Chapter Four
Was he going to hit her?
Valentina struggled to keep her feelings in check. The moment she saw how angry Giovanni looked, she’d been scared. He was … there was no way she could survive him if he went into a violent rage.
This was impossible.
“Look at me,” he said, opening the door. He reached across, unbuckling the seatbelt, and she stared into his dark-brown eyes.
The moment he touched her and she looked at him, seeing the concern on his face in the furrow of his brow, all the panic seemed to melt away.
“That’s it, baby, look at me. It’s me here, no one else. You don’t have to be afraid.”
“You’re not going to hit me?”
“Hit you? Why the fuck would I hit you?”
“Because of … Leonardo.”
“No, I wouldn’t hit you because of him. I am never going to hit you.”
She couldn’t help but look at him with doubt. How could that be possible? It couldn’t, could it?
“Listen to me. You are safe with me.”
“Men always hit their wives.”
“I’m not most men.”
She frowned, and he reached up, stroking a finger across her brow.
“I know what our world is like, but I’m not like them. I have no desire to harm my wife.”
“But what if I do something … I don’t know, stupid?”
“Like what?”
“Talk to a cop?”
“Will you talk to a cop?” he asked.
“No, of course not. I know how to handle the cops.”
“Then it doesn’t matter.”
“What if you doubt me?”
“I have no reason to doubt you.” He held her knees, and she loved the strength within his grip. What was wrong with her? One minute she was scared of him hitting her, and now, she liked how he touched her. None of it made any sense. This was impossible.
How could she even be normal?
“Babe, I promise you that no matter what, I will never physically, emotionally, or sexually harm you, ever. I care about you too much to ever harm you.”
“You don’t even know me.”
“I want to get to know you.”
That had to be one of the sweetest things she ever heard. “You do?”