I didn’t even want to know what this man had heard about me. I seemed to be a popular subject, and I didn’t believe it was for any good reason.

“Haven’t you heard? Assuming will only get you killed.”

“Sounds right out of Ace’s handbook,” he said wryly.

A sliver of uncertainty curled in my chest. He knew there was something going on between Nicolas and me, though I didn’t know what myself. What a twisted web I was tangled in.

“Christian, do you drink?”

“I do.”

“I’m going to use the ladies’ room and then make one. What would you like?” I finally looked from the sky to him. Wide shoulders in a navy blue suit outlined the brightly lit horizon.

His presence was comfortable but distant, like he stood on a different terrace another world away. His gaze met mine, and I waited for that zing of chemistry to settle in, but all I felt was scrutinized by icy blue eyes in a handsome face full of secrets.

He ran a thumb over his watch, in a thoughtful tic I’d noticed he had. “I’ll get the drinks and meet you back out here.”

His gaze flicked to the left and so did mine. My papà watched us through the glass in the living room, not with caution but interest. All of a sudden, I knew. This had been set up.

Disappointment sank like lead in my stomach. I wanted control of some things in my life—this conversation one of them—but as my papà gave me a “behave” expression, I knew it had all been contrived.

Although, if Papà was considering Christian, that meant he hadn’t settled on Oscar Perez. The possibility released some of the pressure closing in on me. I would take Christian over that creep any day.

“That sounds great.” I smiled the Sweet Abelli smile.

Feeling tipsy, with too many thoughts on my mind, I headed inside. My feet froze when I saw Nicolas leaning against the hallway wall. One hand was in his pocket while the other held a cigarette he played between his fingers. He wore an expression most people would run from.

I had no choice but to walk past him, so I swallowed, and then forced one foot in front of the other when I wanted to head in the opposite direction.

His gaze burned as it followed my every step. My heart raced, and I prayed for anyone to step around the low wall and save me from this man.

My skin danced with unease as I walked by him, but apparently, he was only trying to kill me with his expression because he didn’t say a word. His silence seemed to be worse than his demands; at least I knew his intentions then. Once I’d made my way past him, I stopped, turned, and snapped, “What?”

“What did I tell you about Christian, Elena?” His voice was low and calm, but it carried a deadly edge.

I hadn’t considered his current mood could be due to the fact I was talking to Christian on the terrace. We’d only been speaking, and in view of everyone. Was he serious?

“I don’t know. I must have missed it.” My response was sarcastic, and he didn’t like it at all if his narrowed gaze was anything to go by.

“Then let me remind you. Stay the fuck away from him.”

“I told you before, and I’ll say it again: I’m an Abelli, not a Russo. You don’t get to tell me what to do.”

“I’m growing tired of you not showing me the respect a don is due,” he bit out.

“And I’m fucking tired of men!”

His gaze grew lethal. “Watch your fucking mouth.”

I couldn’t believe what I had said, but I was drunk, frustrated, and just damn tired of trying to force myself not to feel a certain way. I could still taste the curse word on my tongue and it felt strange, sinful, liberating.

“No Christian.”

Two words. He expected me to listen to those two commanding words.

I shook my head. In my mind, it was Christian or Oscar. The easiest decision I’d ever had to make.

“No.”

He slipped the cigarette in his pocket, and my pulse leapt when he took a step toward me.

I backed up and was only aided when a soft yet consuming grip came to my throat and he lightly pushed me. I fell back a step until I hit the wall. It was an aggressive move, but the way he did it so gently, so absolutely, made something flutter in my chest and spread throughout my body. Want. Need.

He stepped closer until his vest brushed my dress, and my breasts tightened in anticipation. I couldn’t breathe with him so close, his hand around my throat, and the idea that anyone could come down this hall. People were drinking; they’d have to use the restroom.

He braced a palm on the wall beside me, and I’d never felt so consumed in my life. His head lowered, lightly resting on top of mine.

What is happening?

My heart burned.

“Nicolas,” I breathed. “This is inappropriate.”

His thumb caressed my neck, causing my pulse to hitch.

“Platonic,” he rasped.

My insides melted, my lips parted, and my vision grew hazy. I wanted to taste that word straight from his mouth. A laugh from around the wall filtered through the buzz in my ears. I shook my head to clear it, but his face was so close to mine I couldn’t think.

“No,” I panted. “It’s not. Please let me go.”

“No. Christian.” His tone wasn’t nice, even though his touch remained so. It was a strange play on my senses.

And then I realized what this was.

Blackmail.

He was going to hold me here until I complied. He knew being caught like this would unnerve me more than it ever would him because of my past.

Frustration tightened in my lungs. The longer we stood here—him holding me in an intimate way—the further the panic spread through my blood, itching and chafing. I pushed against his chest in a last-ditch effort, but it was like trying to move a brick wall.

“Okay,” I whispered. “No Christian.”

He must have been satisfied with my answer, because he stepped back.

A second later, someone came around the corner. Ice crawled up my throat. Benito stopped when he saw us, his eyes narrowing to slits.

Nicolas and I stood a couple feet apart now, though we were both alone, and my wide doe eyes had to give everything away. I forced a smile, and Nicolas gave my cousin a look of dark indifference before I sprinted into the bathroom.

Leaning against the door, I exhaled a breath of relief.

I was not going to marry Oscar Perez.

Now that I knew there was an out, I let myself hope for the best. And I wasn’t going to lose the chance because of Nicolas Russo.

I used the restroom, went straight to the terrace beside the pool, took my gin and tonic from Christian, who must have noticed I liked them—a good quality in a man—and swallowed a large drink for courage.

Then I talked to him. Animatedly. Like it was 100 percent my choice and not done by my father’s interference. Like I hadn’t gotten blackmailed not to.

Christian was amused by it all, appearing to know everything I did, and I wouldn’t doubt it. He was perceptive, and hot. He only got hotter the more I drank, but, for some illogical reason, I couldn’t push Nicolas out of my mind for a second. I was continually aware of his presence, even with this insanely attractive man’s avid attention.

My gaze caught on Nicolas’s through the glass. He watched me, his hands in his pockets, while talking to Luca. His expression was unexpected: indifferent and calm. Like the exchange in the hall hadn’t happened.