London

Crewe avoided me all day, hiding out somewhere else in the castle. He didn’t join me for meals or conversation. He didn’t want me for sex.

I gave him his space for as long as I could. But my curiosity was getting the best of me. His relationship with Josephine was far more serious than I had realized. And she must have done something terrible to him because I’d never seen him that mad.

Not once.

I searched the castle to find him, and eventually found him in the second drawing room on the opposite side of the castle. He was sitting alone, reading a book while his cigar burned in the ashtray and a half bottle of scotch sat beside him.

I crept into the room so he wouldn’t notice me. But when I was fifteen feet away, he heard my footsteps and looked up. He watched me with eyes blacker than coal. Nothing about his exterior was welcoming. He threatened me with his silence, commanding me to leave the room or there would be consequences.

“I’m not here to talk.” I slowly crept closer, stopping at the chair near the window.

His shoulders relaxed slightly when he heard my declaration.

I moved between his knees then crawled into his lap, pushing the book aside so there was plenty of room.

When he let the book drop to the ground, I knew I was welcome.

I straddled his hips then ran my hands up his chest, feeling the powerful muscle underneath. I looked into his dark eyes and didn’t spot the warmth I was accustomed to. I just saw an angry man.

I wanted to know every detail about what happened with his former lover, but he wouldn’t give me any answers. I would have to wait for another time or uncover them on my own. But if I had any chance of getting this man to feel something for me, I had to be his confidant, not his interrogator.

I eyed the cigar on the table and grabbed it from the ashtray. I brought it to my lips and inhaled.

His lips softened into a smile.

I pulled the smoke into my lungs but then felt my chest convulse in protest. I turned my head and coughed everything out, feeling my lungs scream from the intrusion.

Crewe chuckled. “Takes practice.”

I downed his scotch to clear my throat, and while the liquor burned, it was nothing in comparison to the smoke. “That doesn’t even taste good. I don’t get it.”

“It’ll grow on you.” He took the cigar out of my hand and inhaled it into his lungs. Then he turned his head and blew it out, like a man in a tobacco ad. He dropped it back into the ashtray. “You finally found me, huh?”

“It took me a while. But I followed the scent of cigars and booze.”

He chuckled again. “Led you right to me, I guess.”

“Yep.” I rubbed his chest again, wanting to feel connected to him.

He leaned his head back and watched me, his eyes taking in my features. Even though I didn’t ask a single question, he addressed my curiosity. “I don’t want to discuss it, so don’t bother asking.”

“I wasn’t going to ask. I know you better than that.”

His eyes didn’t soften, but his body relaxed.

I massaged his shoulders, feeling the tension. “So, what now?”

“I don’t understand your question, Lovely.”

When he used my nickname, I knew he was in a better mood. “Are we staying here? Going back to Fair Isle?”

“We’re going to Italy,” he said matter-of-factly.

“What’s there?”

“I have a friend who lives in Tuscany. Crow Barsetti. He usually has good information that I in turn sell.”

“Does he charge you for this?”

“No. I’m one of his biggest customers.”

“What does he sell?” I would never keep track of all these things.

“Weapons.”

It’s probably where all Crewe’s men got their guns and ammo, not to mention, the weapons Crewe used himself.

“It’s beautiful there. I think you’ll appreciate it.”

“I’ve never been, so I’m sure I will.”

He took another drag of his cigar then stood up, lifting me with him. He carried me to the wall then pressed me up against it. One hand undid his slacks and pulled out his cock before he lifted up my dress and pulled my thong to the side. Then he shoved himself violently within me.

“Oh yes…” My arms used his shoulders as an anchor to move myself up and down, taking his cock as he gave it to me. It felt so good that I didn’t need to put on a show. He was better than any man I’d ever had. In fact, he made the others look like boys.

He pressed his mouth to my ear, giving me his warm breaths. “I’m going to fuck you all over the world, Lovely.”

Instead of sounding alarming, that sounded appealing. “Please do.”

I didn’t have much to pack, just my clothes and some jewelry. I didn’t have much to my name. In fact, I didn’t even have my freedom. Lately, my lack of independence didn’t feel so daunting, but nonetheless, it was there.

Crewe walked into the room wearing dark jeans and a black t-shirt. His arms looked muscular, perfect for gripping, and his ass was tight, as usual. “Ready, Lovely?”

I looked at my two suitcases. It was everything I owned. “Yeah.” I sat on the foot of the bed and pulled my knees to my chest.

He grabbed one of his bags and handed it off to Dunbar outside the door. When he came back to me, he gave me a concerned look. “Everything alright?”

“Yeah, I’m just tired.” I thought about Joseph and the last time I saw him. He was on the verge of tears, which was saying something since he was one of the manliest men I knew. He didn’t show emotion often—if ever. He was still worried about me, hoping I could accomplish what we agreed to do.

But now that I witnessed Crewe’s fight with Josephine, I didn’t think it was possible.

Crewe was cut off from the world for a reason. He didn’t trust anyone for a reason. He had to exert his control and power over everything—for a reason. He’d lost more than he could afford, and the woman he obviously cared for had betrayed him in some way.

How could I get someone so scarred to let me in? Especially when it was just a ploy.

Crewe sat on the bed beside me and looked at me. “You know you can talk to me, right?”

“Yes. You can talk to me too.”

“It just seems like something is bothering you.” He never asked about my feelings before. Maybe we were making more progress than I realized.

“I guess I miss home… I miss my brother.”

His expression didn’t change, showing no sympathy.

“I miss the humidity of New York. I miss the greasy Chinese food.”

“Tuscany is very humid. But you won’t find any Chinese food there.” He gave me a smile, trying to cheer me up.

“I’m sure the Italian food will be great, so it’ll be alright.” I looked at the royal chambers one last time, feeling a little sad to leave it behind. It really was a beautiful place. It contained more history than a text book.

He patted my thigh before he rose to his feet. “I’ll be downstairs when you’re ready.” He grabbed my bags and walked out, meeting Dunbar in the hallway.

I stayed behind and enjoyed the solitude, thinking of the path laid out before me. I needed to crack down on my mission, to learn as much as I could about the man who kept me as a prisoner. I needed to learn his strengths as well as his weaknesses.

And I needed to learn how to make him fall in love with me.