ADRIANA'S POV
His words kept echoing in my head and I blinked once. Twice. Trying to understand what in the nine hells was going on.
He wasn't wrong and I kinda understood what he was saying but the problem was that it was absurd. He wanted me to get married to him and he would protect me? What would he gain?
"What do you have to gain from this? Because 8 years ago, you would have rather watched me die" I asked with a raised brow.
His gaze darkened further and I could feel his eyes slowly scrutinizing me.
"I don't think that's your business. You either take my deal or leave it" He was so casual about it and his tone made me know that he wouldn't care less if I died.
"So you'll leave me to die if I say no?" I asked to be sure of what he was saying.
He palmed himself across the face and muttered a few obscenities in Italian before replying. "Is it really possible that you could have become this dumb in just 8 years?" His voice was filled with barely contained frustration.
I shrunk back further into my seat, refusing to look at him again.
"Yes, if you really want me to say it again. I would have no use for you again" He repeated after a while.
I looked back at him, my stomach feeling hollow and making a grumbling sound.
He raised an eyebrow and stood up. "My little guest is hungry… stay right here…" He said.
"Oh I thought you'd just send someone like a maid…" I muttered looking about.
Now it seemed weird. There was no one about. Just us.
"I don't have maids, Tesoro" He said exasperated, his tone leaving no room for another word. "If I were you, I wouldn't try to escape, my men are everywhere and I don't think they have the same patience I'm exercising with you"
My blood ran cold. Oh.
"I'll stay put" I murmured, my gaze dropping to my clothes.
Wait. Where were my clothes?! I was wearing a black shirt, jacket and black trousers but now I was wearing a grey jogger and a black tee shirt. Holy shit.
"Wait wait!" I cried out before he could leave the sitting room.
His muscle flexed in the black impeccable suit that he wore and he sighed, without turning back to look at me.
"What is it?" He sounded irritated.
"Who changed my clothes?" I asked, my voice urgent.
Did he? I suddenly felt naked in his presence. There was no maid about and his men couldn't have done that so did he?
He muttered something I couldn't hear and sighed, craning his head back to look at me.
"You were drenched wet and knocked out cold. I couldn't leave you to just freeze out so I got someone to change your clothes for you…" He Paused seeing the look on my face. "A she…if you're curious. It was a woman. I didn't do anything" He rolled his eyes.
A weight felt like it had been lifted up my chest. "Oh" was all I could mutter.
He walked away without another word and I could only gawk at the interior of the house. It felt like I was a lamb at a slaughterhouse that was offering me what I wanted the most even though I knew that I would die. At least I would get what I wanted
A few minutes later, he walked back into the large sitting space with a tray in his hand. It was almost ironical. The one person who tried to kill me years ago in high school got me food.
"Here" He said, placing the tray on the table in front of me.
I eyed the plate suspiciously, it was a bowl of chocolate cookies and a cup of…tea?
He stuffed his hands in his pockets and sighed. "It's not poisoned" Annoyance was evident in his tone.
I still refused to touch it. I couldn't trust him. Not now. Not ever.
Sighing, he took a cookie and took a small bite out of it before going back to his seat and crossing his legs.
"You're going to have to trust me, Tesoro. If you want this to work. I could easily put a bullet through you, you know" His eyes landed on the pistol he had dropped on the table before he looked back at me. "I wouldn't go to such extreme lengths"
"I never said I would agree" I shot back, my voice gaining momento.
He looked taken aback by my sudden outburst and a flicker of a smile crossed his stoic face. "You don't have a choice, do you? Unless your ego would rather you die" He pointed out
Pausing, I took a bite from a cookie and almost squealed in delight. It was crunchy and delicious.
No.
This was enemy's territory. There was no use showing fear anymore. He wouldn't kill me. I hope
"My father…" I blurted out, taking another bite while staring at Vincenzo.
He was also staring at me with an expressionless look, his gaze darting briefly to my lips, watching as I ate.
"What about him?" His gaze lifted back up to my eyes and he smirked noticing how my cheeks were beginning to heat up.
"Will you… will you help me find him?" I asked, placing the half eaten cookie on the plate.
His gaze suddenly hardened and his nostrils flared. "That…now that…is absolutely none of my business. You can handle that shit by yourself" he said without any emotion.
There goes my help. I was already gaining so much but what would he gain? Holy shit, did he want a mistress? The thought made my cheeks heat and anger boil in my blood.
He seemed to notice my change in expression because he sighed and continued talking. "I don't know what it is that you're thinking but if you think I'm doing this for some sort of sexual gratification… you're wrong. I have absolutely no intention of having sex with you" he said bluntly.
I should have been relieved but I felt embarrassed at his use of blunt words.
"Oh…good", I muttered back.
"So what's it going to be, Miss Rossi. Sì o no?" He asked causally.
I took a deep breath and straightened up.
"Se sei sicuro che non mi accadrà nulla e potrò cercare mio padre... Allora sì, anche se non lo trovo alla fine di un anno, mi ritirerò e dovrai lasciarmi andare. Accordo?" (if you're sure that nothing will happen to me and I will get to look for my father... Then yes, also if I don't find him at the end of one year, I'll back out and you have to let me go. Deal?) I told him, my tone shaking slightly.
"Sì" He replied.
I guess that was it.