Page 22 of Assassin's Obsession

But I shake my head. "She's it for me, boss."

Fucking Candi is not going to a be a one-and-done for me. She's my future.

"What the hell does that mean?"

"She's my forever woman." One day, we'll get married.

Candi will be such a beautiful bride.

Severu's eyes widen before they narrow. "Better than anyone else, you realize how precarious things are right now. How much danger our families are in."

"That's why I'm not claiming her yet." I don't want a target on her.

"You don't think cutting off that asshole's hand is going to clue our enemies into how important she is to you?"

"Maybe, but it had to be done." Other men need to know she's off limits.

"So, then claim her and get her out of the club."

"Not yet." There's knowing. And there'sknowing.

Right now, she's a dancer I protect, but no one outside a very small circle knows why. Once I publicly claim her, she becomes my Achilles heel. Not that I'll be like that asshole Achilles and leave my vulnerability unprotected.

Human armor protects as well as some demigod's magic dipping sauce. And it's under my control.

Candi will never come to harm on my watch.

"I've got two of my team on her at all times." And I watch over her more than she, or anyone else knows. "But she's safer with me staying in the background for now."

"Does she have any inkling you're coming for her when things settle down?" Severu's look questions my sanity, but his words don't.

I'll take it.

I know my approach to life isn't like everyone else's, but that's why I'm so good at what I do. I see the way forward to reach my goals and I don't hesitate to take it, whatever the cost.

"She saw me skewer a man's hand for trying to touch her and by now, she's probably heard about Ronnie. I figure yes."

"And she isn't running?"

"Why would she run? I'm protecting her. You would do the same if somestronzotried to touch Catalina."

The death that lives in my heart is reflected in Severu's cold brown gaze. "Catalina is my wife."

"And one day, Candi will be mine." Her real name is Kathleen.

Cookie's social worker calls her Kath, but Candi never introduces herself that way and the people she's closest to call her Candi.

I'm one of those people. Whether she knows it yet, or not.

Sighing, Severu shakes his head. "Angelo, you need to let this go. She's not in the life and you don't know if she can be trusted with our secrets."

"What secrets? You don't think the dancers at Pitiful Princess know their club is owned by the mafia? For fuck's sake they probably work there because of the extra protection."

"That's not the point."

"No, the point is, she's mine."

"And if I ordered you to back off?"

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