Page 121 of Claimed At First Sight

I exhale slowly through my nose.

No. Calm is not happening.

While Leon climbs into one of the vehicles trailing us to return to the gate, the rest of my security wisely keeps their distance.

“Wait out here,” I growl. Nobody argues.

I take the front steps two at a time. Simon opens the door before I can reach for the handle. I shrug off my coat and hand it to him.

“The ladies are in the sitting room,” he tells me.

Ladies.

The word almost makes me laugh. Mia looked nothing like a lady in those photographs. She looked like a siren determined to destroy a man’s self-control.

One of the images flashes through my mind again. Her dark hair is splayed over the pillow, her hand playfully resting on the swell of her breast while a perfect come-hither look is directed at the man behind the camera.

A throbbing starts behind my temples, warning of an incoming headache.

Voices and laughter drift through the partially open door. Three heads turn when I storm in.

Mia is curled into an armchair beside the fire, a book resting in her lap. Sienna occupies the sofa opposite her, while Ari is sprawled across the rug with a blanket and what appears to be an alarming quantity of snacks.

The smile vanishes from Mia’s face. She shoots to her feet so quickly the book slides from her lap onto the chair cushion.

“Don Maximo, what are—”

“Out,” I snarl, deadly calm, cutting her off.

The room goes silent. When her sisters don’t move, I direct my gaze at each girl. They seem frozen.

“Out,” I repeat. “I need a word with your sister.”

Ari blinks. Sienna looks between Mia and me. Still, neither moves. My patience, already hanging by a thread, snaps another inch.

“Now.” Something in my voice finally gets through.

Ari scrambles upright, while Sienna rises more slowly, her gaze lingering on her older sister.

“Mia?” she checks in with her.

“I’m fine.” She’s lying. She’s gone completely rigid.

The girls exchange a look before heading for the door. The moment it closes behind them, Mia takes a step closer, her eyes sparkling with fire.

She’s angry. Good. That makes two of us.

I take a few steps toward her until we meet in the middle of the room. Her chin lifts as defiant as ever.

“Care to explain what this is all about?” she asks, the challenge in both her voice and eyes unmistakable.

I’m increasingly convinced she exists solely to test me. I pull the package from beneath my arm and slide the book out.

Deliberately, I hold it up between us, giving her ample time to see it.

Her eyes dart to the book. The moment she realizes what it is, all the color drains from her face.

Mia looks like she’s praying for the floor to open and swallow her whole.