Page 16 of Married to the Mafia

Her lips pursed together briefly. “I’m not willing to go through that.”

“I would never ask you to.”

Brandi shook her head briefly. “How else would that work? That man, he’s … he won’t stop.”

“You said he doesn’t know who I am?” He waited for her to incline her head before continuing. “Then he’s ignorant enough not to know what matters. That’s fine. You stay by staying close to me.” He’d catch an earful for this later, but he couldn’t let her run. He couldn’t let her disappear. She was too valuable.

Her eyes widened. “You want me to, what, move in with you?”

He let his lips lift in a smirk, reached out, and curved his fingers around hers. “Close. I want you to marry me.”

Brandi stared at him. After several seconds, she pulled her hand from his and twisted her shoulders enough to face him more head-on. “Sorry, what?”

Mikey found himself fighting the urge to touch her again, but he kept his hands to himself and said, “You’ll be free from your father the moment you take my name. And if the fucker who hurt you comes after you again, or if his employer sends someone new, they’ll learn fast what the name De Salvo means.” He motioned toward the far wall, in the vague direction of the office area she shared with Miguel. “In the meantime, you’ll get a self-contained office and more challenging jobs. You won’t have to run or look over your shoulder.”

She frowned at him. “No one gives a lifetime of protection for free. What would be expected of me, exactly?”

“You’ll live with me,” he confirmed. His home was far too big for one person, they could avoid each other for days if they chose. “You’ll take my name, and you’ll stand with me during necessary family events. Public appearances, anywhere paparazzi are more than likely. You’ll be family, it would be appreciated but not mandatory if you come to private family events.” He saw her brow dip as much as the swelling allowed, and he knew what she thought he was avoiding. “I’m not the kind of man who puts hands on a woman who isn’t interested. You could live on the opposite side of the property if you choose, the public doesn’t have to know.”

She said nothing for several more seconds. He waited for her to process. Finally, she asked, “What do you get out of this?” A choked, clearly bitter laugh escaped her and she reached up, prodding at her more swollen cheek. “A trophy wife?”

His lips lifted a little easier. “You try being the only unmarried sibling in a family-focused family. It’s obnoxious. So yes, I get a wife. I get someone to share meals with and keep me company.”

“And if I choose to live on the opposite side of your mansion?”

He snorted at her choice of words. “How about this. Commit to me for one year, and if all your problems are solved and you want out, I’ll let you out. You can walk with one hundred percent of everything you have to your name today and fifty percent of everything we, as a married couple, brought in during the year we were husband and wife.”

She studied him. “And if I stay?”

“Then you stay.” He held her stare. “Understand, I will insist on fidelity. If you find someone you can’t live without, our arrangement has to end first.”

“Can I expect fidelity in return?”

“Should I put that in the contract?”

“You said you wouldn’t force me.”

“I won’t, ever.” He kept his voice even and didn’t blink at the sign of discomfort in her eyes. “Nor will I look outside the marriage for satisfaction. I don’t ask for what I won’t offer, Brandi.”

She dragged in a breath, her gaze finally breaking from his and darting again to her waiting suitcase. “Fifty percent of whatever we bring in in the next year, or year and a half or however long it takes, is a hell of a paycheck.”

His lips twitched. “Yes, it is.” His brother was going to smack him upside the head for that offer. “And how long it will take will depend on what you need. We can marry this afternoon, wait to arrange a full formal wedding ceremony, or anywhere in between. One year of marriage starts the day we sign the papers.”

Her head whipped back around to him and she winced again, lifting a hand to cradle her temple. She pulled herself together after only a second and said, “I am not taking wedding photos looking like this. At least give me a couple days for the swelling to go down.”

He arched a brow. “So you agree?”

A flush stained her cheeks. “I’ll sign a contract that states what we’ve talked about.”

Good enough. Mikey nodded and stood, moving to scoop his phone off the desk. “We’ll hold off on the papers for a few days, but you should move in this afternoon. Unless you’d rather I spend the next few nights at your condominium?”

Her flush darkened. “Your place sounds bigger. And it won’t … feel like him.”

That was one way to remind him why he was doing this. Mikey slipped his phone into a pocket, popped down her suitcase’s telescoping handle, and held a hand out to her. “I’ll take you there, you can work remotely today. I’ll set you up. Is there anything else at your condo you want before I draft the paperwork?”

Brandi stared at his hand for a long second before allowing him to help her up. “Probably. I just threw a few days’ worth of clothes and my electronics in the suitcase because I knew it would be too obvious if I tried hauling more out the door.” She worried her lips briefly. “I don’t know if he’ll be watching the condo or the office, or if he’s off terrorizing other women when he thinks I’m working.”

Mikey tugged her to him, keeping his hand on hers, and stared down into her widened eyes. “He won’t be terrorizing anyone much longer. This is the last time I want you worrying about him.” He forced himself to release her, reached back, and handed over her purse. “When you’re ready.”

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