Page 51 of Stolen Bride for the Don

“Massimo’s mad because Killian gave him the shot you insisted on,” Crew says. I toss him a glare, but I doubt it’s effective because my lids are starting to involuntarily slide shut. I fucking hate painkillers.

She gives me a look. “I’m sure Massimo is self-aware enough to know that without that shot, he’d be in a world of pain, right?”

Fuck. I give her a short nod and turn to Crew who’s beaming a smug smile. “Where’s Isaac?”

“He’s in the basement dealing with–” he trails off with a quick glance at Andrea.

“Tell him to get in touch with all the dons at the dinner tonight. I want to hold a live conference in twenty minutes. Faster if possible” –before I succumb to sleep. He nods and leaves with Killian.

“The painkiller will knock you out soon. Are you sure a conference is the right thing to do now?” Andrea asks as we enter the bedroom.

“I want them to know exactly what happened before Dominic and his brother can make up a cover story. Right now, they don’t know the extent of my injuries, and the last thing they'll be expecting is me calling a meeting.”

“Catching them when they’re off guard will make them vulnerable. Giving us the upper hand,” she says and nods in understanding.

I smile, loving how she says us. We’re in this together. “My wife is a genius,” I murmur, pulling her to my chest.

“Hudson,” she starts as I tug her chin up with my uninjured hand.

“Just one kiss. Are you going to begrudge a man who just had a close brush with death one measly kiss?”

“It was hardly a brush with death,” she protests, “and that’s a preposterous request.” She licks her lips nervously. Does she know how tempting it is? Little tease. It takes all my strength not to kiss her, but this time I need her to make the first move. Come on, pet.

Her hands lift up slowly and land on my chest. “Just one little kiss,” she coos, her eyes jumping to mine then to my lips.

“Just one,” I echo as her hands crawl up my chest and around my neck. She pulls me to her face. Fuck. I groan as our lips press together; the kiss is all the sweeter because she’s the one initiating it. She moans, digging her nails into my neck as she parts her lips.

I thrust my tongue into the warm heat of her mouth, tasting her. She moans again. Her tongue caresses mine and I jerk. She immediately withdraws her tongue, but I close my mouth around it and suck hard. She gives in, pressing her body into mine. My hand slides into the silky softness of her hair, angling her head to deepen the kiss. She tastes like the wine we had after dessert. I chase the flavor like an addict, wanting…no needing more. Her taste is like a drug coursing through my veins.

Her little moans drive me wild, making me kiss her harder and more frantically. I run my hand down her back and press her to me, needing her to feel the effect she has over me. I stoop down, my lips still attached to hers and push up, thrusting my hard cock against her. She gasps, tossing her head back. Then the door swings open.

I turn to the intruder with a snarl. Isaac starts, raising his hands up. Andrea shoves at my chest, and I let her go reluctantly.

“I’ve set up the live conference you requested.” He shakes his hand, but only then do I notice the laptop.

“I’ll-uh-let you have some privacy for the meeting,” Andrea offers and practically runs out of the room. Isaac is silent as I sit on the armchair in front of the fireplace and place his laptop on my lap. I can feel his judgment.

“What?” I snap.

“Just be careful. If they find out just how much you love her, it won’t end well for either of you.” He’s given me a similar warning before, but he didn’t use the L word.

“I don’t lo–” But concerned faces pop up on the screen before I can deny it.

“Massimo, I just heard the terrible news. I’m so glad to see you’re okay,” Bruno states and frowns.

“Do you know who did it?” Angelo asks, going straight for the jugular, and I’m glad. Now that the delectable distraction of Andrea is gone, I’m starting to feel really tired, so I need to make this meeting as short as possible.

“As a matter of fact, my men have apprehended the culprit.” My gaze lands on Dominic who’s trying his hardest to affect an unconcerned expression.

“You have?” his brother, Tomasi asks, sounding choked.

“I have efficient people around me,” I smirk. “I’ll cut to the chase; the engagement dinner tonight was a show of good faith from me to you; so I’m going to take one of you trying to kill me as a declaration of war.”

Everyone starts talking over each other, angry that I’d accuse them. I let them have their say for a minute.

“Gentlemen.” They quiet down when I interrupt, “I didn’t make that accusation lightly. The man who shot me is one of the guards who came with you all tonight.” The quiet becomes deafening. I relish it as I say, “More specifically, one of the Rossi’s men.”

“I hope that’s an accusation you can prove, Massimo. I won’t take it lightly, either,” Dominic barks.

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