Page 118 of The Gangster King

“It’s time to put our cards on the table, Addy.”

“Whatever. You know you hold all the cards, Dante.”

I turn my body and cup her face. “This time, that’s not true.”

I see the confusion in her eyes and drop my hand. Then pull the documents out of my jeans back pocket. Adelina takes them and realization fills her eyes.

Her fake identification.

After she’s cursed, she glances up at me.

“Why are you giving these to me? You could have just destroyed them. What’s going on?”

“Let’s call this checkmate. I’m going to tell you a secret that could get me killed. And obviously”—I glance around her new abode—“I’m in a position to destroy your life.”

I hate pointing that out, but we both know it’s true.

She swallows and nods, hate filling her eyes.

I draw in a long breath as I consider voicing this for the first time with someone I want to trust but am not sure I can.

I might love this fucking woman, but she is a mafia princess.

With one call, she could have everyone I loved killed.

“I’m shutting down the Baldassare operations,” I tell her, the words barely leaving my mouth.

Fear slides through my veins and burns.

My life is in her hands now, and Adelina is informed enough to know this.

“How?” She swallows loudly. “And why are you telling me this?”

“Because when I push the button, I’ll be the one disappearing...and Addy, you will never find me once I do.”

Her faces pales.

I watch as she pieces it all together. How I will never be able to stay living in the United States and will need a new identity, just like her, to stay alive.

Not just me, but those I love.

“What about Gianna?” she whispers.

“She’s safe.”

“Dante, is this a joke, because if you’re lying to me...if this is a ploy to get me to admit my feelings, then I’m going to...I’m going to be really mad.”

My lips twitch and she frowns. She’s so fucking close to saying it.

I lay my hand on her thigh and feel her properly for the first time in days. Her eyes press closed, and it’s then I see just how much she’s missed me.

Without second guessing myself, I pull her onto my lap so she’s straddling me.

“I’d do anything to hear you say you love me. That you’d marry me. That you can’t live without me, Adelina Baldoni. Fucking anything.”

Her hands drop to my shoulders and those stunning green eyes lock with mine.

“Is this why you are doing it?” she whispers, searching my face for answers.

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