Page 89 of The Devil's Pawn

“There’s that word again.” I crack a hint of a grin through the tears dimming my vision.

“What word?” He smirks. “Woman? Revenge? There were just so many.”

“Oh, Dante,” I cry, my voice splitting into pieces. “I really thought I was gonna die. That I’d never see you again. Thank you. Thank you for finding me.”

“I’ll always find you. No matter the cost.” He slants his forehead against mine while his arms form a protective shield, and I know with them around me, no one will harm me again.

We stay that way for seconds, or maybe minutes. It’s hard to say when I feel so safe and cared for. He’s the first to retreat, staring deep into my eyes.

“I’m falling in love with you, Raquel. The moment you were gone, that’s when I was ready to admit it to myself.” His lips kiss the corner of mine, and my eyelids flutter from the sensation. “I know we have a lot to talk about once this shit is taken care of, but you and me? This is real.” His face contorts with painful regret. “You own me as much as I own you. And there’s nothing more I want in life than that.”

There’s so much truth within those words, and the reality of it hits me.

“I want that too.”

I may have a lot of questions that I need answers to, but he’s the one who showed up for me when my own family turned away. That’s enough.

His gaze holds mine in unbending passion as his mouth nears until it caresses my lips. Our breaths tangle for space, and where his end, mine begin. We fuel each other’s bodies, like his love fuels my soul.

“Are you ready?” he asks, pulling back enough to see my eyes.

I know what he means: for Carlito to be brought back in. For him to die. Because I know he’ll kill him. There’s no doubt.

“Yes.” The aches on my body burn under the fabric, reminding me what Carlito did.

“Raquel…” he says, our eyes connecting as he holds me to him. “You have to know, when I hurt—when I kill—I’m not the same man I am when I love you. I become someone else. Someone you might not want.” He sucks in a long, hard breath. “And I don’t know if I’m ready for that.”

I place my hand on his cheek, letting the stubble graze my sensitive skin. “I don’t know who you see when you look in the mirror, but you know who I see?”

When his eyes drift to a half close, I continue.

“I see a man who risked his own life to save the daughter of a man he clearly hates. Someone strong, brave, loyal, and with a heart big enough to chase all my villains away. That’s who you are, Dante. You need to start seeing that man. Because I do.”

“Baby…” He inhales sharply.

Then his lips are on mine, kissing me slowly, and in our kiss, there’s more than just love. There’s forgiveness wrapped in redemption.

This kiss…it heals a part of me I didn’t realize was this broken. The part that always needed someone to hold her hand, to love her, to tell her she wasn’t alone and that the burden of the fight wasn’t just hers to bear. That’s what he’s done for me. That’s who he is.

He gently draws away, walking us to the corner where there’s a brown leather sofa I didn’t notice before.

“You gonna be okay here?”

“Yeah, I’ll be fine. I promise.”

“Okay.”

He lowers me onto the couch, kissing my cheek, then my lips. His eyes remain on me as he treads back, as though leaving me here is too unbearable. He lets out a loud whistle, then footsteps hit the floor like an army marching toward their commander.

I recognize the first two who walk in as Dante’s brothers. I don’t know any of the others. There are six of them in total, not including my tormentor and the man who calls himself my father.

Dominic grips Carlito around his throat, dragging him inside. His face is already marred. One of his eyes is practically closed, and the other has a bloody gash under it.

My father is held by Enzo, whose expression is enraged.

“Drop him, Dom,” Dante says.

His brother does as he’s told, kicking Carlito in his back once he’s down.

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