Bound (The Devil’s Vow #2)

6. Jealousy

Chapter six

Jealousy

Chapter 6

All I could do was stand frozen in the doorway, shocked to my very core.

Are you fucking kidding me?

There, in the center of the room, stood Gianni on the phone and looking in another direction.

But he wasn’t alone.

Gianni’s muscled form was on full display, his broad, tanned shoulders gleaming under the soft light of the room. He wore nothing but black dress pants, slung low on his hips, the top of the pants barely fastened.

The powerful lines of his body, from the curve of his biceps to the hard definition of his abs, were a sight I could never tire of.

But it wasn’t just the sight of him that made my stomach tighten—it was the woman standing right in front of him, rubbing oil on his chest.

What the fuck?!

She was a tall, breathtaking redhead and she was enjoying her job.

A lot.

I mean really enjoying it.

Smiling and licking her lips as she rubbed oil on his muscles.

Dipping a little lower past the band of his boxer briefs than she should.

Even more, she looked far too comfortable in a space that was supposed to be only his and mine.

The horrific shot of jealousy that hit me was swift and unexpected. It wasn’t just the sight of her—it was the way she seemed to be part of the room, like she belonged there.

Like she belonged to him .

Gianni was on the phone and hadn’t noticed me yet, but the redhead glanced my way and her gaze locked with mine instantly.

There was no surprise in her expression, no awkwardness. Instead, she smiled—cool and composed—as if she’d been expecting me to walk in on this intimate moment.

She giggled to herself and moved away from him. Then, picked up a used towel that had been on the bed and wiped her hands.

And I had no doubt that the very towel she used had been one he’d come out of the shower with.

Are you fucking kidding me right now?

I stood there, frozen, trying to make sense of what I was seeing. My heart pounded in my chest, and the rush of jealousy that flooded me was almost paralyzing.

My eyes darted around the room, taking in the little details, each one driving the knife deeper.

The first thing I noticed was the lingering dampness on Gianni’s skin.

His hair was still wet.

Those dark strands stuck to his forehead in that impossibly sexy way that had always made me want to run my fingers through it.

His chest, the hard lines of muscle glistening under the soft light, held a faint sheen, the unmistakable residue of a shower.

He’d just gotten out.

The floor near the bathroom door was damp, little drops of water leading from the marble floor of the bathroom to the large bed in the center of the room.

The towel that she had used to wipe her oily hands had been draped haphazardly over the bed, like he’d tossed it aside without a second thought.

He had a gun on the bed too right next to a holster.

My mind raced, piecing together the scene.

Gianni must have stepped out of the shower, fresh, probably still dripping, and this woman. . .she had been there the entire time.

She had seen him naked!

That realization slammed into me, making my stomach twist violently.

No. Fuck him. I will not be okay with this. Ever.

She hadn’t just been there while he dressed—she’d been in the room with him, probably rubbing oil on his thighs, touching him in ways that made my blood boil.

And by the looks of her—by the smug satisfaction on her face—she had enjoyed every second of it.

She spotted me and giggled again as she strolled over to get a white dress shirt that had been hanging near the door. And then she giggled one more goddamn time , like she knew exactly what she was doing, pushing my buttons, testing my patience.

That smug smile widened with clear audacity!

Absolutely not.

I forced myself to move, stepping further into the room, the jealousy still curling like a hot flame inside me.

I spoke through clenched teeth, “Gianni.”

He turned his view to me instantly. “My queen. How was the tour?”

“How was the tour?!” I leaned my head to the side. “Who the fuck is this?!”

He widened his eyes in shock. “Queen—”

“Were you naked in front of her?! Did you fuck her?!”

He blinked and then quickly ended the call, not even saying goodbye to whoever was on the line.

The redhead giggled some more and walked over holding his designer white shirt as if my concerns were nothing.

Gianni’s eyes flicked from me to the redhead, and I saw something dark flash in his gaze before it disappeared, replaced by that calm, unshakable mask he always wore.

