Page 145 of Assassin's Obsession

Miceli whistles. "Damn, Candi's got some backbone."

Ignoring the compliment, even though it makes me preen a little on the inside, I turn and face Angelo. "So, everything's okay now?"

"Yes."

"Did you get hurt?" Wanting to run to him and hold on tight, I can't help taking a single step closer.

I force myself to stop though. There's something off about Angelo. Why isn'thecrossing the distance between us?

Scoffing sounds come from the mafia elite peanut gallery.

But Angelo just shakes his head.

What is it with him staying over there giving off that don't-touch-me vibe? Doesn't he realize how I crave his arms around me? Mom always says,start as you mean to go onand I mean to have a good relationship with Angelo.

His book is right about one thing for sure. Open communication is key to a good relationship.

"I need you to hold me right now." I lay it out there for him. No dressing it up, or trying to hedge to protect my pride.

He takes a step forward and then back again. His fists bang against the side of his hips. "I'm covered in blood. I'm Death right now."

"Remember, you told me you're always Death? And I told you I know that. Do you think seeing the evidence with my own eyes makes it different for me? It doesn't, beloved. Not even a little." And if that puts my moral compass in grayscale, I can live with it.

"She's right." He indicates Perla with his chin.

"Pretty sure she's not." I have a hard time believing Perla is right about anything, but especially anything to do with her son.

"Iama monster."

Severu grunts. "Aren't we all?"

"I'm not disgusted by you or scared of you. You're my beloved, monster tendencies and all." I smile a little. "Besides, isn't this the time of year for monsters to find love?"

Tomorrow night is Halloween and I'm going to make sure it's the best one my monster has ever experienced.

Angelo peels his gloves off and shoves them in one of the pockets of his cargo pants. Then he reaches for me. I don't wait for any more of an invitation and rush forward, throwing myself against him. Wrapping my arms around him, I press my cheek to his chest over his heart.

Hearing the steady, thump-thump-thump, I soak in the safety I find there.

The tangy scent of copper tells me his black clothes are probably soaked in blood and it's no doubt getting on my clothes right now too. I don't care.

Angelo holds me tight, rocking me side to side and whispers a bunch of Italian, I don't understand, but I know what the wordsmean. They mean he loves me.

He cares about me. He can't live without me.

He's going to stalk me forever.

Okay, I'm not sure about the last one, but the rest rolls off him in heady waves that wrap around my heart.

"That's our cue to leave you two lovebirds alone," one of the two De Luca brothers says. "We'll put men on this rat to make sure she goes straight to the airport without passing go and right back to Sicily, never to darken our shores again."

That's definitely Miceli, but I don't look to see if I'm right. I'm too busy soaking up the comfort of Angelo's arms around me.

There's a scuffle and Perla yells, "Take your hands off me!"

"The passenger helicopter will land in the street in front of the house in thirty minutes to take you and Candi back to Long Island." That bossy tone must be Severu.

And then there's silence and I sigh happily. We're alone. Finally.

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