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“Exactly,” Tommy breathes, lifting my chin with his fingers to kiss me deeply for just a moment.
“Boss?”
The knock on the door came not a second too soon. Tommy opens the door to reveal Ricky standing on the other side of it, looking nervous. “Donovan Bianco is here,” Tommy states. “I know. We’re coming.”
“He’s in the entrance hall,” Ricky says. “We didn’t know where you wanted him.”
“In the sitting room,” Tommy says decisively. “Clear everyone else out. We’re not to be disturbed, no matter how long it takes. And, Ricky?”
“Yes, boss?”
“I want you outside the room where I can call on you if I need you. But only if you’re called, understand?”
“Got it, boss.”
Tommy reaches for my hand and I take it, following him nervously to meet my father, wishing we could just turn around and go back to do what we just did again – something I’m not going to be able to forget, given that I can still feel him deep inside me.Chapter Twenty-ThreeTommyThe air is tense and awkward from the moment we step inside the room to meet Carina’s father – with her hand still firmly in mine.
“I have the money,” he starts, but cuts himself off, looking between us.
“Dad,” Carina starts, clearly ready to explain everything.
“What… is going on here?” Donovan interrupts. I have the feeling that he really doesn’t want to know. “I have the money to pay her ransom. You must give her back to me.”
“She’s free to go if she wants to,” I tell him, short and to the point. “In fact, she’s been free to go for a while. I told her she could return to you, and I wouldn’t stop her.”
Donovan frowns. “Then… you don’t want the money?”
“I don’t,” I say, glancing at the duffel bag he’s brought with him and away. “But that’s not the point, really.”
“Then, what is?”
I actually feel sorry for the man. He looks totally lost, bewildered. This can’t be easy for him. He thought he was dealing with one situation, but he’s been thrust into another.
“Daddy,” Carina starts again. “Something happened while I was here.”
“What?”
“We fell in love,” I say, taking over as she hesitates. It must be hard for her to say it, to explain how we came together to her Dad. But I can take control of that part. Negotiating, after all, is what I’m good at.
Donovan barks a laugh. “That’s funny. The money is there on the table. Carina, we’re going.”
“No,” she says. “It’s not a joke.”
Donovan’s face turns thunderous. “It this a joke,” he says. “It has to be. Love? This man doesn’t know the meaning of it.
I snort. “Mr. Bianco, you don’t know me. We have not, in fact, ever met.”
“It’s Mr. Bianco now, is it?” Donovan turns on me. “Did you tell her I wanted to take her home yesterday? When you threatened me on the phone?”
Carina looks at me. “I didn’t really threaten you,” I shrug. “I told you to wait a day.”
“Why?” Carina asks.
“Because I wanted more time,” I say simply, looking into her eyes. I see her acceptance there. Even if she isn’t pleased that I didn’t tell her about her father’s call, she isn’t swayed. She will stay by my side.
“Dad, I… I’ve never met anyone who’s ever made me feel like this,” Carina begins.
“Of course not!” her father explodes. “You’re eighteen! You’ve barely met anyone!”
“But neither have I,” I interject. “And I was eighteen a long time ago.”
“… Exactly!” Donovan says, and I regret giving him another objection – though it most likely would have happened anyway. “You’re old enough to – well, to be me!”
“Not quite,” I say, raising an eyebrow at his greying hair and beer belly. “There is an age gap, yes. But it’s not insurmountable.”
“It doesn’t make a difference to me,” Carina adds.
“And he’s a violent man,” Donovan continues as if she hasn’t said a thing. “A man like that – you want to be with him? After knowing him a few days, you think he won’t hurt you? Won’t get you into trouble?”
I bristle at that, but it’s Carina who speaks up. “He’s not violent at heart,” she says. “He’s gentle. I shouldn’t say it, because he doesn’t want to show weakness. But he’s strong and safe, and caring, and gentle. Daddy, it’s true. I mean it. He would never hurt me.”
“The time we’ve known each other means nothing,” I add. “I know this feeling in my chest. Carina is the one I’ve been waiting for. The only one for me.”
“This is…” Donovan looks between us as if he still can’t believe it. I have to do something drastic – something to show him what I feel. It’s lucky that I’d already come prepared with such a gesture.
And so much more than a gesture, too.
“If you doubt me, then I will give you assurance,” I say to him, making sure I have his attention. “I will put my entire empire at risk. Do you understand? I will make it possible for her to destroy what I have worked for and walk away with at least half.”
