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Worry splashes across her face. She clenches her fists, and her jaw juts out. I think she's forgotten she's only wearing a bra, and the material is basically see-through. Her nipples poke at the material, straining the silky fabric. There is little left to the imagination.
“I don’t need you.”
I lean in close and whisper, “But you want me.”
“Oh, you—” she reaches up and tries to shove me away, but I grab onto her wrists and pull her arms up, wrapping one hand around her wrists as I push her against the wall. It’s easy to hold her in place. I could slide my hands over her body, pushing the thin material of her underwear away. I don’t.
I lean in so I’m looking down her body, the top of my head resting against the wall beside her. “Tell me what my father told you.”
Obviously, she thought I would touch her, but I'm fine with looking. I can wait to taste her later.
She glances up. The skin around her blue eyes is crinkled with worry. "Let me go so I can dress, then I'll tell you."
It’s a shame she won’t be naked, but I need to know what was said. “Sure.” I release her arms but don’t leave.
She huffs out a breath and stomps her foot. I want to laugh, but I turn around instead, knowing tonight I’ll stroke one out in the shower as I imagine her on her knees in front of me.
“What did he say?” I ask.
“He knew he had cancer. He went to another doctor. He didn’t say how long ago.”
“Figures. He’s always been a little obstinate. What else?”
I hear the sound of fabric rustling behind me, and I glance over my shoulder. She's got a shirt over her head, and she's pulling it down, covering up her beautiful breasts. I turn to face her as her head pops out the neck hole. She frowns, and I wink, thinking I'd really love to push her to her knees right now and shove my cock into her mouth.
“He said something about dealing with the Italians. He said he skimmed money from them over the years. Eric found out and is blackmailing him.”
Anger twists through me. “Shit. Now I need to find something worse to hold over Eric, but I doubt there is anything worse than stealing from the mafia.”
"He thought I was you for a while. I don't think he meant to say anything about the Italians. He's fading fast."
I nod and move to her, pulling her into a hug. At first, she resists. She probably thinks I’m going to push her to the bed and force myself on her. I’ve thought about it, but I'd rather have her come to me. I’ll flirt and push, but I won’t touch unless that’s what she wants.
“He’s very sick. I don’t know how long he’ll have. Your father expects him to marry you. If we wait until after he’s dead, you may not have any choice in what happens to you.”
Adali lets go a heavy sigh. “What do you mean?”
I push her to arm’s length and hate the pain I see in her gaze. “Do you really think he’ll allow you to stay here? I’m young and shouldn’t be trusted. At least that’s what your father will think. No way will you be here if my dad is dead. Eric Gale will make you come home, and then he’ll push you onto some other man.”
Confusion fill’s Adali’s eyes as she shakes her head. “I don’t want that.”
She's a beautiful woman who should be ruling over a room full of men, but she's here in this house after her father tried to force her to marry an old man. Many of the older men in our circle would have already bedded her. Hell, many of the young men would have taken the opportunity to fuck her.
At least my father has some integrity. He did steal from the mob, and now I have to deal with his problems. Dealing with Adali won't be a hardship, but being forced to do Eric Gale's bidding will be an issue. I don't like Gale, and I doubt he’ll be nice about me taking Adali as my wife. I can’t trust him not to tell the mob about my father's thefts unless I find out something worse Eric has done. Gale is Teflon, and whatever I throw at him won’t stick.
My choices are hard and harder. I don't want to ruin any future with Adali, but I can't allow Gale to use his knowledge against my family. I'm screwed no matter what I do.
ChapterTwelve
Adali
My father is a real threat. I don’t want to tell Niallan how awful he is, but I’m afraid for our lives. I’ve seen what Eric Gale can do firsthand. Maybe Daddy dearest didn’t know I was watching, but I’m not ignorant of his activities. I’m also not as sneaky as Ian, so I don’t know everything. I’ve never hidden in his office or one of the closets to spy on him. But I do know people disappear when they do Eric Gale wrong.
I don’t know if Niallan and his father are the same. Maybe they have the same kind of power my father does, but I don’t think so. Niallan looked positively frightened at the prospect of dealing with my dad.
Taking money from the Italians is stupid. That will have to stop. There’s no way I’m allowing Niallan to keep taking stuff from the mob. He’ll just have to find a better way.
A chuckle escapes my lips. Like Niallan will listen to me, anyway. My father never listens to Valery. She’s like the perfect doormat, allowing Eric to say or do whatever, never standing up for herself. If Niallan expects that of me, he’ll be surprised.
