Chapter 4

Sarah's POV:

The next second, a pair of big, rough hands turned me over.

Quick, hungry kisses landed on my chest.

"Babe, I missed you so much."

I thought of those pregnancy test results, of him touching her like this, and my stomach turned.

"Don't touch me."

I pushed his hands away, threw off the blanket, and got out of bed.

He called my name, but I'd already rushed into the bathroom. I braced myself on the sink and threw up.

"Are you sick?"

He followed me in and put a hand on my back. When I saw his face in the mirror, I flinched away.

"Get out. I don't want to see you right now."

He grabbed my arm and turned me around. My back hit the tiles, and the cold seeped through my thin nightgown. I tried to pull my arm free, but he only held on tighter.

"Sarah, look at me. Stop this."

Suddenly the scene in front of me blurred into the dark flooded cell.

The tiles turned into damp, blackened walls, and Marcus's face disappeared.

My hands were tied above my head, the rope cutting into my already raw wrists.

Water kept pouring over my face. I couldn't breathe, and all I could hear were their voices ordering me to give up the DeLuca shipping routes.

I fought with everything I had and somehow hit the shower handle. Cold water crashed down on us.

Marcus's frantic shout nearly split my eardrums. "Enough! This isn't the flooded cell, babe. Look at me. Nobody's going to hurt you."

When I met his eyes, I finally snapped out of it and realized I was safe. But my body still wouldn't stop shaking.

I hunched my shoulders, trying to cover the soaked nightgown clinging to me.

Only then did he let go and step back. He sounded defeated.

"Fine. If you want nothing to do with me, I won't force you into anything. Someone will bring you a dry nightgown."

He gave me a long, unreadable look, then strode out.

For once, Marcus showed up for dinner.

He cut into his short ribs, his long fingers steady on the knife. "Rachel's pregnant," he said casually. "Her fans are out of control, so I can't let her live out there alone."

It hit me all at once. His affection that morning had been for Rachel's sake.

I kept my face blank and answered as if I didn't care, "Of course. After all, she's already given the DeLuca family two heirs. You can move her right into the master bedroom."

He glanced at Daniel, who quickly led the servants out of the dining room.

A few seconds later, someone set a Rose Lychee Spritz in front of me. Marcus leaned close, his stubbled cheek brushing my neck, and softened his voice.

"Babe, I know you've been through so much lately. But I'm going to make it all up to you. I promise.

"Rachel's kids were never part of my plan. They're just my responsibility. You're my wife. Nothing changes that."

His lips grazed the edge of my ear.

"Once she moves into the estate, I'll take you to Milan. Just the two of us. I have a feeling that trip is going to bring you the good news you've been dreaming of."

What could I say? The Don who ran New York's biggest mafia operation was practically begging me.

If I was foolish enough to fight him, things would only get worse for me.

So I gave in, and Rachel moved in soon after.

I'd hoped giving in would buy me a few quiet days before I left.

It turned out I'd given her too much credit.

The day after she moved in, she set me up and claimed I'd pushed her.

Rachel sobbed in Marcus's arms. "I know Sarah doesn't want me here, but I never meant to replace her. I'm pregnant, and people keep following me out there... If I'm in her way, I can move out."

Marcus held her and gently rubbed her back.

"Did you touch her?"

"No."

"She fell down the stairs, and you were right there. Sarah, I want you to be honest with me."

I gave a humorless laugh.

"You've already decided what happened. Why bother asking?"

The conversation ended badly.

That night, I was in the study answering emails from the studio in Sydney when Marcus appeared in the doorway in a tuxedo.

"You don't need to come to the charity auction tonight. Rachel's going with me."

I shrugged like it was nothing and went back to revising my jewelry designs.

I didn't love him anymore, and it was getting easier not to care.

Early the next morning, I was woken up by Rachel holding court in the living room.

"Ms. Bellini, is that the black opal bracelet you won last night? It's gorgeous!" Howard was laying it on thick.

"That's right. It's called the Midnight Garden."

The Midnight Garden was a Romano family heirloom. My mother had worn it on her wedding day.

She'd once told me it would be mine someday.

After my parents died, the Romano family's assets were liquidated, and the bracelet disappeared.

It had belonged to my mother, and it was the last shred of my pride. I had to get it back, no matter the cost.

I came downstairs, trying to think of how to bring it up. Rachel spotted me and held out her arm to show off the bracelet.

"Isn't it pretty?"

"That belonged to my mother."

I bit my lip, trying to keep my voice calm and respectful.

"Oh? Really? But Marcus gave it to me as a reward for getting pregnant."

As she said it, she snuggled into Marcus's arms.

The whole time, Marcus didn't even look at me.

Now I understood. In yesterday's fight, he'd been on Rachel's side all along.

That was why he'd taken her to the auction and why he was so cold to me today. He was punishing me.

And that trip to Milan he'd promised? He'd never meant to take me.

No matter what, I had to get my mother's bracelet back today.

After that, nothing here would have anything to do with me.

I lifted my chin. "How much did Marcus pay? I'll give you double."

"Oh, Sarah, you silly girl. This bracelet stands for Marcus's love for me. Money can't fix that. Unless..."

"Unless what?"

"Unless you act as my target while I practice shooting at Marcus's private range on Long Island."