18. Emiliana

I startle awake, realizing I fell asleep. I'm on my back and Dante is beside me, staring down at me like a creep. Why is he in bed? Didn't he say he was going to work all night? "What the fuck are you doing?" I meant for my voice to be hard but it comes out hoarse.

"Watching you sleep," he says as if it's the most normal thing to say. I'm shocked he even admitted it.

"Why?"

"Do I need a reason?"

It's the middle of the night. After dropping that bomb about his mother, I was ready to go back to my room but he wouldn't let me. Saying that we needed to show a united front and sleeping in different rooms didn't convey that. Of course, I don't give a shit about what his mother thinks so I used that chance to strike a bargain with him. I would tell him where I was but not always. Now I don't need to make up excuses whenever I meet G. He promised he won't ask any questions about my whereabouts if I didn't want to tell him. In return, I'll play the loving wife in front of his mother. Al