Page 56 of Burning Beauty

She blinked at him and pondered his response. He wasn't giving her exactly what she was demanding, but he was treating her with respect, trying to reassure her. She eyed him warily. Had Antonio's death changed him too? Or more accurately, had her reaction to Antonio's death changed him?

Nic shook his head, his eyes holding her, his look almost pitying. "No, bella, I am not sorry. I will always stand by my decisions." He read her mind again. The anguish on her face must have given her away as she remembered that moment where Nic took a life in front of her.

"How do I know you won't kill my brother if he screws up?"

A flash of hurt crossed his face before he smothered it. He stood and came around his desk, striding swiftly toward Maria. She jumped back, not wanting him to touch her. He stopped abruptly. "All I can do is give you my word that I will not harm your brother. I'm asking you to trust me, bella."

Maria thought about it, pacing away from him, stopping and then turning to look at him. He hadn't lied to her yet. He hadn't contradicted himself or acted in a way that could make her distrust him. Yes, he had killed a man, but she suspected that it was her own ignorance of his true personality that caused her to be so shocked by his action.

The reality was, Nic was a mob boss. He ran a tight ship and demanded perfection among his staff. Although she didn't agree that he should go around killing people, the fact was, he could do whatever he wanted. Apparently without repercussions. He could kill her if he wanted to. It was a damn good thing he cared about her enough to put up with her attitude.

"I suppose I'll have to take you at your word," Maria said, attempting to remain cool. But the moment had become significant. He was asking for her trust and she was giving it to him.

Though she was capitulating, she felt calmer than she had in days. As though she had a deeper understanding of him now. She hated that he forced her to watch him kill someone, but she now understood what he was capable of. She also understood that he held her in very high regard, and that thought suddenly took on new meaning. Though Nic was a very powerful man, she had power in their relationship too.

"Can I ask you something?" she said quietly.

"Si," he said, encouragingly. "You may speak your mind with me."

She hesitated and then asked, "You ask me to trust in your word, and I've decided that I will... that I do. Will you promise not to kill anyone in front of me again?" She knew better than to ask him to never kill. He was a mafia boss, the likelihood of him needing to kill again was high. It made her shudder to think about the danger his position put him in. But he clearly thrived in the mafia world, so she would have to respect that and do her best to fit in.

Nic didn't say anything at first, but seemed to ponder her request, as though taking it seriously. Finally, he dipped his head in a nod. "Si, Maria, I can promise to not kill anyone in front of you again." He rubbed his finger over the bridge of his nose, his gold ring flashing in the sunlight streaming through the open patio door. "In truth, I regret that I exposed you to such a terrible thing. I've been hardened by the life I have led, and what is no longer significant to me has been life altering to you. I do not want you to change, I wish for you to stay the same. I will do my best to shield you from such things in the future."

Maria's heart pounded as she realized he was struggling with the word love. Even without that word, she glowed from what he said and silently hugged the sentiment to her heart. Perhaps he couldn't say it yet, but she knew he loved her. She smiled sadly at him, and said, "You have no idea what that means to me."

He nodded again but didn't say anything. His dark eyes were on her, leaving the next move up to her. Maria wasn't ready to resume the easy relationship they had shared before the killing, but she was softening toward him again. Her heart wanted what her head told her she shouldn't.

Finally, Maria made the decision to go to him. He didn't move as she stood on her toes and reached for his face, touching his cheeks and then tugging him down for a kiss. It was a chaste kiss, just the lingering touch of their lips, but it meant so much more. It moved their relationship into a new phase. One that contained more respect and the acknowledgment of caring.

"Will I see you at dinner, bella?" he asked huskily when she sank back onto her feet and let his face go.

She loved that he was asking her, instead of telling her. She grinned shyly up at him and said, "Si, I will be there."

Chapter Thirty

Cassandra looked like she was so tightly coiled she would explode. She was sitting in one of the easy chairs, her arms crossed over her chest and her legs crossed one over the other. Her beautiful face was marred by a deep glare directed one hundred percent at Ruiz.

The three of them were sitting in the TV room watching season five of RuPaul's Drag Race. Or Maria was watching. Ruiz was trying not to gawk at Cassandra, after having been informed by Maria that any interest in the beautiful Italian mob wife would probably result in his death. Cassandra was at first shocked by Ruiz's arrival, then seemingly annoyed. She didn't even try to hide her hostility.

"Don't even try to take her away," Cassandra announced loudly, speaking over the TV.

Maria sighed, rolled her eyes and paused the TV so she could referee.

"What do you mean?" Ruiz asked, sprawled across his seat next to Maria on the couch.

"You know what I mean!" Cassandra said sharply. "You want to rescue her and take her back to Mexico. Well, I'm here to tell you she doesn't need rescuing." She paused for a moment, narrowing her eyes for dramatic emphasis. "And the dogs will eat you if you try to take her away."

Ruiz burst out laughing while Maria shook her head at Cassandra. "I'm sure he doesn't plan on taking me away. He likes it here, he's the one that wants to stay. Have you seen the pantry since he moved in? He stripped that thing bare in less than a day."

"And that's another thing," Cassandra turned the full force of her wrath on Ruiz. "Stop touching our things! Don't eat our food, don't touch the TV or billiards table and stay out of my pool."

"But I..." Ruiz looked bewildered as to why the beautiful Italian woman was attacking him.

Maria sighed. "He lives here now, he's allowed to have access to the estate and the things on the estate. Although he could try using some moderation." She gave him a pointed look.

"What?" he exclaimed innocently.

"The pantry," Maria reminded him. "Other people who live here enjoy eating too."

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