Page 26 of Code Name: Michelangelo

Her mouth gaped. “What did you just say?”

The words were different, but Pen’s tone was identical to when Tara had told her she informed the other three partners about the forgery scandal. I wanted to smile, to pull her into my arms, and tell her how much I loved her fire. However, since I was on the receiving end of her ire, I steeled my reaction.

“If I’m right, the group we’re talking about infiltrating may be one of the biggest crime organizations in Italy. Maybe even the world.”

She folded her arms. “Then, why did you suggest I get involved in the first place? Or was it all just a ruse to…”

The muscles in my shoulders tensed. “Finish your sentence.”

She waved her hand. “This was what you wanted, right? Me. In bed. Us fucking like bunnies.”

I kept my gaze riveted to hers while I thought through my response. I’d witnessed Penelope push people away before they could do it to her. The only exception, outside a couple of older family members who were no longer living, was the tribe. Sure, they’d had ups and downs, particularly with Tara, but they’d resolved a number of misunderstandings and remained friends.

I’d paid attention to the romantic relationships she had, most of which were over before I realized they’d started. As far as I knew, Penelope had ended every one.

“I knew it,” she muttered. She stood, but I grabbed her wrist before she could escape.

“You’re wrong.”

She tried to yank away, but I pulled her back on my lap. I gripped her nape and brought my face close enough to hers that, with a single breath, we’d touch.

“Is that it? I’m wrong. Nothing else to say?” she snapped.

“I promised I’d never clip your wings. You are everything to me, Penelope. You must know how much I?—”

She slammed her mouth into mine, using an angry kiss to stop me from saying the words that were too terrifying for her to hear.

Maybe now wasn’t the time, but one day soon, she’d be ready to accept that what I felt for her was real. More real, more important, more essential than anything else that had or would happen in either of our lives. I’d do whatever it took to convince her of what was already burned on my heart. She and I belonged together. Forever and always.

“What will it take to convince you that it wasn’t just about sex for me?”

She raised a brow.

“I’m not joking, Butterfly. Tell me what I can do to convince you I want it all with you.”

“You can’t.”

I cocked my head. “Now, you’re just being obstinate.”

“You’ll never agree to it.”

“I can’t very well agree to anything if you don’t tell me what it is.”

“No sex.”

9

BUTTERFLY

Iexpected Brand to scoff or react as though I’d made a joke. He did neither. He studied me in a way no one, other than him, ever had. From the first day we met, each time he looked at me, I felt as though he could see inside my soul—every doubt, every vulnerability, every insecurity—the very things I worked so hard to hide from everyone, including my four best friends.

I’d seen my parents use one another’s weaknesses against each other every chance they got. Before the divorce and afterwards. Still, to this day, they exploited whatever they could to get the upper hand. I’d vowed long ago that no one would ever hold such power over me.

Until I met Brand. It wasn’t that I shared. He just took. And now, it was so much worse. There was nothing casual about our intimacy. When our naked bodies came together, it had felt like the window to not just my soul but my heart flew wide open and nothing was left hidden.

If all it was for him was finally getting me into bed, I’d be devastated. It would mean the only man I thought I could maybe have a future with would be out of my life for good.

“If that’s what it will take to prove how much I care for you, then that’s what we’ll do. Or won’t do, as it were.”

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