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“I’m a virgin,” she whispers.
I take a step back. Ihaveto. Otherwise, my instincts will take over. I’ll lift her over my shoulder and carry her into the nearest spare bedroom, throw her down, and tear off her clothes. Drive my dick deep into her inexperienced body and fuck her hard. Fuck herfor the first time.
“Is that okay?” she asks.
I reach forward, holding her hand tightly so she can feel my passion. “Nothing could stop me from wanting you, Scarlet. Never doubt that.”
“I just thought I should tell you,” she murmurs, smoothing her thumb over my knuckles. “I don’t want you to be disappointed.”
“You couldneverdisappoint me,” I say, kissing her again, with somehow more passion this time.
There’s only so long I can leave this, though, without being a complete jackass. “I need to tell you something, too. I should’ve told you right away, but you’re so damn distracting.”
“Iam?” she says, flushed and beautiful. “When I’m with you, Elio, it’s likepoof.” She laughs adorably. “Everything else just vanishes from my head. It’s like a superpower.”
“Russel is here,” I tell her.
Her smile drops immediately.
“That’s the special guest,” I go on. “Mom wants us to have dinner with him.”
“Maybe he’s not the shark,” she murmurs, a low note of hope in her voice.
“Maybe,” I say, “but when I mentioned your name, he seemed to know who you were. Something’s making this prick think he has power over us. The leader of theShanks.”
“The Shanks?”
“It’s his little gang. They’re worse than two-bit. Something’s happening here, and I intend to find out during dinner, but I need your help, angel.”
She stands up straighter. Pride touches her features. Pride fills me, too. She’s got so much fierceness in her, so much to pass on to our children. “After everything you’ve done for me, anything.”
“You’re my brave, beautiful virgin,” I tell her, kissing her forehead as gently as I can. Otherwise, I’ll take her virginity right now. “It’s time to find out once and for all. Together.”
“Together,” she says.
CHAPTER21
Scarlet
I expect Elio to let go of my hand when we walk into the large dining room. Though we’re girlfriend and boyfriend—terms that seem like massive understatements and downright perfection—I didn’t think he’d be so obvious about it in front of his parents and brother.
He holds my hand even tighter as we approach the table. Silverware gleams from each place. I recognize Luca from the restaurant. He stands, offering me a small smile. Alessia stands, too, keeping one hand on her husband’s. Russel remains seated, looking at me with a confusing expression on his face, a cross between gloating and panic. Like before, I could be reading too much into this.
Elio pulls out a chair and gestures for me to sit opposite Russel. When Elio sits, everybody else takes their seats, too. Elio is on one side of me, and Luca is on the other. Then it’s Alessia, Leo, and Russel.
Russel idly toys with a gleaming silver knife, looking around the table. “Thank you so much for having me, Alessia. It means a lot.”
Elio flinches when Russel uses her first name. I remember what myboyfriendand Italked about, the test we’re going to give to Russel. Surely, this is a way to find out once and for all. I’m glad to have an objective. It makes it easier than thinking about everything else.
Alessia flinches, too. She’s staring at the table. “You’re most welcome.”
“And you, sir,” Russel says, looking at Leo. “Well?” Russel glances at Alessia. “Does he have anything to say?”
He’s got a wicked grin on his face. Whatever’s happening here, Elio’s right. He thinks he’s in charge. He believes he has total control. Alessia leans down and puts her ear next to Leo’s mouth, and there’s no noise. If he’s speaking, it must be so, so quietly.
“He said you’re welcome,” Alessia says.
“Did he? What a man!”
