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ELLA
Ifeel lost, staring at Mom’s coffin in the deep hole.
I have no blood family left on this earth. Dad died ten years ago, and now my Mom is dead too early. Criminals took both of them. I stand by the side of her resting place while a flood of anger coils to life inside me.
The crazy thing is I’m grieving when all she did was make my life hell. She never loved me. Her affair with money was far too important to her. And yet I loved her because she was my mom. Out of obligation, in a sense.
Remy Morrone is to blame for her death. He knew that she would be a target for his enemies, but didn’t provide her protection. And yet, I can’t voice that anger because I’m at his mercy. He has no reason to keep me under his roof. Since he announced my mom’s murder, I’ve been waiting with bated breath for him to kick me to the curb or worse…
I know he’s powerful. And I know he could easily force me into an arranged marriage.
The service is long finished, but I stand by the grave’s edge, unable to walk away. And for some reason, Remy is right by my side.
I feel his hand on my shoulder and flinch at his touch. “Ella, I know this is hard for you. And I’m sorry for what happened to your mom.”
I turn to face him, anger simmering beneath the surface. “You’re sorry? You could have prevented this by giving her more security, but you let her die.”
His jaw clenches. “Your mother went off on a fucking bender with my cash, so she wasn’t traceable. She didn’t tell me where she was going and just went. Are you saying I should have somehow read her mind and stopped her?”
My eyes widen. “She didn’t tell you she was going to Vegas?”
He shakes his head. “No, I got a note pinned to my suit saying she needed a break. Nothing else.”
“Oh...” I say, unsure what else to add since I practically accused him of not protecting her when she didn’t want his protection. Mom was stubborn like that.
“I don’t take the protection of my famiglia lightly, Ella. I had men looking for her the moment she left. As it wasn’t the first time that Erin kept her location from me.” He rubs a hand across the back of his neck. “It was foolish of me not to ask you if you knew where she’d gone.”
I purse my lips as I underestimated him. Even though I know he didn’t love my mom, he didn’t want her dead. “Sorry, I just assumed—”
“Assumed that because I’m a mobster that I’m a monster who doesn’t care if his wife lives or dies?”
“No, I don’t think you’re a monster,” I murmur, knowing I’ve never seen him like that despite who he is and the terrible things he does for a living.
A dark smirk twists his lips. “You should do because I am a monster, Ella. A dark and sadistic one.”
My stomach churns at his words, but even as he tells me he’s a monster I struggle to see him as anything other than a strong, protective man I want with every part of my soul.
“What’s going to happen to me now?” I breathe, finally asking.
His expression hardens. “It’s no use thinking about it now.”
I lick my dry lips. “But—”
“But nothing. We’re burying your mother right now. The future isn’t important.”
A flood of tears rush down my cheeks as my mom just died. The last thing I should be thinking about is whether my stepdad will kick me out. “I’m sorry.” I shake my head, trying to wipe the tears away, but they keep falling.
“Don’t apologize for showing grief. It’s natural.” His voice softens, and he’s closer when I glance at him.
“I’m not good at this, but come here,” he murmurs, his voice barely a whisper as he opens his arms to me.
I practically run into them, burying my face against his chest. He smells of musk and pine and home. His arms wrap around me, and This doesn’t feel like a platonic embrace which makes me feel guilty. My feelings toward him have been inappropriate since the day we met.
I want to stay wrapped in his arms and never leave. And I hate myself for it, especially thinking that here, of all places.
Remy clears his throat and releases me. When I look at him, I’m sure I see desire in his eyes for a moment, but it’s gone like an illusion. No doubt my fantasy is bleeding into reality. I need to get a grip.
“Are you still intending to marry me off?”
