Page 77 of Forced Vows

He remembers me saying that in Severu's office?

"It's not dramatic to speak the truth."

"Here's some truth for you, if you had gotten into trouble that night, you couldn't have called on your bodyguards because you drugged them."

"I researched the dose of Rohypnol to give each of them based on their size. They were never in any danger."

"You think I fucking care if your bodyguards died from their roofies?"

"Yes." Miceli can be merciless and a real jerk, but he's also a good leader who will put his life on the line for his men.

Kara felt the need to share those stories.

I don't like the way they make me feel toward him, but no way does he dismiss the lives of my uncle's men as unimportant. If we were at war? Yes.

But now we're in an alliance.

"The only thing I'm thinking about right now is what could have happened to you. You left yourself unprotected with no hope of backup."

I sigh. "You're right. I thought I was safe, but it was a risky thing to do."

"I'm right?" His eyes narrow. "Are you saying that to get me to shut up?"

"Do people do that a lot to you?" I ask with exaggerated wide eyes.

"No one does it twice." The look he gives me makes me shiver.

And it's not in fright.

"I know I took a risk doing what I did in Portland and I should never have drugged my guards. They trusted me and I took advantage of that."

"If a leader's men can't trust him, then he can't trust them to have his back."

"I'm not a mafia leader."

"You're the niece of the mob boss and you will be an underboss's wife soon enough. Our men, at least, will listen to you and look to you for certain things when I'm not around."

"What things?" I ask, intrigued despite myself.

"It depends on what role you choose to play in my life, but I need to know that you are safe and that means you don't circumvent security measures meant to protect you."

"I never did before and I won't again." I might have a little of my family's ruthlessness but the guilt afterward is all mine. "Your men are safe with me."

"Give me your word, or I have to warn them all not to take food or drink from you."

"I promise I will never drug one, or more of your people unless my life is threatened by them or something they are doing."

He stares at me. "You could have stopped at the not drugging part."

"But I can't vow not to protect myself."

"It's my job to protect you and my men will give their lives for you if they have to."

"Then there's nothing to worry about."

"You'll come to me if you're worried. You won't take matters into your own hands."

"But will you listen? It's easy to say my safety is your responsibility, but if I tell you something one of your people is doing and they say they are not, who are you going to believe?"

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