His gaze held mine, long enough my lungs ached.
“Not in the ways that matter,” he scowled, eyes flicking back to the flames dancing in the grate.
“And what about Gabriel?” I asked, before I could stop myself. “What about your brother? What about Nico? Are you going to hurt them to get whatever it is you’re after?”
Just shut up, Ember.I didn’t even know what I was asking for. What guarantees I wanted. Days ago, I’d been determined to destroy them all, but my heart had changed, and my gut told me neither of them was involved in Enzo’s death.
And I had no interest in harming innocents.
“Have you grown attached to my brother and his friend,tesoro?” There was no heat to the question, just simple curiosity. “Were you expecting all of this,”—he swept a hand over the bedroom—“to be real with my brother, the fairytale wedding of your dreams?”
I flushed at his condescending tone. “Of course not. Fairy tales are for children. What guarantees do I have that you will keep your word on any of these promises?” I demanded, changing the subject.
“You don’t. But I don’t trust you, and you already knew you couldn’t trust my father or Gabriel. Or, I suspect, deep down, your uncle Giovanni.” His mouth hardened around the last name. “So, it appears we’re all even in the trust department. At least I’m honest about how I’m using you.”
“And how are you planning touseme?” I asked, despising that traitorous rush of excitement, the tingle of forbidden heat between my legs. What was it about this male that made me want to stab him, but also wonder what his lips tasted like?
Why couldn’t I stop thinking about all those scars peppered all over his body, those oddly compelling tattoos, and why he’d hesitated before he’d answered me about whether or not he was broken?And why, the fuck, in the middle of such a disastrous night as this, did any of this even matter?
“As bait,” Dante was explaining, icy eyes narrowed. “As my blade. As a pretty thing on my arm. Depends on the day and the situation.”
“That’s a big ask in exchange for a name. Seems like I’m getting the shit end of this marriage deal,” I snorted, already knowing I didn’t have any choice.
Take the deal or have it forced down my throat.
Hopefully not literally.
28
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“Fine,” I conceded.
“You want cooperation? I’ll play the perfect wife in public. I’ll let you use me as your ticket back into polite society. I’ll smile, nod, and pretend you didn’t just blow up my entire life for reasons you won’t explain.” I lifted my chin. “But I have terms, too.”
His expression sharpened. “Go on.”
“One,” I held up a finger. “You do not touch me. Not unless the situation demands it, and I give you my verbal consent. In private, this marriage is nothing but paper. Smoke and mirrors.Convenience.Not real in any way, nor will it ever be.”
Something flickered in his eyes at that—something almost like offense—then was gone so fast, I must have imagined it.
“Two,” I continued, before he could argue. “Once you’ve cemented your position in the Dynasty, you’ll give me what you promised. Once I have the killer’s name, I do with it as I will. No interference, no fucking limitations. You will get out of my way and stay out of my way.”
He inclined his head. “Agreed. What else?”
“Three,” I said, the word scraping my throat. “If it comes down to it—if your family forces me to choose—my loyalty isalwaysto my blood. To Luca. I won’t pretend otherwise.”
I expected that to anger him.
Instead, he nodded once, his expression grave. “I’d have thought less of you if you chose to protect anything but your brother.”
Ever so slowly, Dante smiled, full lips curving into something that wasn’t pleasant. It was sharp and vicious and felt disturbingly like approval.
“Done,” he agreed, too quickly. “We have a deal, moglie mia.”My wife.
“Don’t call me that,” I snapped, my stomach flipping at the endearment, meant for quiet moments and warm, beating hearts, not unholy bargains forged from mutual hatred.
He stepped so close, the scent of him slid over my skin like oil—smoke, leather, and something darker, older. Iron. The heat-drenched pits where he’d fought.
