Page 52 of Not Mine to Keep

He took the bait. Gave me the three months I’d actually hoped for. I still wanted to chuck my glass at him for the pregnancy comment. It wasn’t time to lose control when I was managing to get him to agree without much fight, though. I had to assume my father and Emilia had already planted the New York idea in his head and given him the nudge, warming him up before this conversation.

“Define ‘one way or another,’” I remarked, unable to stop my tone from dropping low, all the way to the depths of hell, where this man would soon forever live.

“If you can’t get her pregnant naturally, then we’ll have the doctor artificially inseminate.”

Now I needed a drink.

“I had my people look into your medical records back in New York. Seems you get regularly checked, given your active sex life. And based on what I read, you’re clean and fertile. We wouldn’t be having this conversation otherwise.”

I swallowed, trying to control myself. To not go for him now. I’d managed to hold myself back from killing Rocco last night, but this fucker was testing my patience.

“If I find out you lie with another woman and cheat on your wife, my men will cut off your testicles, understood?”

“You’re the cheat, not me,” I reminded him.

“Have you ever been in a relationship to test your fidelity?”

I wasn’t about to satisfy him with an answer or think about my ex. So I took another sip, and the grappa warmed my chest.

“Tonight, my men will be in the bedroom while you consummate the marriage to ensure there’s no use of protection.”

At that, I snapped. The glass slipped from my hand, and I started for him. When his guards hurried in, barking out orders in Italian to step back, I hesitantly surrendered. I was still close enough to squeeze the life from him as I warned, “You put your men in the room with us, and it’ll be them who lose their balls, I can assure you of that. No one sees my wife but me. Non-fucking-negotiable.” My body locked tight as I stared him down, and the prick smiled.

He was testing me. My limits. Control. Myfeelingsfor her. And I was pretty sure I’d shown my cards. Iwouldprotect his daughter no matter what.

“Fine, fine. Just outside the room, then. And they’ll come in after consummation to make sure it’s been done.”

The way he could so easily talk about his daughter being fucked ... Well, I’d really, really enjoy taking my time to make his death painful. “I won’t force myself on her. If she doesn’t want to ‘consummate’”—I tossed his ridiculous word back at him—“then it won’t be happening.” Not that I had plans to have sex with Callie. Period. I only needed his people to think we were actively trying to provide him an heir.

“I see the way you two look at each other. You can’t fake that.”

I ignored his words. Well, did my best not to think about what he’d said. Did I want Callie? Yeah, the woman was gorgeous. But would I ever have sex with her, even if she wanted it? Hell no.

“I have more conditions.” Armani set aside his glass, went over to a leather chair, and snatched his suit jacket.

Realizing my hands were in fists, I unfurled them and faced Armani as he buttoned up.

“The wedding night happens here. Tomorrow, you can leave. But two of my trusted men will fly on your jet with you back to New York. They’ll be staying in your home for protection.” He lifted his hand as if worried I’d protest. And yeah, I planned to.

I not only didn’t trust his men, but also, having his people in my house meant I’d be forced to share a bedroom with my wife to keep up appearances.

“You want her in New York this summer? This is the only way.” He made a dismissive hand gesture. “Have your people check into their backgrounds if that makes you feel better. But they’re coming, or she’s not going.”

“Fine,” I gritted out, hating myself for giving in, but I was too close to getting what I wanted to start shit now.

“I need your word you plan to do everything in your power to protect the DiMaggio organization, too.” He walked my way and had the fucking nerve to offer his hand, as if my word were as good as my bond.

“Your daughter, you mean?” I stared at his palm, not ready to give him mine.

“I already know you will keep her safe. Die for her. Your eyes don’t lie.” He angled his head, waiting for my hand—mysubmission. “But my family name, the bloodline, and my people in the organization must also be protected with your last breath. Especially the grandson you’ll give me.”

This favor to Gabriel was turning into quite the mindfuck, but I accepted the man’s hand and shook on it. And damn it to all hell, my word was something I’d never broken before, and now I’d have to.

“One more thing,” he said, once our palms departed from the handshake. “I need you to work on teaching my daughter to be more like you. Help her see the way.”

“What do you mean, more like me?”

He smiled. “You may be a Costa, but you’re no saint. You’ve racked up quite the number of bodies since you met my daughter last weekend, just to protect her. But that doesn’t change what you are. A killer. She needs to see the light. Understand it’s okay to let that part of her out, too.”

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