AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I didn’t kill him,”I say, stepping into the dimly lit art room.
Daniella’s in front of an easel, a paintbrush in hand. I can see the tension vibrating across her body by the way her hand shakes around the brush.
“Fuck off, Christian,” she says, without looking at me.
“I could have, but I didn’t.”
“Give the man a medal,” she states, sarcasm dripping from her words.
“I didn’t do it because I don’t want to lose you.”
Those words effectively shut her up. She drops the brush and turns around to face me. Her blue eyes narrow.
“You don’t want to lose me? Or you didn’t want to look weak in front of all those people? That’s what all this is, isn’t it? When it all comes down to it, it’s about keeping up appearances, making sure they all remember that they can’t cross you without consequences. Making sure they all remember to fear you.”
“Do you fear me?” I toss out the question like my heart doesn’t skip a beat in anticipation of her answer.
Daniella ponders it for a long moment before shaking her head.
“I wish I did, but I’ve seen parts of you no one else has. I’ve seen how much you love your family, how much you fight to protect them. I know how much it has cost you. And I know what it took for you to get here. So no, Christian, I don’t fear you. I never could.”
My heart practically purrs in satisfaction of her answer. This woman will be the death of me one day. She should fear me, it’s in her best interests if she does. But the fact that she doesn’t sends a thrill through me. And chips past even more of my defenses until I feel the need to lay my heart bare before her.
“The Hart situation wasn’t because I was trying not to look weak,” I say to her. “It’s because I was—”
My fingers clench together as I fight to complete the sentence. Daniella’s eyes are warm and encouraging. I see the need in them, as well. She needs me to finish it. She needs to know how much I care.
“I was scared,tesoro. Scared that I would lose you. Scared that you would eventually realize that this is a mistake. I was scared you would choose him.”
Daniella takes a step toward me. “The Don doesn’t get scared. Fear is an emotion that’s far beneath you.”
Those words sounds like they were said by my father. Daniella didn’t know him; she never met him. But she knows me.
“When it comes to you, I feel every emotion,” I say passionately. “Fear, desire, lust.”
“You want me,” she says simply.
“More than I’ve ever wanted any woman. Any fucking thing. But I’m—”
“Scared,” she finishes. “I know. You’re scared you’ll ruin us.”
She’s close enough that I can reach over and touch her cheek. “You don’t think I’ll ruin us?” I question softly.
“I’m willing to gamble. It’ll be worth it.”
Worth it. It feels like my entire life has been a gamble, and until this moment, I never knew if I would win.
“No more false pretenses,” I say.
“No more lies.”
“No more fights.”
She gives me a dry look. “Really?”
I chuckle, my hand going to her waist and pulling her closer. “No more unnecessary fights,” I amend.
Her gaze flicks to my lips and her eyes heat. “You have me, Christian. You don’t have to be scared of losing me,” she tells me.
