Page 129 of The Devil's Deal

His brothers and the rest of the men must notice the intense moment, because they scatter away.

“I know you’re pissed.” His breath flirts over my lips, irritation slinking in his voice. “But you willnotbe going anywhere by yourself.”

His other hand captures my chin, and my body instantly grows warm.

“Who thehelldo you think you are telling me what to do?” I grate through a tight jaw, my nostrils flaring, my pulse slamming in my neck.

“You’re goddamn irritating, you know that? And even still…” he grunts, his gaze dancing to my lips, his tongue caressing his lower one. “It makes me want you more.”

The whip of warmth courses through my every cell, melting the icy chill of my heart. But as I remember everything that transpired between us, I shake my head, willing it away.

“I’m leaving.” I push out of his grip with all my might, and for a second, I think he’s going to let me go.

“Like hell you are.”

The next thing I know, I’m in the air, flipped over his shoulder, his forearm wrapped tightly around my ass.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?! I need to go to my aunt’s, you asshole!”

“And you’ll go,” he throws out casually. “In my car. While I drive.”

“I’m not sitting in the car with you for a minute, let alone over an hour!”

“I guess you have no choice, baby.” His hand squeezes the inside of my thigh, and I can’t control the rush of desire pouncing over me. “I’d never let you go alone, knowing your father’s men are out there. Once they hear about this, they’ll come for you. Are you trying to die?”

“Would you even care?” I retort.

“Are you fucking kidding me?”

He flips me back to my feet as we make it to a black SUV. He stares down into my eyes, a painful look marring the green pools of his gaze, stopping me dead in my tracks, and all I want to do is kiss him—not as Brian, but as Dom.

My Dom.

“How could you think I wouldn’t care?” He takes a step forward, forcing me back against the door of his car. “I loved you.”

“Loved,” I add with melancholy stringing up the word, choking the life out of it.

Peering down, I avoid looking at him anymore. It’s too much. I’m barely holding on.

He pushes up my face with a finger, and I have no choice but to meet his probing gaze. “Love, Chiara. Iloveyou. I always will. Through the years, my love changed. It was different then. I was a boy, and you were my friend. I had feelings for you that I didn’t quite understand. But I do now. You have to know I do.”

“You don’t do what you did to someone you claim to love,” I remark, swallowing away the tears I prefer to hide.

He sighs. “I’m sorry. I only took you for your own safety. I know I should’ve told you who I was, talked to you about it all, but I couldn’t risk the plan I spent years constructing. I waited too long to watch it all fall apart.”

“If you would’ve told me who you were that day at the club, I would’ve been there to help you, but you chose not to trust me.”

“I had my reasons, Chiara. Or did you forget what you said to me?”

My head jerks back. “What the hell are you talking about? When?”

A sharp exhale rolls out of him. “Let’s get out of here before his men come. We’ll talk then and get it all out in the open.”

“Looking forward to it,” I fire as he backs away, opening the door for me.

And once we’re both inside, I welcome the silence I’ve been missing.

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