“You may have one emissary.”
I stare at him unblinkingly.Bastard.
When he raises an eyebrow, I mouth the words,“Fuck you, Moretti.”
Unbothered, he grins the same way he had when I tried to clobber him.And since he has zero remorse, I’m just waiting for my opportunity to try again.
I relay Moretti’s demand.“I’m allowed one emissary.”
“Giovanni.”
My oldest brother.
For now, I have to act as if this unwanted marriage will happen.
“Figlia mia...” The endearment softens his tone.And it’s laced with pain that mirrors my own, sending a shiver down my spine despite the room’s warmth.His love wraps around me through the phone, a fleeting comfort amid the chaos, but it only heightens the sting of what I’m asking.“I won’t abandon you to this.”
I know he won’t.
No doubt things are already in motion.A call from the Moretti consigliere to ours.And my brother will be assembling a trusted crew.
No matter what, I can’t allow retaliation to happen.
The emotional toll suddenly crashes against me, and I draw in a breath.
I have to remain strong.Now more than ever.“I love you, Papa.”
His final curse echoing in my ear, I end the call.
Silence rushes in, and I lower the phone.
The room suddenly feels smaller, and Dante looms over me, larger than ever.“Satisfied?”
Without a word, he comes in closer and extends his hand for the phone.
Reluctantly I place the lifeline in his palm.Our fingers brush, and I yank back my hand.
I hate what he does to me.Even more, I hate my response to him.
“Will it be so bad?”As he pockets the device, he captures a stray lock of my hair and slowly winds it around his index finger.“Being mine?”
In complete defiance, I bring my chin up.“I’ll never be yours, Moretti.”
He chuckles.Low, deep, and confident.“No?We’ll see, Valentina.We’ll see.”
Desperate to escape him, I scoot back, and I wince, unable to hide the sharp stab of pain that rocks through the arch of my foot.
I glance down and see a tiny smear of blood on the floor.The shard of glass must have embedded itself deeper when I shifted my weight.
Dante follows my gaze, and his jaw tightens.“You’re hurt.”Not a question but a statement.He removes his finger from my hair and crouches in front of me.
He’s an underboss who was the family’s enforcer.There’s no way he should he capable of moving with such grace.
I tense.“I’m fine.”
“At some point, you’re going to be spanked for all your lies.”
Gasping at his outrageous comment, I attempt to scoot farther away, but he grips my ankle hard.Then he lifts my foot, and his fingers feel shockingly tender against my skin.
