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Damon was already sitting in the corner.
He stood up and she ignored him as she slid into the seat opposite him. “You know it’s not proper, me meeting you alone.”
“It’s not proper for a girl to have a kill record, so I think we can let this slide as well.”
She nodded her head.
The waitress came over, and she ordered a tea and a cream biscuit. She hadn’t eaten much in the past week. Food didn’t hold any appeal. All she wanted to do was lie in bed and cry. Each day she got up and worked was a small victory. The main file her father had left her scared the shit out of her. Businessmen, politicians, family men, and even some of the capos, all of them her father had dirt on.
With dirt came a lot of risks. There would be men, close men who’d want her dead if they knew she was aware of their … betrayals.
“How did you sleep last night?” Damon asked.
“You brought me here to talk about sleep?”
“I know what it’s like to suffer after you lose someone.”
She thought about his potential wives. Dropping her gaze to the table, she shook her head. “No, I didn’t sleep well.”
“One day, you will.”
“Is that what happened to you?” she asked.
“You learn not to care.”
“I’ve had my mother, brother, and now my father die on me. I’m sure I can handle it.” She didn’t want to appear weak.
Damon smiled. “As I’m sure you know, I’ve had cousins, family, and even potential wives die, some at their own hand. I’m more experienced with this.”
“I know what you’ve been through. It’s why I’m curious why you would ever want to spend any time with me,” she said.
Damon sat back. He lifted up his coffee cup and took a sip.
She hated waiting.
“Your father, what he did, it goes against every single Family code. You know that. Training a woman to take a man’s job. Your brother should be sitting here right now, negotiating your marriage. I see the look in your eye. It’s one that means you know things you really didn’t want to know.”
“Look, I don’t know what it is you want from me—”
“I want everything, Isabella. You’re not a fool. An alliance between the two of us will make us unbreakable. I can protect you.”
“I don’t need protecting.”
“No? Then tell me why I know for a fact that there’s a meeting right now between the capos and the Boss to see you married?” he asked.
“I would know that. There’s no way they’re organizing a marriage or who should take me.”
“You’re nothing but a woman. They don’t need to ask for your permission. You’re the property of them. Nothing more. I’m a man. I know what they want.”
Rage filled her.
“Get angry,” he said. “It’s good.”
“What do you want?” she asked.
“Your father knows I’m not like other men. I’ve had my share of losses and I need an heir.” He locked his fingers together. “I know about your training. You’re strong. A fighter. I don’t want a submissive woman who’s terrified of me. I’ve been near them my whole life and as you can see, it never ends well for me.”
She didn’t know why he was telling her all of these things. “What do you want?”
“Your hand in marriage. That’s all I want. In return, I won’t stop your involvement with the business. You’ll be by my side in every single decision and when the time is right, we’ll have a child together.”
She looked away.
Once her father had made her watch one of his soldiers and a whore have sex. She had to keep her virginity intact but she also had to see what would be expected of her. It was one of the single most embarrassing moments of her life. That and getting her first menstrual cycle.
If she hadn’t been training and hurting, she really believed she’d be scarred for life. There was just a lot of crap to take in.
“And so you’re proposing a marriage even though I can own and run my family’s business on my own, without your help.”
“You clearly don’t understand what they’re going to do to you, do you?” Damon asked. “You’re a woman. You mean nothing to them. You’re a pawn to be sold off and that’s exactly what they will do to you.”
“And you think this is going to help your cause?” she asked. Damn it, she wanted to hit him.
How dare he!
Her father had taught her many things in life, and it wasn’t to be told how worthless she was.
“If you want me to color this up in rainbows and flowers, it’s not going to happen. You’ve got to understand, in our world, you’re nothing.”
“I don’t have to listen to this.”
“You’re right, you don’t, but you don’t think they’re already working out who’s going to tame you?”
