Page 14 of Vicious Union

Emilio actually looks properly chastised but only for a second. It was a glorious second, though. “Fine. You’re right. This wasn’t your fault. But this is why you need to be careful. I might not always be here to keep you safe. You need to keep yourself safe.”

“I’ve been keeping my self safe for years,” I tell him as I start walking down the street. I want to get away from that damn alleyway as fast as possible. “But now I want to live. Before I’m married to you, and you keep me locked up forever.”

“I never said I’d lock you up forever.”

“No?’

He shrugs. “I’d keep you locked up until you were old, and no man wanted to harass you anymore.”

I stare at him until I realize he’s joking. “I didn’t realize you were capable of making a joke.”

“I can surprise you. I’m not all serious all the time.”

“Really? Because the Emilio I know has been nothing but serious.”

“You don’t know all of me.”

I huff. “That’s what I want to get to know. I want to learn more about you.”

“So, then, why did you run away from me?”

We reach a bench and sit down. Well, Emilio sits down. I plop down dramatically just because.

“I thought it would be fun,” I say, shrugging. My feet are a little sore from running barefoot down a New York street. Not my smartest move to date.

“That’s the reason?” He scoffs, shaking his head. “Caterina, you’re trouble.”

“But you like trouble,” I say, sidling up to him.

“No,” he says pointedly before taking my shoulders and sliding me away from him. “You’re not going to flirt your way out of this. That tactic doesn’t work on me.”

“Tactic? It’s not a tactic, Emilio. We’re getting married. Why can’t we just take a moment to talk to each other?”

He shifts on the bench. “Because I don’t talk about myself. I don’t see the point.”

It’s my turn to scoff. “Then how am I supposed to get to know you? How are we supposed to have a happy marriage if we never talk?”

“I don’t need a happy marriage. I’ll do my duty. I’ll marry you. After that, we can do our own thing.”

“That’s not true.”

He looks at me. “How is that not true?”

“Because you’re embarrassed of me,” I whisper, leaning in closer to him. His eyes flick to my lips and back up. I try to not think too hard about that. “And because you’re embarrassed of me, you’re not going to want me doing my own thing. You’re going to keep my locked up forever, so you can protect your precious reputation. Do I have that right?”

He clears his throat and averts his gaze.

I nod. “I have that right.”

“You know, most women would be grateful I just saved their life. Most wouldn’t be arguing with me on a bench late at night.”

“I am grateful you saved me.” I rest my hand on his arm, and he looks down at with surprise. “But you’re stubborn and bossy and just plain annoying.” I take my hand away.

“I’m stubborn, bossy, and annoying? Look at yourself in the mirror, Caterina.”

I gasp. “How am I bossy? Stubborn, I’ll accept. Annoying … Well that’s just rude. But bossy? I’m not telling you what to do with your life.”

“You’re insisting we talk to each other.”

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