Page 78 of Vicious Redemption

“What do you want us to do with this one, boss?” the larger of the two men asks, nodding toward Don Fiore’s lifeless form. He snorts. “Ship his head off to Elena with a note that says we’re coming for her next?”

My stomach plummets at the suggestion, and I glance nervously toward Leo. This time, I won’t intervene, regardless of his answer. Elena killed his father, after all. He has a right to seek whatever retribution he needs to bring his mind some peace. But I’m also of the strong belief that bodies should be laid to rest after the soul has departed. Chopping him up to send a message seems unnecessarily brutal when he’s already paid the ultimate price.

“Bury his body in an unmarked grave,” Leo states casually, hardly glancing at Don Fiore’s exsanguinated corpse. “Somewhere no one will know to visit or remember him.”

The command allows me to breathe freely once more. It seems more than fair—that Don Fiore should suffer the fate of being forgotten while Leo’s father will be remembered by all. In the back of my mind, I wonder what Leo might intend to do about Elena. But I don’t ask. I’m not sure I want to know one way or the other.

“Luigi, can I trust you to see this mess is properly cleaned up?” Leo asks, gesturing toward the bloody floor.

“Of course, sir.” The butler gives a slight bow.

And as the men focus their attention on their given tasks, my husband finally turns to look at me. He approaches slowly, his eyes inscrutable. And it makes my heart stutter.

I can’t tell if he’s mad or not, but suddenly, I feel the desperate need to defend my actions. “I’m sorry, Leo. I know you wanted me to stay in my room, and now I can see why I just—I just couldn’t stop thinking about it once I heard that your father had been poisoned, and I didn’t want you to punish the wrong man once I realized what might have happened.” My words spill from me in a nervous torrent, flooding together to make one, long, unbroken sentence. I just can’t seem to stop it.

“And I know I’m disobedient—” I add. “I know I might do things you don’t like or that you disagree with—but please believe me when I say I didn’t betray you. I swear I couldn’t, and I never want ever again…”

My words die on my lips as the last bit of distance separating us vanishes. I stare up into Leo’s fierce hazel eyes, certain he’s going to scold me. To condemn me for all the ways I’ve managed to rebel against and betray him—just since we woke up this morning even.

To my shame, I’ve lost track of how many reasons he has to be furious with me.

But rather than scolding me, like I anticipated, Leo cups the back of my head, his fingers combing into my hair, and he brings his lips down to mine as he kisses me passionately.

37

LEO

A gasp races between Tia’s lips at my unexpected kiss, and as my arm snakes around her waist, she melts into me as if my touch can ease all her troubles. Her hands find my chest, her fingers splaying across my heart like she’s savoring the feel of my heart. It beats boldly for her, determined to show just how deeply I love her, how desperately I need her to love me.

I know Tia went to great lengths to protect her father and prove his innocence.

It makes me irrationally jealous that Tia would show that kind of loyalty to anyone but me.

And at the same time, she didn’t just do it for her father. Her efforts also spared me a bloody and unnecessary war and a lifetime of misery. Because, despite everything, I don’t want to cause Tia pain. Ever. And I know that killing her father would have destroyed the love between us, regardless of the reason behind it.

Now, I can simply be grateful that the battle is over. The man responsible for killing my father no longer stains this world with his presence. And I’ve done it. I’ve risen to capo dei capi, the title I’ve striven for since my father first put me on this path. Even if he couldn’t see our family’s rise to power, I can honor him with the legacy.

And now, I can do what I crave most in the world, and take the woman I love to bed.

Running my hands down her curves, I grasp Tia’s athletic thighs and hoist her off the ground, wrapping her legs around my hips. Her arms twine around my neck as she clings to me willingly, our lips never parting.

Johnny and Rasco release simultaneous wolf whistles behind me, and I smile as Luigi scolds them in hushed tones. Tia laughs softly, her lips curving to match mine.

And without breaking our kiss, I carry her from the ballroom.

Fingers tangling in my hair, Tia kisses me more boldly as I make my way down the hall to our suite.

“Have I ever told you how fucking sexy you are?” I growl between kisses. “How much your intelligence turns me on?”

Tia hums with appreciation, her lips claiming mine with more force.

“Your determination makes you irresistible,” I rasp as her fingers loosen my tie. “I fucking love how fearless you are.”

Tia gasps as I find our door with her back, and when I grind forward against her hips, she releases a lascivious moan. My hand fumbles for the handle, and Tia pulls back as she gasps for breath.

“Leo, please forgive me for lying about the phone. It was stupid and reckless, and I see that now. Please believe me. I never intended to do anything to hurt you with it.” Her voice is almost tearful, her brown eyes glassy with emotion, and it tears at my heart.

We nearly fall inside the room as I finally get it open, and I kick the door closed behind me as I carry her to the bed.

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