Livy stormed through the glass doors without waiting for him.
Antonio followed at a leisurely pace, while Alex stood beside him, watching the furious woman disappear into the store.
“She certainly has a temper,” Alex remarked.
Antonio’s mouth curved into a faint smile.
“I noticed.” “We have her mother’s new location under surveillance just as you requested.
The operative is already in place.” Antonio’s eyes darkened with satisfaction.
“Good.” Inside the boutique, Livy wasted no time.
She slipped past the display racks and headed toward the back of the store, her eyes scanning the room for a staff member or customer with a phone.
Near the back corner, she spotted a sleek glass counter where a young clerk stood quietly folding cashmere sweaters.
Livy slowed her steps and forced herself to look calm as she approached.
She couldn’t afford to look desperate.
“Excuse me,” she said softly, swallowing the fear clawing at her throat.
“My phone died on the drive over, and I need to call my driver.
Could I borrow yours for just a second?” ”Of course, ma’am.” The clerk pulled out her phone and unlocked it.
Before she could even hand it over, Livy snatched it, her fingers flying desperately across the screen to punch in her mother’s number.
But before she could hit dial, a heavy hand closed over her wrist, stopping her entirely.
Fear rushed through her veins, as she realized she had been caught.
What will he do to her now?
But Antonio didn’t snatch the phone away.
Instead, he calmly pressed her hand back toward the counter while his other arm wrapped firmly around her waist, pulling her against his chest so smoothly that anyone watching from the front, would have mistaken it for an intimate embrace.
The clerk quickly looked away with a smile.
“Bad habit, piccola,” he murmured, his breath hot against her ear, sending a violent shiver down her spine.
”Let go of me, please,” Livy said under her breath.
”We’re here to shop,” he replied, completely ignoring her demand, as he took the phone from her unresisting fingers and slid it back across the counter with a polite nod to the employee.
”Pick whatever you want,” he whispered, leaning down to teasingly bite her neck.
“I’ll be right back.
Don’t do anything stupid.” Livy caught her breath.
A sudden wave of heat rushed through her body, and a surprising ache stirred between her thighs.
Livy swallowed hard and quickly looked down, embarrassed by how strongly her body had responded to him.
How can I feel this way toward a monster like him?
she reminded herself.
He had shot someone dead, forced her into marriage, and kept her as a prisoner.
He slowly let go of her and walked away.
The moment he was gone, she turned around, two of his men stood behind her.
Livy slowly looked from one man to the next.
This wasn’t going to work.
She turned back toward the racks, her expression hardening.
She loaded the sales associates down with armfuls of designer heels, tossing velvet pumps, stiletto sandals, and crystal-buckled boots onto the counter without even checking the prices.
She swept through the display cases, demanding they box up diamond tennis bracelets, emerald-encrusted rings, and heavy gold chains.
Then she moved on to the clothes.
Within minutes, the counter was covered in luxury dresses and shoes and jewelry.
Antonio and Alex returned a few moments later.
Two men followed behind them, quietly dragging a struggling man toward one of the waiting cars before forcing him into the trunk.
By then, Livy was done shopping.
She stood near the counter with her arms crossed, watching Antonio approach.
The sales associate hurried over with the bill in hand.
“Sir, everything she selected has been added to the account.” Antonio took the bill and glanced at the total.
Three hundred and eighty-six thousand dollars.
Antonio stared at her for a moment, then looked down at the bill again before handing it back to the sales associate.
“Charge it.” The associate’s eyes widened slightly.
“Of course, sir.” Livy blinked.
That was it?
She hadn’t expected him to look completely unimpressed.
“Are you finished?” he asked her.
She nodded.
“Good.” He gestured toward the door.
“Let’s go.” She reluctantly followed him toward the exit.
That same night, they arrived back at the the penthouse.
Livy sat alone in the room, staring at the clock.
Her stomach growled.
She sighed and pressed a hand against it.
Maybe she had gone a little too far refusing the food Antonio had offered her when they got back.
At the time, she had been too angry to care.
Now, she was starving.
Livy glanced toward the door.
She could always go to the kitchen and check if there was any food left.
She hesitated.
After everything that had happened, she wasn’t sure what she was allowed to do.
Still, hunger won.
She pushed herself off the bed and eventually found the kitchen.
It was enormous and spotless.
She saw a large bowl of fruit sitting in the middle of the island.
Perfect.
She picked up an apple and took a bite.
Her teeth met something hard.
She frowned, pulled the apple away and stared at it.
It hadn’t even dented.
Livy blinked, then turned it over in her hand.
“Seriously?” She knocked it lightly against the counter.
It was fake.
A laugh escaped her before she could stop it.
“Of course.” She shook her head, amused despite herself, and placed the useless apple back in the bowl.
“What are you doing here.” She turned to see a man standing in the doorway.