Page 42 of Jude

Maggie clapped her hands together. ‘Look at that. It’s a perfect match.’

I stared at the glinting stone in wonder, then at Jude as the tiny price tag left me blinking.

‘It’s, it’s too much, I can’t accept this.’

‘I don’t do cheap,’ he growled, with some impatience. ‘We’ll take the latest iPhone as well. Wrap it up.’

Minutes later, the ring was mine.

The salesman at the store also configured my new phone, transferring my contacts from my old device and setting it up in no time.

Jude grabbed the small velvet box and the iPhone bag.

We then headed to the terminal, where Jude hugged his parents.

‘Love you,’ he rasped.

‘Love you more, honey,’ Maggie said, kissing him on both cheeks, then giving him a long hug.

Next, Maggie wrapped me in her arms, while Kian and Jude bumped fists.

‘Take care of him for me,’ Maggie whispered in his ear. ‘He acts all gruff and tough, but he’s a softie inside who needs a fantastic woman to bring down his walls.’

‘I’ll do my best, signora,’ I murmured, not sure what I could be that woman for him. Especially given that Jude and I didn’t have a relationship based on love.

‘Thank you for everything, it’s much appreciated,’ I told her.

I stepped back from her clasp, and Maggie smiled at me.

‘It’ll work out, you’ll see. You both feel right to me, and I’m never wrong.’

‘Maggie, you’re relentless,’ Jude groaned again, shaking his head at her. ‘Cut it out.’

She laughed as she waved, stepping into Kian’s arms.

I waved back as a pang of feeling hit.

I was going to miss Jude’s parents; they’d been so kind to me.

‘You ready for this?’ Jude growled as he maneuvered our bags towards the gate.

My stomach did a slow flip.

‘As I’ll ever be,’ I lied, clutching the strap of my purse close like a shield.

I was in the hands of a husband who’d married me purely to protect me and, I believed, was not entirely happy about it.

I was also heading toward a city I’d never seen, leaving everything I knew behind in the dust.

There was no going back.

Chapter 11

SOFIA

‘Ithought we were flying commercial -.’

I jolted in surprise at the sight of the luxury plane Jude was leading me to.