Page 50 of Diavolo

"But I do not view you as an asset. Or a liability. I only see the woman I wish to marry, and your safety matters more than anything.”

"Not this again…"

"I speak the truth. In my eyes, your are priceless," Alessandro insisted. "You already own my cock. Soon, I think, you will own my heart as well."

Elyse leaned over to kiss his cheek, tauntingly, teasingly. "Don't insult me. At my age, I know a man's cock and his heart have nothing to do with each other. Give me the truth. The uglier, the better."

"Angelo—"

She shut him down, "Start talking. Or else, next time you get shot, I won't lift a finger to dig the bullets out of your body.I mean it. You'll be dead to me."

With a groan of frustration, Alessandro softened his resolve. "Very well. Have it your way.Savage woman."

Feeling savage, indeed, her glare sharpened, demanding,"Talk."

"Marcello was shielding someone from the bullet."

"Who?" Another pause from him. She pressed again,"Who?"

A bleakness settled over his handsome face when he finally answered, "Me."

12

His confession, surprisingly, coaxedneither fear nor shock from Elyse. Dwelling on such emotions felt pointless. This wasn't the first time someone had tried to end Alessandro's life, after all. Nor would it be the last. She needed to stay one step ahead by getting to the bottom of this vicious cesspool. Answers were necessary becausehisenemies might soon becomeherenemies.

"Who wants you dead? And why?"

Alessandro grimaced. "Haven't I told you enough?Angelo,per favore, let it rest."

She glared. "I can't. A man wasshottwo days ago with a bullet meant for you."

"It will not happen again," he vowed.

"How can you be so confident?" Elyse muttered. "You're not invincible. Last time I checked, it's pretty easy to kill a man."

"I have no intention of dying," he concurred, "and I repay my debts.Always. I promise you. The threat has been removed. You may rest easy."

The soulless timbre in his voice unnerved Elyse. Alessandro had once uttered something similar to her when she first arrived in his Crans-Montana chalet, but the meaning behind his words, at the time, seemed far more honorable.A life for a life, angelo.Elyse had assumed he was trying to repay her for saving his life.I always repay my debts.Her mind crept toward darker, more sinister places. It seemed Alessandro's debts also included punishing those who'd wronged him. Urgently, Elyse demanded, "Did you kill him?"

Alessandro's dark eyebrows rose. "Who?"

"The man who shot Marcello," she whispered in distressed tones. "Is that why you disappeared for two days?"

With a nondescript grunt, Alessandro glanced away and refused to answer her. Elyse placed a hand on Alessandro's cheek and turned his face back to her, forcing him to meet her gaze. Emotion brimmed in her eyes. "Please don't force me to put on a black dress before the white one."

The bedsheets rustled as he moved closer to stroke her cheek. His gaze grew soft and doting. "I will give you a lifetime of happiness before I die."

She sighed. "I wish I had your confidence."

He smiled at her. "I cannot wait to see you in your white dress,Signora Vitale."

Elyse arched an eyebrow at Alessandro. She saw right through his charming smile and sweet nothings. The bastard was trying to divert her attention again.

"I haven't agreed to marry you," she snapped. "I'm simply not rejecting you.Yet."

With a low chuckle, Alessandro rolled on top of her and nestled his head into the crook of her neck. He kissed her behind her ear, along her jawline, and nipped at her collarbone. Flutters of pleasure flew through her. Instinctively, Elyse's legs fell open, allowing him to settle more comfortably between her thighs.

"I will convince you yet, my queen," he whispered huskily. "You and I were meant to be together. A Vitale and a Graviano. When ourfamigliasunite, the world will be ours to bend and break."

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