Page 112 of Diavolo

Mariposa's father? Could he be trusted? Elyse nodded. "Yes."

"Well, that evening, Aberto was warning me about Domenico. But we did not think the Berlusconis would push Cara to pull her gun on you. My father is not even six feet under. Domenico has shown himself to be an impatient man."

Elyse's memory raced back to her conversation with Mariposa. She wondered if the younger woman had known about the Berlusconis scheme all along? "Can you trust the De Leóns?"

"I hope so," Alessandro muttered, "but I am learning, all too well, that I can never let down my guard again."

"I agree."

"My carelessness nearly got you killed." His eyes suddenly flashed with an intensity of emotion that struck her to the core. "I do not want to put you in harm's way at all. I will send you away if—"

"Stop," she interrupted, "I'm not going anywhere."

"But..."

"Didn't you marry me because I'm a Graviano?"

He eyed her cautiously. "Partly."

"Then use me to your full advantage," Elyse urged. "Reach out to my grandfather. Ask him to help us deal with Domenico."

Alessandro's eyes flickered, at first, in surprise, then, in agreement. "It seems our minds are in sync. I have already set up a meeting with Benedetto. Perhaps, you should come with me. Your grandfather will be pleased to see you."

Her mouth fell into a grim line. She hoped her worthin Alessandro's eyes wouldn't run out anytime soon. Like Cara's worth had diminished in her brother's eyes. "Of course."

"Why do you look so unhappy?"

She lied, "I'm fine."

He studied Elyse for a moment and managed to read her source of unease like a book. Quietly, Alessandro assured Elyse, "I may have married you for your name, but, for what it is worth, I care for you."

She glanced at him with uncertainty. "Do you?"

Her husband's voice grew softer and lower when he said, "More than you will ever know,cuore mio."

Elyse's heart pounded at this quiet, intense declaration. Despite the horrors that surrounded her in this frightening, new world, and everything she knew about the tragic fates of women in the mafia, Alessandro's words still managed to stoke small embers in her heart like tiny stars amid a blackened sky.

Moments ago, as she listened to his fears, his uncertainties, and even his sense of defeat, Elyse felt as though she finallycaught a glimpse of the real man behind her husband's charismatic veneer, and his soul seemed to whisper to hers in a way that felt very real and deeply precious. Alessandro had bared the brokenness of his character to her, and, for some reason, Elyse found she preferred this ugliness in his truth over the beauty of his lies. Elyse stared back at him with wide, expressive eyes. "For what it's worth, I care for you, too. Do you remember what I said to you last time? That if I ever give my heart to a man—"

"You will give it passionately, wholly, and selflessly," he finished for her. "Sì,I remember, and I have held on to your words. I will hold on tight to anything you are willing to give me."

Their eyes found each other amid the despair that surrounded them.

"I'm beginning to sense that," Elyse continued without breaking her gaze from Alessandro, "if I ever give my heart to a man, that man will most likely be—you."

He kissed her, right then and there, with all the passion and tenderness of a man who was hopelessly and madly in love. "Dammi il tuo cuore, prometto che lo custodirò bene."

Again, the sweetest, most exhilarating emotions glimmered in her heart like bright, shining stars. Elyse's Italian was improving. She'd understood every word that floated from her husband's mother tongue.Give your heart to me, I promise I will guard it well.

"I don't know what our future holds," Elyse whispered as she kissed him back with every ounce of her being, "but I hope to stand at your side. Let me help carry your burdens whenever they grow too heavy."

"Mio Dio," Alessandro groaned hoarsely, "what did I ever do to deserve you?"

For better or worse, Elyse wanted to ask him the same damn question. What had she done to be blessed with this cursed bastard? Alessandro had forced her into this life with the mafia. Yet, he'd also saved her from the mafia. He dominated her, but he also protected her. Danger and disaster seemed to follow him everywhere. Loving him was most likely going to get her killed, but she couldn't seem to stop herself from this sweet, heady tumble toward dissolution. Elyse's temples began to ache.

Love.

Morality.

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