I badly want to.
But I can’t allow this, no matter how ardently my heart and soul beg me to reclaim the man who has always been mine.
“Mateo must be turning in his grave,” I joke, removing my hand from Leo’s and letting his other hand drop from my face. I stand. “He was always warning you to stay away from me.”
Leo unfurls to his full height, and I can’t help admiring his gorgeous form. He’s so tall, broad, muscular, and manly. No wonder I always felt safe in his arms.
“Mateo was wrong. Angelo too.” Leo steps up to me, and our chests brush against one another. I spot indecision in his eyes for a fleeting second. “I told him I wanted to marry you.” He tucks a piece of my hair behind my ear.
My eyes pop wide. I knew Papa had threatened Leo and used me to force him into keeping his distance, but he never mentioned this. “You never told me that.”
“I knew as I was asking him that he would say no, but I had to try.”
“You would’ve married me?” I croak, my throat clogging with emotion.
“In a heartbeat,” he says, pulling me into his arms.
I don’t resist his embrace and readily hug him. Closing my eyes, I inhale his scent and siphon his warmth while enjoying the feel of his hard, strong body against mine. “I would have said yes,” I whisper. “And I wouldn’t have needed time to think about it.”
His arms band tight around mine, and we hold one another, fighting our true desires, as my eldest brother watches from his earthly resting place.
38
Leo
Iscan the voyeur room at Club H with disinterested eyes while sitting at the bar nursing the same scotch since I arrived a half hour ago. This is the second time I have come here in a month, and like the last time, I’m finding I’m not in the mood.
I know why.
I’m fixated on Natalia.
I can’t see past her.
Even though there are gorgeous women in the room, many of them naked or semi-naked.
Even watching the action taking place behind the various glass rooms fails to arouse my flaccid cock. The place is busy tonight, and all ten rooms are full. Most all the couches in the middle of the room are occupied with people looking at the men and women fucking behind the glass walls.
Sultry music wafts in the background, but even that isn’t getting my juices flowing.
I haven’t seen Natalia since she drove us back to the city that Saturday from Ben’s Connecticut house, but she never strays from my mind. I wanted to kiss her at the graveyard. To take her home and make love to her, replacing that sad resigned expression on her face with one of unadulterated joy.
I have moved beyond the point of no return.
I don’t give a fuck about starting something with her behind Gino’s back.
Not after his betrayal. He’s on shaky ground with Ben, even if he has gotten his act somewhat together since Ben ripped into him. It’s not like he’d be in any position to throw shade.
I would have laid it all out on the table that Saturday except Nat is keeping me at arm’s length, and I must respect that.
The second that changes? The second she gives me a clear signal? I’m fucking taking it. I’m no longer a kid who thought he was a man. I’m not the same guy who made so many mistakes with her in the past.
I know what I want, and I’m done watching from the sidelines.
As soon as Nat shows me she is on the same page, I am all in.
If Gino even dares to raise a hand to hurt her, he’ll have me to deal with.
Brando, and Nario—one of our most bloodthirsty and savagesoldati—are alternating bodyguard shifts, and so far, they have managed to go undetected. When Nat starts NYU in two weeks, that may change. I’m not sure how easy it will be to keep tabs on her there and remain unnoticed. Though the tracking app is a big help. The guys report to me daily, and I feed the intel to the boss, but they know I’m their go-to person if there is any emergency. Despite what Ben said, he’s got enough on his plate with running his empire and this shit in Chicago.
