach dropped at the mention of Vincent’s name. Adrian shifted beside me, his shoulder brushing mine in silent.
support.
“He agreed to move up our dinner plans.”
Primo’s smile widened. “Instead of next
week, he’d like to do it tonight. Said there’s no point in waiting when we could get the introductions out of the way sooner.”
I exchanged a quick glance with Adrian. His expression remained neutral, but I caught the slight tightening around his
eyes.
“Tonight?” The word came out sharper than
I intended.
“That’s wonderful news!” Dad set down his coffee cup with a clatter. “The sooner we strengthen these family ties, the better. I’ll need to call the staff, make sure
everything’s prepared properly.” He pushed back his chair, already reaching for hist phone. “Vincent Castellano isn’t a man we want to keep waiting.”
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“I thought you’d be pleased.” Primo’s voice dripped with false sweetness. “You seemed so eager to get to know the Castellanos. better.”
I forced my face to remain blank, though my fingers itched to wipe that smug look off his face. He knew exactly what he was doing accelerating plans, throwing us off balance.
“Of course,” I matched his tone. “Who
wouldn’t want to rush into such an important meeting?”
Dad beamed at us all. “I’ll start making arrangements right away. This is exactly the kind of initiative I like to see, Primo.”
I watched Primo’s self–satisfied expression and everything clicked into place. The bastard was forcing our hand, accelerating the timeline before Adrian and I could solidify our strategy. One glance at Adrian confirmed he’d reached the same.
conclusion his jaw tightened almost imperceptibly as he set down his coffee.
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cup.
Tonight. Primo had outmaneuvered us, knowing we’d need more time to deal with Vincent Castellano properly. My stomach knotted as I realized just how thoroughly he’d backed us into a corner.
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