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“I can’t do that. Did I frighten you,mi diosa?” My hunger only continued to increase, but I was cognizant the clock was ticking. Devon was eliminating all the people he’d hired to work for him, using men who’d already betrayed us to do so. I wasn’t certain what purpose it would serve in telling her.
“Are you trying to?”
“It’s time to pull off the mask, revealing the woman hiding behind a lie. Don’t you think?”
As she continued to argue with me, the intensity of emotions, feelings I had for her reached a pinnacle. I flipped off the light, taking several strides toward her.
She backed away, her breathing ragged. The damn game was continuing.
“As I said. We need to leave. Get your things.” This time I commanded her.
“I’m not going with you.”
“Yes, you are.”
“Why? So I’m forced to marry you?” She gasped slightly, finally realizing my intentions. “My God. That’s what this is all about. Money.”
“No, my beautiful creature. I couldn’t care less about your money.”
“Then what? Why?”
“Because I can’t live without you.” The admittance seemed to surprise her. I could sense her resolve crumbling. I moved closer, sliding the weapon into my jacket.
“What is tonight’s game, Zorro?”
“Do you still believe we are playing roles, my delicious creature?”
“What else could it be?”
“It’s time to cut the pretense. I know who you are,” I said, trying to keep my tone even. She was ready to bolt. That was easy to sense. “That should be obvious to you by now. There is no reason to hide any longer. You tried to run from me. You should have known better. There isn’t a place you can hide where I won’t find you.”
“Who are you really?”
“You know exactly who I am, Carmella. And you know the reason I’m here,” I said and as I thought about Devon, the bloodlust nearly consumed me. “Bastard.”
“What are you talking about?”
I took a deep breath. It was time to end this. “Your uncle and I used to be close friends. Do you remember me? I assume you do, which is why you ran.”
As I moved closer, she continued to try to convince me she wasn’t Carmella Rosario. Perhaps that’s the only way she’d been able to cope with the tragedy. When she bolted into her office, slamming and locking the door, something broke inside of me. Without hesitation, I kicked in the door.
“Tsk. Tsk. You’re a very bad girl. I can see I’m going to need to punish you.”
Noticing the blade she had in her hand, all I could do was smile.
“You’re never going to touch me again.” She pointed it toward me, taking shallow breaths.
“You don’t seem to understand that you’re already mine.” As she glanced toward the door, I realized my patience had reached the end. “If you try and escape, your punishment will be worse.”
“And if you try and touch me, I’ll cut you. Trust me, Cruz, if that’s even your real name, my aim is spectacular.”
“My name is Riccardo Montenegro, but my friends call me Cruz.” The dim lighting was enough to allow me to see the moment the past came back to her, the day we’d met, the beginning of a destiny that we couldn’t ignore. She rushed toward me, lifting her arm.
“You bastard! You killed my family.”
I snapped my hand around her arm, furious about her accusation. Of course Devon would lie to her. “Let go of the knife, Carmella.” I twisted her arm, trying to get her to drop the knife.
“My name is Eden.”
