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“They’re yourfamily, Elias. Family should be kind to each other.” The way she simplified the explanation made my frown grow.
“They aren’t my family.”
Now we were both frowning, perfect. Ramona didn’t understand how my home was run. While things might be all perfect at the Franzolli home, mine wasn’t the same.
Here, it was eat or be eaten. If I didn’t stay on the top and make my position clear, then someone else would try to take what belonged to me. I couldn’t lose my power, not when I finally got Ramona at my side.
Known as an outsider for my appearance alone, I’d never look at the people inside my home asfamily. Disgusting. I only needed one person and she was in my arms.
Reaching the door to my room, she wiggled enough to get released. Before I could complain, she opened the door and stepped inside.
“Well, it’s nice to see one room without any bullet holes,” she murmured as she looked around. “You know, I kind of expected you to have a giant portrait of me hanging in here.”
“If the option was available, then I would,” I admitted, “but you hardly ever left that home. Getting a picture unnoticed would be impossible.”
“Antonio never let me leave, you know. Said the world is one dangerous place.” She ran her hand along my desk, her eyes cast low. “Every time I’ve left that house, it’s because I ran away. Be it by myself, or with a member of my family. You’d be surprised how many men were willing to cross Antonio just to please me.”
I rested my back against the door, crossing my arms across my chest. “Are you trying to make me jealous? If so, it’s working.”
Her lips twitched upward. “I’m simply explaining why you haven’t seen me around.”
“Well, my home is not a prison, Ramona. You can leave as you please as long as you always return. Though, if a man is stupid enough to put his hands on you, I don’t believe I can be rational.”
“I won’t need another man, Elias. You have nothing to worry about.” Her smile grew as she twisted around to take a look at my bed. “Giant bed for just one guy.”
I abandoned the door, stalking toward her.
“Perfect size for the two of us if I say so myself.”
She twisted around, catching me off guard. Her cheeks were stained pink, similar to how she’d looked after our kiss ended. Falling back, she plopped down on the bed.
“Not tonight.”
“No?” My body screamed at the rejection. I wondered what I had done to extinguish the heat in her gaze only minutes ago.
Her smile remained as she nodded. “We’re on limited time, Elias. If I’m supposed to write out some heartfelt vows, I think I need to learn more about my future husband. Plus, I’m notthateasy.”
I liked that. I’d never get used to Ramona calling me her husband. What a lovely distraction.
I sat next to her, kicking off my shoes to get comfortable. I had a feeling we’d be here for a while.
“Where should I even start?”
“How did you get tied up with the Mariani family?” she asked. As I expected, she also must have believed me to be an outsider.
“My mother had married Enzo’s brother. I’m not sure if you remember Enzo. Growing up, you should already know you can’t ignore the dangerous life, even if no one speaks about it. Once I reached the right age, I was offered a position as a grunt. Slowly, I worked my way up.”
She sat up a bit straighter, her brows shooting up. “Wait, you killed your uncle to take his spot?”
I lifted a brow, “who in the hell said I killed Enzo?”
“Antonio–”
“–is an idiot,” I finished with an eye roll. “Enzo died due to natural causes. A heart attack. Not by my hand, thank you. I took his spot because I was his nephew, the closest to a son he had.”
Her smile softened as she continued watching me. “I’m sorry for assuming you were brought in some other way. I’ve just never seen a man like you before.”
“A man like me?” I sighed, already knowing what she was referring to.