The redhead began to touch his arm.

“Hold on.” Gianni held up his hand to her and turned to me. “Queen. I did not fuck her. I would never do that. Just as you are mine, I am yours .”

I sucked my teeth.

“This is Vivienne, my dresser. She helps me with my clothing and getting ready, basically she prepares me for events—nothing more.”

My heart hammered in my chest. “Were you naked in here with her earlier?”

“Yes—”

“And she rubbed oil on your legs—”

“Well. . .yes, but—”

“And your cock?”

“No, Queen.” He blinked. “But this is her job—”

“So I’m supposed to be okay with some woman rubbing oil on you, touching you, while you’re naked?”

His jaw tightened. “I didn’t realize this wouldn’t be okay, but since you said it that way. I understand. All I was thinking is that Vivienne is part of my team. It’s her job—”

“Oh, really?” I cut him off. “And do I get a male servant to help me with my clothing? To rub oil all over my body after I get out of a shower?”

Those green eyes darkened, and his face twisted into something dangerous for just a moment before he quickly smoothed it out. “Be. Careful. The very idea of that makes me want to go on a killing rampage throughout Obsidian Bay right now murdering any human with a penis—”

“But you didn’t think about how I would feel about her seeing you naked and rubbing oil on your body?”

“I. . .” Gianni looked completely out of his element. “I just. . .no, I didn’t think about it. I never saw it this way, but now I see it. Now I understand—”

“No. It’s fine.” I crossed my arms over my chest. “Don’t worry. I’ll just get my male dresser and we’re even—”

His voice rose. “No man will ever touch you like that, Erica! You are mine! Only mine!”

“But apparently I’m sharing you —”

“You’re not!”

I jabbed my finger in the air. “I better not be because Don or not, I will fucking leave you—”

“Careful!”

I took a step back and balled my hands into fists at my sides. “Why would you think I would ever be okay with this?”

“I don’t want to be with her. I’m not attracted at all so I wasn’t thinking—”

“Well I don’t want a husband that doesn’t think—”

“Queen, give me one fucking minute to fix this!” Gianni glanced at Vivienne, who was still standing there, watching the entire exchange with barely concealed smugness.

Maybe it was my jealousy or even some insecurity, but I didn’t think she was even trying to hide how much she enjoyed getting under my skin.

Then, Gianni nodded as if he finally came to some big decision. “You don’t like it.”

“I don’t.”

“Then, she is no longer my dresser.”

Vivienne snapped her view to him. “Gianni?”

It was clear she didn’t think she would be dismissed so easily, especially because of me.

“And. . .” Gianni’s gaze grew intense, as if he were weighing heavy thoughts. I could see the gears turning in his mind, see the way he was processing everything I’d said earlier. His face remained unreadable, but there was something in his eyes, something dangerous that I couldn’t quite place. “I understand now.”

I gave him a skeptical look. “Do you?”

“It was disrespectful.”

“Beyond disrespectful, especially since you dragged me to the altar. Now don’t just have some random woman in our suite while you’re naked—”

Vivienne muttered, “Random?”

I snapped my view to her. “You’re not random?”

“I have been in Don Fortunato’s employment for five years, serving him. You are the one that is new.” She touched her chest. “I am not.”

I stepped forward. “Who the fuck do you think you’re talking to?”

And then, without warning, Gianni turned toward the bed and what happened next made my blood run COLD.

In one swift motion, Gianni picked up the gun, pointed it directly at Vivienne’s head, and pulled the trigger.

Just like that.

I barely had time to process what had happened.

The deafening sound of the gunshot echoed through the room, reverberating off the walls and slamming into me with the force of a freight train.

And Vivienne didn’t even have a chance to scream either. Her body jerked violently as the bullet hit her skull, and for a brief, horrifying second, her eyes widened in shock.

And then she collapsed, crumpling to the floor in a lifeless heap.

Blood splattered across the wall. Her red hair was splayed out around her, now stained dark with blood as it seeped into the plush carpet.

W-what?!