AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I sigh as I walk over to her. I don't know what I thought would happen by not dealing with it sooner. I wanted her to come around to the idea. I wanted this to go easier.
I lean down in front of her, brushing her hair away from her ear.
“You're always pushing me, aren't you, Lina?” I whisper.
“I… don't mean to,” she stammers.
“I think you do,” I tell her. “I think you know that no matter what happens, you're safe with me. You’ve never had that before, so you keep testing your wings. With me, Lina, you can spread them fucking wide.”
“Antonio,” she breathes.
Just the sound of my name on her lips has me wanting to rush through this and get it over with. I want her back in my bed, her body completely open to me and those pretty lips whispering my name again and again.
I cup the side of her face, letting my thumb stroke along her cheekbone. I wish she knew how precious she is becoming to me. That will have to come with time, though. “Just remember,il mio tesoro, whatever happens, you will be safe with me.”
Her body jerks as she stares at me. I see the panic in her eyes, along with the worry etched in the lines on her forehead. I don't particularly like that I have to do things in this manner. Yet, she has left me with no choice. I didn't want to start off this way. Still, it’s imperative she has my name and protection far and wide. I know this is the best option for her, and I would do anything to make sure she's taken care of. She might hate me for manipulating her, but I can only hope that eventually, she will understand.
“What are you—” I kiss her to stop her from asking, from talking. I pull back the second her body relaxes, letting her catch her breath.
“Just remember that I would cut off my own arm before I did anything to hurt you, sweetheart.”
I glance over my shoulder at my men standing guard. “It's time. Emilia, give us ten minutes, and Victorio can escort you two to my office suites downstairs.”
Emilia nods, fidgeting in her seat, looking as if she wants to say something. I don't linger, and that’s partly because I don’t want to give her a chance to join in with Melina’s arguments. I kiss my woman’s forehead. I stand slowly, giving her one last look before walking off. The other men follow me. Niko rushes to my side, taking big strides to keep up.
“Are you sure you want to handle it this way?”
I laugh, almost stopping to stare at him for the audacity. “Look who’s talking.”
“What?” Niko asks, looking confused.
“You're worried about me doing this when you made your woman marry you while you were unconscious.”
“It was for her protection,” Niko grumbles under his breath.
“So is this.”
“Point made,” he huffs.
"I want my ring on her finger and for her father to know it when I strike," I tell him, my voice leaving no room for arguments.
“You're crazy. I figured you'd prefer a willing woman in your bed.”
“She will be willing,” I tell him, confidence oozing from my words while my insides churn. I hope Niko believes me because I'm starting to worry about how Melina will react when all is said and done.
I push the worry away. It has to be this way. We keep walking down the hallway. The only sound is our footsteps echoing against the marble tile. When we get to the elevator, there's a security panel I would typically have to punch a code into, but I left it disabled when I came up just now. I had hoped Lina and I would be riding down with joined hands. I should have known my stubborn woman would refuse to make it that simple.
Marco, Killian, and the Priest are already down in my conference room, waiting. The elevator doors open to what I often refer to as the center of operations. This area is basically the headquarters for DeLuca enterprises—both legal and illegal. Different hallways branch off where the men practically live since I have them working round the clock. Some have chosen to stay instead of having their own place, while others decide to crash when they're too tired to go home. The whole place is safe and locked up tighter than Fort Knox. It’s also designed to my style with lush, black leather couches and expensive art on the walls. Between the chandelier lighting, the decor, and the grand staircase, this space gives the illusion of a skyscraper luxury suite rather than a basement with caverns beneath filled with panic rooms and escape routes—exactly as I intended.
Killian and Marco look at me as I walk back into the conference center, and I sigh.
“I take it my sister was less than cooperative?”
“It appears my future bride is a bit stubborn,” I grumble. “Are we ready? We need to get this show on the road.”
“I will agree to this, because I think you’re right in that your name will afford her protection beyond my father’s reach. Still, if I sense my sister is scared of you or doesn't want this, I'm calling an end to it. I'll take Melina to a place my father won’t be able to find her,” Marco says, staring me down.
“If you knew how to do that, you already would have. Not to mention that if you even try now, you sign your death warrant. No one is taking her from me. She's the only reason I'm saving you, and let's not forget she will be the reason I am giving you the opportunity to become my Capo," I rumble, trying very hard to rein in my temper.No one will ever touch Melina—not even her own brother.
