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"It’s fair to say it was mutual, don’t you think?" His lips quirk, and of course, my core instantly clenches. Clearly, my body didn’t get the memo that I’m not ready to be in a relationship.
"Fine, I’ll grant you that, but I thought it was a one-night stand. I didn’t expect to meet you again on the flight to Jeanne and Luca’s wedding. And definitely didn’t think you’d turn up as my sister’s arranged fiancé. I mean, what are the chances?"
"It’s nature trying to send us a sign that we’re meant for each other."
"Argh! Please don’t say these things. You’re making it very difficult for me to resist you."
"So don’t resist." He chuckles again. The rich sound shivers over my skin and sinks into my blood, arrowing straight to my traitorous pussy, which laps it up and pants for more.
"Easy for you to say. You don’t have to prove yourself to the world. You didn’t have to fight off the possibility of an arranged marriage. You—" I shut up. Of course, he did agree to an arranged marriage, didn’t he?
I scowl.
He smirks. "Yep, exactly. We aren’t that different. You’re trying to forge your future as an actress. I’m reorienting myself to take on at the role of a COO when theCosa Nostra’s businesses turn legit."
"What’s COO?"
"Chief Operating Officer. Kind of like a CEO, but with more day-to-day responsibilities for the running of a company."
"Oh." I bite the inside of my cheek. "That’s going to be a big change."
"It’s what we think is right, now that most of us are settling down. It’s also why it was important to form a blood alliance with theCamorra. This way, the danger to our families is considerably reduced. It’s also why I agreed to an arranged marriage, for the sake of my clan. And also, because you’d made it clear that you had someone else in your life, and never wanted to see me again." He raises one eyebrow and gives me a disapproving look.
"So, you’d have gone through with the marriage if I hadn’t turned up that day?"
He tilts his head. "Maybe. Maybe not. But we’ll never know now, will we? We were meant to be together, Via. One way or the other, I’d have found my way back to you."
He sounds so certain. So confident of himself. He almost convinces me—almost. But that’s his superpower, to screw with my head until it feels like his thoughts are my own.
"No, no, I am not letting you talk me into this."
"Into what?"
"Into whatever it is you’re trying to convince me to do."
"How do you know it’s not something that you’d want to agree to anyway?" he murmurs.
"Because I know I won’t."
"I think it’s in your best interest to listen to what I have to say." He tilts his head, and a sly look comes into his eyes.
"Uh-oh, why do I get the feeling I’m not going to like whatever it is you’re about to say?"
He merely gestures to the bed. "Take a seat."
I scowl. I’m definitely not going to sit on the bed, not with him next to me. It’d only lead somewhere I don’t want to be.Yea, keep telling yourself that.I brush past him to the table with two chairs by the window. I sit down on one.
He follows me without comment, then lowers his bulk into the other chair.
He drums his fingers on the table as he surveys me.
"What?" I growl.
"With your brother dead, theCamorrais under the protection of theCosa Nostra. That is, if I decide to take on that responsibility."
“Why would you take on that responsibility? With my father and my brother gone, the next person in line for the role of the head of the clan—”
“Would be your uncle, and then his sons, all of whom have said they are not interested in taking charge.”
