My hackles rise whenever he gets all bossy and demanding, but I resist the urge to throw attitude at him.
“I fucked up. I thought I could handle Julio—Will you just wait a damn second and let me say what I need to say?” I tell him when I see he’s about to interrupt me.
His mouth shuts and those hazel eyes that had burned bright for me moments ago are now narrowed. I wonder if there will ever be a time when Keane and I don’t butt heads. Then again, that would probably weird me out because I’m used to him being a domineering, controlling jackass. That’s just who he is and part of the reason I lov—
Ignoring that life-altering revelation, I rush on. “I had Tessa set up a meet. He must have known somehow that it was a trap. Alejandro had a man already there, hiding in an abandoned gas station. He shot Rafe.”
“For fuck’s sake, Andie.” Keane bends his head to scrape his hands roughly over his face. Reigning in his temper, he sighs. “We’ll find him and make sure he regrets the day he was born.”
I take a deep breath, grateful that he’s not blowing up at me, but also hesitant to tell him the rest. “He’s already dead, Keane. I killed him.”
His face falls, and he pulls me to him, fitting me between his legs and cradling me to his chest. “Fuck, princess. We never wanted this for you. None of us. I’m so goddamn sorry,” he whispers in my hair.
“But don’t you see? Thisiswho I am now.”
Since the day I was born, outside forces—Max, my mother, my childhood growing up as the daughter of a mafia don, this life—have shaped me into the woman I am. A woman who knows pain, death, and heartache. A fighter and survivor. A killer. A woman who wants four men. A woman who was meant to rule. None of it is normal, but it’smynormal.
“Does your offer still stand?” I ask him.
My question takes him by surprise. “What offer?”
“To marry you.”
It’s time to end this shitshow. Take down the other families and destroy the Ortiz Cartel. Keane needs me to solidify his standing in the family, and I just need him…Shit, Andie. Focus.I give myself a mental shake.
I need him to gain access to the other families. They’re old school, ruled by dons that still practice the old way like Maximillian. Women are nothing, useless, and have no place within the organization. I’m about to give them a big fucking wake-up call.
I do have an ulterior motive as well. If this is what Keane wants—the key to the Rossi kingdom and to permanently take over as don—I’m in a position to help him attain both of those things. I’ve quickly come to realize over the past week that I’m willing to do just about anything for these guys, even if it means altering my plans once again. What better revenge than to have the house of Rossi fall, only for Keane Agosti to rise and take its place?
Keane has gone silent, his mouth slightly parted as he stares at me in bewilderment. “What?” he says again.
Trying to lighten the mood, I roll my eyes. “You said to think about it. I have. My answer is still yes. I already said yes, if you recall.”
I had told him yes in the kitchen the morning of the day of the dinner party where I was to be handed over to Julio. The day Declan’s men stormed the house and Rafe kidnapped me and brought me to my real father.
Keane gently forces me back onto the bed and moves to settle over me. When his lips press a path of soft kisses along my chest and neck, I moan. My skin is rubbed raw after hours of being abraded by the guys’ scratchy stubble, but all I feel is pleasure at his touch.
“You’re safe now with Declan. You’re not being forced to marry Alejandro anymore,” he says as he kisses at my temple and buries his face in my neck.
“And?” My breath hitches when he nibbles my earlobe. My hands brush up his thick, muscled arms and over his wide shoulders. Now that the invisible barriers of our own making between us have fallen, I can’t seem to get enough of touching him.
“And, you don’t have to go through with my stupid idea anymore.”
I pull back slightly when his mouth reaches my lips to kiss me.
“Keane, I know I don’thaveto. Iwantto.”
I can count on only one finger the times I’ve ever seen Keane knocked speechless. The first instance being minutes ago.
Without taking his eyes off me, Keane stretches an arm out to pull on the drawer of his bedside nightstand. The images inked on his chest morph and pull as his muscles contract and expand with his movements, and I get a little lost in them. Suddenly, a small black jewelry box is placed in the valley between my breasts, and my heart skips a beat.Oh, shit.
When I make no move to open it, Keane rests his weight on an elbow while he uses his other hand to lift the top of the small, black cube open. I peer down to the opened box facing me to see a delicate, yellow princess-cut diamond engagement ring with a matching eternity wedding band.
“These were my mother’s.”
My hand goes to my lips. I don’t know how to respond to that. Every girl fantasizes about the day her man proposes to her. Down on bended knee, flower petals strewn everywhere. Candlelight and soft music playing. Or maybe that was just me. I touch the rings reverently.
“She would be honored for you to wear them.”
