Page 20 of Stolen Union

Freedom enough to escape, and then … what? Go back to living under lock and key with Rocco? Is that what I want?

Neither option sounds good to me, which, in turn, leaves me more conflicted.

“Do you, Dante Romano, take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife?” Reverend John asks.

“I do,” Dante responds in a crystal clear voice. Hearing him say that jolts me to the core. This is really happening. We’re really getting married. I kind of want to laugh at how much this will piss off Rocco.

“And do you, Gabriella De Luca, take this man to your lawfully wedded husband?”

Do I? Well, seeing as I don’t have any other choice …

“I do,” I say, trying not to sound too annoyed.

“I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”

Dante smirks as he cups my face and leans down to kiss me. I hold my breath as our lips touch. The kiss only lasts a moment, but at that moment, I know what I just did.

I just sold my soul away to a bad man.

And I don’t regret it.

CHAPTER 9

Dante

“You don’t have to blindfold me again,” Gabriella says as we leave the church. “We’re married now.”

“That doesn’t mean I trust you. I might have a claim on you, but that won’t stop your brothers from trying to kill me.”

She stops and digs in her heels. “So, then, why kidnap me in the first place if you didn’t want my brothers to kill you?”

I lean in close to her, meeting her gaze. “Because I wanted you for myself.”

She gulps. “Oh.”

“Exactly. Now, get back in the van.”

She dances away from me. “But it’s our honeymoon. You’re really going to bring me back to your gross cabin just to lock me up again?”

“One—my cabin isn’t gross. And two—I’ll only lock you up so I can have my way with you.”

“And what way would that be?”

“I know you’re a virgin, Gabriella, but you can’t be that naive.”

She huffs, crossing her arms. “I never said you got to have your way with me.”

“What do you think we’re going to do when we get back to the cabin? Hold hands and nothing else? I want you, Gabriella. There’s no use denying it. And I think you want me, too.”

“Cocky much?”

I smirk. “Very much.”

She looks around the street and points at a clothing shop. “Ooh! Clothes. I need some new clothes.” She hurries across the street before I can stop her.

“Gabriella, you’re not going clothes shopping. I’ll buy you things to wear.”

“You haven’t yet.”

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