REYNA

I woke up to the sun kissing my face, forcing a glow on me that had never been there before. The birds were chirping their morning prayer, and the rustling of tree branches provided the most tranquil song. It all made it easy to forget where I was and what I was doing there.

Opening my eyes, I looked around my empty room, noticing the open window that had been closed last night. Instead of questioning it too much, I sat up in my bed. Taking in the towel I still had wrapped around me, I sighed.

After Saint left last night, I found myself staring up at the ceiling with my thoughts flying everywhere. I thought about Saint, Giovanni, Viktor, and my mom. There were still so many questions that needed solving and so many people that needed saving, and it was up to me to do just that. The pressure was beyond anything I ever dealt with before, but I made a promise. A promise that I will fulfill no matter what.

"I am your wife!" a voice shrieked from outside my door. Before I could react, my door was swung open and the blonde girl I met at the ball was standing at the entrance—Cecilia. Her gaze was dark and her breathing was heavy as she looked me up and down. Slowly, she took steps into my room like it was her own.

"You're choosing her over me?" she asked in pure disgust. I reached for my blanket and made sure to cover every part of my body. I didn't have too much trust in my towel, and the last thing I wanted was to be susceptible to her judgmental eyes.

Saint stepped into my room with a raised brow. I could see the annoyance as clear as day on his face.

"Get the hell out of my house before I drag you out by your plastic ass!" Saint demanded.

She folded her arms across her chest, shaking her head back and forth. "Oh, so now you want to drag me out when you're the one that called me over for a good time? I guess someone..." she smirked, glancing over at me, "...couldn't keep you satisfied. It's why you need me—your wife, that you marry in a few months. Did you forget about that?"

I couldn't help but glance at her ring finger where a huge diamond ring sat. There was no explanation in the world for my burning chest. I could almost feel my heart sinking, drowning, and desecrating with each passing second.

Guilt and envy were eating me alive as if I deserved to feel that way. Guilt because of the way he would make me feel. Envious of Cecilia for being allowed to get those same feelings for a lifetime. It's so foolish. How foolish of me to assume that just because of a drunken night, a few kisses, and his hands in places where I never thought they would be could possibly mean anything. How foolish of me to believe I was anything more than a chase. He was so used to having everything he could ever want. How foolish of me to be so damn foolish.

"What did I say? Leave!" he demanded.

She glared at me, and as she looked at me, I couldn't help but look at her. I took in her long blonde hair that looked so shiny and soft. The way her waves bounced with each toss of her head. She had piercing eyes that held the most fierce tone. Her face looked like something someone would pay for, and she had a body to match. He was going to get married to her, and I couldn't blame him. If only the funkiest feeling didn't settle in my chest at the thought of her walking down the aisle to become Cecilia Venturi.

"Fine, but I'll be back tomorrow to move in the rest of my things. Goodbye, love," she said, walking up to Saint and puckering up her lips like she was preparing for a kiss.

As I looked at them, I happened to catch Saint's eye. What I didn't expect was for him to lean down, grab her by her hair and kiss her. It wasn't just a peck, it was a full on kiss. And the entire time, all he did was look at me.

I didn't look away—no—I looked him square in the eye. Even when they pulled away, I still wouldn't break eye contact with him.

"Bye, darling!" she cheered, walking out of the room. I could hear her heels clanking against the floor as she headed out of the house.

"Can you leave now?" I asked, finally tearing my eyes away from him.

"No," he answered. "We located Giovani at Tino's residence. Rumor is he's pretending to be Red." Saint's jaw clenched. "My guess is to protect you."

My eyes widened. "Is he okay? What are they doing to him? Oh my god, I hope they don't kill him."

"Can you calm down? Your boyfriend is okay. They're using him to get information about me," Saint answered. My brows came together as I processed the information.

"How do you know all this?" I asked.

"I have a source on the inside now," he stated. "I also have a plan on getting Giovanni back, but I will need you immediately."

"Okay. Then leave so I can shower," I stated, pointing to the door. I made sure to hold my blanket as tightly to myself as possible.

"No," he repeated. I couldn't help but roll my eyes as he began to near me.

"What are you doing?" I asked annoyedly. "You once asked me if there was a way we could be more intimate, well my answer now is no. I don't want anything more to deal with you outside of our agreement. Either keep your hands to yourself or I'm out."

His brow raised in a way of a challenge. However, he stopped dead in his tracks, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Is that so?" he disputed.

"It is," I promised.

"Let's see how long it'll be before you come back looking for protection," he said like it was a promise.

I stood up from the bed, taking my blanket with me as I challenged Saint with my eyes.

"I think we've settled that we need eachother, but let's not forget that you need me a whole lot more than I need you. As much as you go on and on about the people out to kill me, we both know that they're more likely to ask for my help—just like Tino is doing to Giovanni. Not only that, but I could flee the country right now—"

Saint laughed. "Then what the hell is stopping you? Why are you still here?"

It was like time stopped. My brain froze, my body gave up—I had no response. The door had been left open again and again, but I've stayed. I used to think it was because of my mother that he promised to help me find, but it wasn't that. He hasn't helped me find her at all. So, why was I still there?

"Exactly. Deep down, you love it when I look at you like the most sexiest woman in the word," he said. To prove his point, his gaze grew darker. "You love it when I touch you," he whispered. My body melted once he placed his hand on my hip. "You love the thought of me on top of you with your hands tied up, and fucking you like the bad girl you are." A throb began to settle in my core as he ripped the blanket from my body, leaving me in the same towel from last night.

"S-Saint," I mumbled.

"No, fuck, say my name. My real name," he whispered in my ear. "It drives me crazy."

"Santino," I whispered as he leaned down to plant kisses along the right side of my neck.

No, stop. I wanted to push him away, but it was like I needed him closer. I hated it, but I really fucking loved it. He was a candy I knew I couldn't have but I always snuck a bite when my mother turned away. I wanted him so bad and at the same time, I couldn't stand him. Keep going.

"Say it again, baby," he whispered against my neck. I felt him push the towel up to my thighs so he could grind against me. His erection was digging into me and it was driving me mad. "Say it."

As his hand ran up my thigh, I could feel the cool metal of his wedding band against me. It hadn't been there before. Not to mention his lips against my skin began to burn at the realization that he just kissed his wife only a few moments ago.

As if he just stabbed me, I pulled away from him.

"Don't touch me, and don't talk to me unless you absolutely need to. Get out of my room," I ordered him.

He scoffed, wiping off his bottom lip with the pad of his thumb.

I looked at his wedding band for the first time and hated the way I wanted to rip it off. I had to keep reminding myself that Saint did not belong to me because he belonged to someone else. Saint would never want someone like me, and I should never want someone like him.

I told myself I would stop being weak. Melting at his every touch was like being wrapped around his finger, and it had to stop.

"I'll be out to discuss your plan in thirty minutes," I said, not waiting for his response as I walked into the restroom and shut the door.

Only after a few minutes, I could hear my bedroom door shut.

With my back pressed up against the wall, I slid down until the back of my thighs were touching the floor. I placed my hands over my face as the temptation to scream washed through me.

To get my mind off of Saint I tried to think about Giovanni. I was grateful that he was trying to protect me by pretending to be Red. I really missed him and our conversations. Despite knowing each other for a small amount of time, he quickly became the only person that would listen, understand, and make me laugh.

I couldn't wait to get him back, and I made a promise to myself that I would.

—

Question: what do you think is going on with Cecilia and Saint?