All Chapters of Best Friend's Daddy, Billionaire Devil: Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

GianniWhen I think I understand this girl, she leaves me wondering what the hell I was thinking, getting involved with her. The back and forth, up and down—it’s enough to make me want to throw her out on her ass and forget I ever set eyes on her.“Please, don’t hurt me,” she whispers, cowering like a trapped fox when the hounds have closed in.How dare she? She thinks I’ll let this go? Pretend this was only a misunderstanding? I’ve killed men for insulting me less than she has. Practically spitting in my fucking face after everything I’ve been willing to sacrifice.How does she repay me? Running from me in my own home. Forcing me to chase her down.And after all that, she thought a locked door would stop me from getting to her? Have we met? Does she not know me? As if I would let her get away. As if I wouldn’t stop at anything to make sure I have her forever.“You can’t run from me.” I’m panting, grinding my teeth, hungry for the sound of her apologies. To make her hurt.At the same

I can do this.I’m going to do this.I only wish I didn’t feel like I have to look over my shoulder the whole time, like Gianni’s going to jump out from behind a trash can or something. I can’t trust him not to follow me around. And he expects me to give up almost everything.I can’t do that. I won’t. Even if it means I can’t be with him.The way it has all morning, the thought makes me feel sick. Why does he have to be the way he is? There’s a difference between being sexy and commanding and telling me what I can and cannot do. He might have relented for now, but I’m understanding the way he thinks. He’ll find another way to control me.Now I’m supposed to learn to live without him. I hate him for putting me through this.But not enough to walk into the building and up to the apartment I plan on leasing. I was just fine getting here and walking up to the front stoop, but this is as far as my feet want to carry me. It’s just a lease. I can do this—no, I need to do this.But what happen

“I’m sorry.”She squeezes my hand, groaning, and the sound threatens to break what’s left of my heart. Seeing her like this—the IV in her arm, the bruising and scrapes along the left side of her face, her arm, her leg—is almost worse torture than when I forced myself to stay away from her.There’s nothing I can do to take the pain away. I’m helpless, and I’ve never been a man who handles helplessness well.“What are you apologizing for?” When she licks her dry lips, I pick up the Styrofoam cup of water from the wheeled table next to the bed and guide the straw to her mouth.She takes a sip and tries to smile, but it looks more like a grimace. “For not calling sooner. I was so out of it, and they had my purse. They didn’t give it back to me until I came up from getting all those tests done. I don’t even know what half of them were.”I could kick myself to death. There I was, cursing her, prepared to tie her to my bed and leave her there until she rotted. While she was alone here at the

GianniCome on. Make the right choice. Give me the go-ahead.This is a big step. I wish there was a way to make her understand what it means for me to leave this in her hands.Control is my thing. Before I met her, it was the one sure thing that would always get me off. Knowing I called the shots, that I held lives in my hand. Everything happens according to my schedule—when I’m damn good and ready.Then along comes this girl, and everything I thought I knew about myself went out the window the moment I stopped thinking of her as a child and saw her as the woman she is. It’s times like this, sitting on the edge of the bed and waiting with bated breath for her to make up her mind, that I almost wish we’d never met.But that would be a mistake, like cutting off my nose to spite my face.In the end, this is for her sake. A small sacrifice on my part, so she’ll feel like she has the room to make choices for herself. I know how important that is to her. And if it means making sure she does

GIANNIHow much longer is this going to take? When do I get to be with Caterina again?Jack Moroni is droning on, unaware of my distraction—until he asks a question I didn’t hear. I only realize I’ve zoned out again when Roger softly clears his throat.“Excuse me? Sorry, there are technical issues on our end, it seems,” I say.Jack nods knowingly. “Technology. It makes life so much easier in so many ways, and we’re screwed when it decides it doesn’t feel like working.” He laughs like this is the cleverest thing anyone ever said, and all I can do is offer a tight-lipped smile. “I asked how your daughter is doing. I understand she was overseas for a while over the summer.”“She’s fine.” I deliberately ignore the way Roger practically growls on the other side of the desk, behind the laptop screen and out of sight. “I’m glad to have her home.”“If I were blessed with a daughter, I would keep her under lock and key.” He strokes his jaw, wincing. “I remember what it was like, a young man at