Taken - A Gangster Stepbrother Romance by Michaela Adams Read Free Book Online Page B

his delicate little sister from the harsh light of the public by sending her away to study. But now she’s back and ready to take her proper place within DM Holdings.”
     
                  Antonio gave her pointed look when he mentioned ‘proper place.’
     
                  “It’ll essentially help legitimize your sudden appearance,” Antonio continued. “A marriage between the DM Holdings and Cavalli Corporation would be huge news so we need to be in front of it and make sure we get it covered the right way.” Antonio took a sip of his wine. “Plus, I’m sure you must be at least a little curious as to what your fiancé looks like.”
     
                  Emma nearly dropped her wine. “He…He’s going to be there?”
     
                  Antonio nodded. “David Cavalli will be in attendance along with his father. It’ll be a good opportunity to introduce both of you as a couple.”
     
                  Emma wanted to protest, to argue. But all she could do was feel the bottom spinning out from under her.

Chapter Nine
                  The next day at breakfast, Antonio informed her they would be attending Hastings this coming Saturday evening. She had found a calendar in her room and saw that today was Thursday. What would she do in the meantime? She couldn’t possibly just stay in her room for the next two days.
     
                  But Antonio had been in a rush and before she could ask what it is she was expected to do for the next forty eight hours, he had left. Emma was beginning to feel quite claustrophobic in her room. Sure it was large but it was a prison cell nonetheless.
     
                  After breakfast, Emma expected a guard to come over and escort her back to her room. But instead, the guard remained standing by the dining room entry. She was sure he knew the meal was over and yet he hadn’t come to take her.
     
                  Curious and a little bit hopeful, Emma stood up from the table and instead of turning right towards the staircase and her room, she turned left. She half-expected a large hand to grab her shoulder and to stop her. But instead, nothing happened. When she turned around, she found the guard following her a few steps behind but in no hurry to catch up to her.
     
                  Huh. So it looked like she had earned some freedom privileges. As she walked down the wide hall, she spotted a room at the far end. It was unique because of its double doors.
     
                  Hands on the large door handles, Emma looked over her shoulders to see if the guard would stop her. But he just stood back. He looked bored. I guess no one is stupid enough to leave anything out in the open for me to take a look at anyway , Emma realized.
     
                  Opening the double doors with a dramatic flourish, Emma’s eyes grew as round as saucers as she took in the deep interior of the room.
     
                  It was a library! A personal library that had been beautifully decorated with soft, comfy couches and a cozy fireplace. The walls were lined with shelves that held every single kind of book possible. She was shocked to think a mobster like Gabe Del Marco would be such an avid reader. Antonio looked like he was well educated so perhaps the library was mostly his collection.
     
                  Either way, this meant she finally had a way to escape her own thoughts. She did two laps around the room to get a good idea of what books were available. She finally settled on a well-worn mystery and tucked herself in on one of the couches near the window.
     
                  It was easier than she imagined to let herself go and sink into the wonderful world of a fiction novel. Desperate to escape the twisting coils of her mind and her troubles, Emma was ready and open to let the characters take over her brain and let