[ D O M I N I C O ] I shouldn't have thought of that bet. It was plain stupid. Juvenile. Clearly she's not thrilled about sleeping here. Sharing a room with me all weekend. Her face says it all. It's not the real problem, though. She's not the issue. I am. Like always. I'm exhausted physically, but my mind's not ready to rest. I just can't shut off my brain. Having been away from her has been messing with my head more than I want to admit. Before Seraphine moved in with me, I was perfectly fine with not seeing her every day. Apparently, some part of my brain's not convinced that this is nothing but a sham marriage. “It's eleven? Already?” I sigh to myself, scowling at the yellow numbers beside my head, my phone finally quiet on the nightstand. Sephie remains still beside me. Her back's pressed onto the pillows leaning against the headboard. She's frowning, sitting with her bare legs crossed, her creamy skin paler than my sheets. The thick book on her thigh holds her attention
[ S E R A P H I N E ] “Why? Is he threatening you?” Threatening me? I squint at Alina's nickname on my phone screen. Why does she think Dominico would threaten me? “N-No.” “Seraphine...” Alina sighs on the other end. “Don't lie. Okay? I just want to be sure you're safe.” “I am.” My voice falters. I take a deep breath as more tears warm my eyes. I'm not sure why she called me up at this hour, but I'm thankful for the distraction. “Really, I'm fine.” “You sound the opposite of fine.” Alina scoffs. “What shit did he pull this time?” “Nothing.” “I'm not buying it. You sound like you've been crying all day.” “What? No.” I lower my voice and switch the lights on. The sudden brightness makes me squint as I sit beside the sink. “I'm not.” “So he's still out of town?” “Dom just got back from his trip.” “What happened? What did he do?” Alina says louder, her annoyance still obvious in her slightly raspy voice. “Nothing. He didn't hurt me or anything.” “Stop lying for him, Seph
[ S E R A P H I N E ] “Tomorrow. I'll talk to him tomorrow.” Pierre will have to wait. He made me wait for years. He can wait another day. I stare at the unregistered number on my phone screen, mumbling under my breath while I sit on the cold tiles. I still don't know why he's been looking for me. I've tried calling my parents, but, no answer. They're probably asleep. Or Pierre specifically told my parents not to tell me that he's been trying to find me. Why, though? Just because he heard I'm married now? So what? It's not like he knows the Tomassinis personally. What's he up to? A sigh escapes me. I'm still alone here in the bathroom, talking to myself instead of preparing for that lengthy test. “I'm going insane.” The words echo in my head. Besides the whole "my ex is in town and hunting me down" issue, my impulsive and self-absorbed, sometimes reckless side can't stop thinking about what I almost did with Dominico in his room. In his bed. The fault is mostly min
[ S E R A P H I N E ] The house feels more like a fortress than a home tonight. I'm getting used to seeing Dominico's bodyguards every single day, but the presence of another armed stranger in the house is only making me more uncomfortable. Not safer. The tension around us is making Dominico fidget in his seat, too. Fico and Paolo awkwardly chat with Mrs. Tomassini's bodyguard in the living room while steady rainfall taps a gentle, calming rhythm against the windows. Sitting beside Dominico in a thin blue sweater, Rosalind Tomassini puts on a weak smile and stares at her cup of coffee. “You two looked so gorgeous in the photos and videos. The chapel looked beautiful, as well.” Her slightly veiny hand slowly tilts her mug on the gilded saucer. “Alfeo's cousin helped us with the paperwork,” Dominico says flatly. “I wish you just told us. Called me the night before at least. You know I really wanted to be there.” Mrs. Tomassini flings him a disappointed look and combs back her
[ S E R A P H I N E ] This doesn't feel real. Or spontaneous. Nope. Not at all. One of my nightmares is becoming my reality. I'm being stalked. I'm being targeted. Why? Bad blood? Is this guy here to show off how better his life has gotten since we broke up? How the heck did he find me? Did he pay Alina? Maybe he convinced another one of my former co-workers. Something tells me his reason -- or reasons? -- for being here is not something I can freely discuss with my "husband". “Met your friend the other day.” Pierre's unwavering gaze travels up and down, assessing my appearance like it's necessary. “She didn't say?” “She told me.” I stare back at him and do my best to keep my voice steady. I wanna look and sound unbothered. Emotionless. I don't want him to think I've been waiting so long for this moment. Three and a half years, to be more specific. “Been trying to find you. Tsk. You don't make it easy, love.” “Why?” Oh dear. If his mother wasn't British, his pet
[ S E R A P H I N E ] “You sure you're okay?” “I'm fine.” I nod and give Paolo a quick smile, keeping up a calm voice. “I'm just gonna take a shower. Rest for a bit.” “No one followed us,” he mutters with a straight face. With his handgun tucked under his leather belt, he grips his phone and stands on the black doormat. The concern in his eyes is directed at me and me only. “I just called the guards at the entrance. They double-checked the logs, and the CCTV.” Crap. Now I'm causing a fuss in this neighborhood, though I don't even own an inch of this property. “Okay. Thanks.” “Don't worry about it. I'll be outside in case your friend shows up.” “He's not my friend anymore,” is what I should say. Instead, I just give Paolo another weak nod while my fingers curl around the cold doorknob. I don't think Pierre knows where I live. Not yet, anyway. Then again I can't know for sure unless I ask him myself. I still have his number. I just don't wanna call him. If I encourage him
[ D O M I N I C O ] “What? No. I-I didn't mean it like that.” Stuttering. Minimal eye contact. Hands fidgeting. The topic's making her uncomfortable. Or me being unusually candid is the reason she's feeling uneasy. “But you did think I was making it all up. For a second at least.” “I-I just didn't expect it.” Sephie blushes, then glances down at my crotch area, her voice even fainter than usual. “What you said about your, um...” “Performance issues,” I say before she could think about changing the subject. I grin when she covers her mouth. I sit closer to her, trying not to crack a smile, but I already feel my poker face slipping off. Not because I find her reaction hilarious. I'm on the verge of cracking up because sex talk still makes both of us uncomfortable. Like we're two clueless, horny teenagers dancing around the issue just to not seem desperate. Like she forgot that we already have an actual priest's blessing and permission to live as husband and wife. Or I'm ju
[ S E R A P H I N E ]I'm a liar. Maybe the biggest hypocrite he's met. But I have to lie. If lying to Dominico's face is the only way to keep Pierre out of trouble, so be it.We may be estranged, but I can't put him in danger. I don't need another reason to feel shitty. Another reason to hate myself. If Pierre gets seriously hurt because of my involvement with Dominico and his family, I'll be carrying the burden of guilt for the rest of my life.“What did he say exactly?” Dominico eyes me with a scowl, his tone making me even more nervous. “What does he know about me?”Tension hangs thick in the air. I sit cross-legged on his covers, my fingers distractedly tracing patterns on the smooth fabric. “I don't know. I kept telling him to get lost. I was scared Paolo or Fico would see him and...”“It's just their job.”Yeah. They know a threat when they see one, but I still don't think Pierre would hurt me like that. “Why didn't you just tell me?” Dominico turns away from me and stan