Page 119 of Assassin's Obsession

"Sì. Capisco."

I climb off him. "I want the word to go out tomorrow. Remind your sister and the rest of your family of my nonna's maxim and the consequences if they forget it."

The capo nods fervently, sending droplets of blood and spit flying from his mouth.

"Your guards are alive. This time."

If they worked for Severu, I'd kill them for their incompetence. But can you really blame a poorly trained dog for the deficiencies of his master?

The next day, I get a call from one of Candi's biological brothers. Renato and Cosimo want to get to know the sister they never knew about.

My first instinct is to say no. More people in Candi's inner circle mean more people I have to share her attention with. I'm a jealous bastard where she's concerned, but I agree to meet them anyway.

Unfortunately, they're not much like either of their parents and their desire to know Candi seems sincere.

After warning them what will happen to them, in detail, if they hurt her in any way, I agree to ask her if she wants to meet them.

Go me, being a good boyfriend and putting her needs above my own.

The author on that fucking book about healthy relationships has a lot to answer for.

Chapter 31

ANGELO

There's a light tap on my office door when I'm going over intel recently received from Severu regarding my mother and her husband.

They're in the US already, having arrived in Boston yesterday.

"Come!" I call, assuming it's one of my men.

But it's Candi. Her hair up in a high ponytail, she's dressed casually in jeans and a sweater that clings to her curves. An instant desire to slide my hand up the naked skin of her stomach under that sweater washes over me.

"Have you got a second?" She tugs nervously at the hem of her sweater, but there's a determined glint in her eyes.

I left her visiting with her mom in the conservatory, Mars laying at their feet. The women and Cookie have stayed the last two nights. Mira seems to enjoy the freedom of the estate. But maybe Candi's going to try to tell me she wants to go back to the apartment.

"For you? Always." Standing, I come around the desk so it's not a barrier between us. But that's not enough, so, I lean back against it and pull her into me. "What do you need,piccola gatta?"

"I'm on the schedule to work tomorrow."

I'm not sure which argument I would least like to have. The inevitable one regarding her wanting to gohomeor this one.

Candi's showed I can't predict her responses when she went ballistic over the joint checking account I opened for us. I told her about it when she mentioned paying Cookie's afterschool winter activities fee.

I like having things with both our names on them. Candi, not so much.

She accused me of treating her like a whore and said she wasn't taking money for sharing my bed. I told her it wasourbed and what's mine is hers.

"How can I see you as a whore?" I asked, genuinely confused. "We're getting married someday."

That really set her off.

When I tried to calm her down by telling her that no man in his right mind would pay a million dollars for two nights of sex, she threatened to castrate me and put my balls in a jar for safe keeping.

The angry sex after was off the charts, but I didn't like her calling herself that.

Which is why I haven't mentioned the other financial arrangements I've made for her. Though maybe since I made them for her mom and sister too, she won't take it the same way.

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