AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She pulls away from me, shaking her head.
“You have to,” I growl. “Youhaveto come with me.”
Possession enters the urgency in my voice. It’s knowing I have to keep her safe. It’s knowing I can’t get caught either. Ma needs me.
She tries to speak.
“Don’t scream,” I snap.
She nods, and I slowly move my hand away. She speaks in a low, raspy voice. “He’s duh-dead. Just let me go, okay? Just let me go? Elio will understand. Luca will?—”
“No,” I snap. “This is Family business. The West Coast Marinos. I need time.”
I wrap my arm around her, holding her against me with ease, letting her feel how much stronger I am. Even now, I have to ignore the burning tower of desire in my jeans telling me to feel the shape of her body. Her thickness feel so right against me.
She presses her face against my chest, or maybe I guide her there. Then I lean down and lift her up, holding her against mychest like a husband holds a wife when he walks her across the threshold. She gasps and throws her arms around me.
“You can’t justtakeme,” she says.
“You’re coming with me. We can make it easy, or we can make it hard, but you’re coming with me, princess.”
She glares up at me as I carry her over to my car. I’ll have to think of some story and some excuse. I don’t know. I can’t just call up Elio or Luca and tell them I’ve killed one of their uncle’s men, even if the rat deserved it.
“Don’t call meprincess. I’m not a princess of anything,” she snaps when I put her in the backseat.
But she’s wrong. Even sitting there in the modest dress she wore for Vito, her eyes red, her hair messy, she looks like my princess.
I take her to the only place I can—my work apartment. I’ve deep-cleaned it since the last time I used it. I’ll need to get her some clothes, but she’ll be safe there while I figure out a plan. WhatamI going to do, exactly? I know what I can’t do.
Call up Luca and tell him I iced Vito. What if he’s a big deal on the West Coast? I can’t protect my ma if I’m living life on the run.Fuck. Mia has her hands clasped, shuddering as she looks down at the floor. I pull into the underground parking lot, bringing the car to a stop outside the penthouse elevator.
When I climb from the car, she bursts out and runs ahead. Her footsteps are exhausted, as if the situation is dragging her down.I chase after her, placing my hand on her arm, my voice low. “Mia, please.”
“Dante,” she says. “I can’t… I don’t know you. Please.”
“Mia.”
I take her by the arm and pull her toward the elevator. She comes with me, but reluctantly, and I can tell she’s waiting for a chance to run again. What do I do if she starts fighting me? Wrestle her? Restrain her? I don’t want to hurt her.
When I move into the elevator, she tries to back away again. I move my body into her path, then crowd her into the elevator, jamming the button behind me and pushing her against the wall. I can feel her body, the heat of it, the curviness.
“They’ll understand,” she snaps as the doors close.
“I can’t risk it.”
“Why? Got your eye on a new car?Pathetic.”
Her eyes are wide and wild. She looks like she’s got shell shock. Even so, part of her seems guilty for what she just said.
“It’s more complicated than that,” I tell her.
“Complicated enough to fuckingkidnapme?”
“You said you wanted somebody to kidnap you.”
She leans back and tilts her head. Something like disgust touches her perfect, princess features like she feels gross at the idea of me invading that personal conversation. “You were listening to us at the party? To me and Lexi?”
“You wanted this,” I snap, pressing her gently against the wall. “Now, you don’t have to marry that creep. He got what he deserved.”
