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“About...About getting m-married?” she stutters. “I don’t even know you that well.”
“Many marriages have started with less,” Luca says, nodding as if he’s made up his mind. “I think it’s a good idea, Mia. Dante is a good man, and he’ll take care of you.”
Mia stares at her father, her mouth gaping open and shut like a fish. “Papa, I don’t—”
“You don’t want to marry me?” I ask, raising an eyebrow and smiling at her. “And here I thought you liked me,” I tease.
Mia blushed an even brighter red. “Of course I like you,” she mumbles. “But marriage is serious.”
I hum. “And you’re so young,” I point out, and Mia frowns.
“I’m notthatyoung,” she complains.
“Then you’re old enough to make your own decisions,” I say, and she stares at me, something flashing in her blue eyes.
“Of course I am.”
“So, what’s your decision, Mia? Will you marry me?” I ask, leaning across the table to take her hand in my own, running my lips across her knuckles. She shivers, and that’s when I know I’ve got her.
“Can I have some time to adjust to the idea before the wedding?” she asks meekly.
I shrug. “Of course. Whatever you want.” I pause. “But I would like you to move in with me as soon as possible.”
Mia’s eyes widen and she looks at her father, who smiles and nods.
“It’s time you left the nest, Mia,” he says softly. “You’ve been so sheltered ever since the shootout.”
I hum in agreement, even though I didn’t know that she’s been cooped up in the house basically since the shootout that I’d saved her from. I still have a bullet scar on my upper left bicep from it, but I’d do it all over again.
Not because I get to use her now but because she was only a kid.
She’s got to be nearing twenty-one now, at least old enough to drink, old enough to marry, and since I’m only using her for one purpose, that’s fine with me.
She stands up and pulls at her dress and I notice how thick her thighs are and my mouth goes dry.
Well... maybe two purposes. It wouldn’t be so bad to bed her while I’m trying to get closer to her father, get the proof that I need.
Mia excuses herself from the table and Luca turns to me.
“This isn’t just some scheme, is it?” he asks in an eerily calm voice.
I shake my head. “Absolutely not. My father wished for Mia and I to marry, and I want to obey his wishes. That’s all.”
“But you’re not in love with my daughter.”
“Love comes, does it not?” I ask, although I have no intention of falling in love. I don’t even know if I can. I’ve never opened myself up enough to a woman, even after months-long flings. My life style doesn’t bode well for life-long love. Love is a tool everyone else can use to hurt me with and I can’t afford to let them.
“You’re right,” Luca murmurs. “My wife and I, we didn’t know each other when she came from Russia,” he admits.
I look at him as if fascinated, although I’ve heard this story before, from my father.
“I suppose it wasn’t love at first sight,” I muse, and Luca barks out a laugh.
“Absolutely not. She was terrified of me at first. But now...” He looks up at the family portrait of him, his wife, and Mia. “Now, she’d do anything for me and I’d die for her.”
“That’s a lovely story,” I say, trying to keep the sarcasm out of my voice. I hate Luca Lorenzo, but I need to get as close to him as I can, to find out all his secrets. “Does that mean you’ll give me your blessing to marry Mia?”
Luca looks at me for another long moment. “I don’t think I have to tell you that if you hurt her...”
