Page 105 of The Merciless King

When she’s finished, I take her wrists before she can move away and tug her arms around me, then grip her long, dark hair in my fist and force her to face me.

“Nothing I say will change anything. You know in your heart what you mean to me. That needs to be enough.” My voice comes out rough.

Tears pool in Gianna’s eyes and my heart clenches.

“It’s not.” She cries softly, a tear escaping down her face as I close my eyes.

I drop my mouth to hers and all the pain and emotion comes out in guttural moans from us both. I push her back against the bed, her knees hitting, and she falls onto the mattress. My hands drop to either side of her head.

I don’t have time to fuck her, and I’m not sure if it’s a good idea. As if filling her one more time might make me turn to the dark side.

I can’t.

I’m a US Marine.

Nothing will ever change that.

Semper Fidelis.

Forever Faithful. Always Marine.

I take one last look at her beautiful face, so full of adoration and love for me. But it never belonged to me. I have used and betrayed her from the very beginning.

Knowingly.

Soon she’ll know the truth.

“Gianna, my beautiful princess. If you were mine, I’d love you until the end of time.” I cup her face and press my lips to hers, letting my eyes close. I keep them shut as I say, “Don’t get up. Stay here.”

“Braxton, wait.” She begs but I stand, averting my eyes, and then walk out of the room.

I can hear her cries, but I can’t do anything. I can’t make her someone she’s not. I can’t change who I am. And I can’t look back and see her pain.

Step by step, I make my way down the stairs, wondering if she’ll come after me. I imagine her crying out that she doesn’t know anything.

That her family means nothing and that only I do.

Begging me to take her away from all of this crime and abhorrent behavior.

She doesn’t.

Instead, Dante is waiting for me at the bottom of the stairs, his arms crossed, dressed in a pinstripe suit looking like something out of a men's magazine.

He’s a handsome asshole.

“Ready?”

I nod.

“Let’s go.”

GIANNA

I’M SO CONFUSED. My heart is breaking.

I know why we can’t be together, but Braxton doesn’t. He knows nothing about Leo Baldoni.

If you could belong to me, I would love you until the end of time.

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