Page 66 of Burning Beauty

"A wife? I thought assassins were notorious loners," Nic commented. "Is she going to be a distraction?"

"Never has been before."

Nic stared thoughtfully past Daniel's shoulder. "The wife took off?"

Daniel shrugged. "Apparently she objected to his choice of profession."

Nic snorted with laughter and Daniel came close to quirking his lips in amusement. "These women, they are too sensitive, eh my friend?"

Maria narrowed her eyes. That was rich, Nic calling women sensitive, when he's the one that got all twisted up whenever she wanted to go for a simple walk.

"Agreed," Daniel said, rising.

"Ha, our conversation is now ended, I believe?" Nic said rising to his feet. "Though you are the paid help, you make all around you aware that you are the one in control, Mercer. It's unsettling. I will continue to secure Miami, let me know when you are set up to move on Vegas, eh?"

Daniel nodded and reached out to shake Nic's hand before striding out the door. Nic closed the door and then stood for a moment deep in thought. Maria pushed the door to the bedroom open and perched against the door frame, waiting for him to notice her. When he didn't look up, she said his name softly. "Nic?"

When he finally did look at her, his expression was strange. His eyes glowed with an energy she suspected was related to the business he had just discussed, as though the idea of taking over the illegal racket in cities and sections of countries was his entire purpose for being. She was on the outside looking in when it came to his work. But when his gaze landed on her, she saw the moment his brain switched gears and focused entirely on his mistress. His eyes became somewhat softer, more velvety and the purpose that had lit them became possessiveness.

She wrapped her arms protectively around her middle as he perused her, looking her up and down. She stood leaning against the door frame to the bedroom. She was hit with a powerful wave of uncertainty. She loved him, deeply, but he kept himself aloof. From her, from the world. Occasionally he gave her flashes of the man beneath the mobster, but usually she was left guessing. And terrified he would break her heart. Especially after listening to that conversation.

Nic stalked over to where she stood. Maria uncrossed her arms and straightened with her back against the door frame. He took a fistful of her hair and used it to force her head up. She complied, her breath quickening in expectation. Before he could lower his head to join their lips, she spoke, her husky voice hesitant.

"Are you going to use me for bait to draw Franco out of his Las Vegas hotel?"

Nic's fingers clenched in her hair, causing her to wince. Her dark, accusing eyes never left his. Despite his aggression toward her, she'd given him her heart, she'd trusted him and the people around him. She didn't know what she would do if he betrayed that trust. It didn't matter though. He was going to do what he had to do because that was who he was. She just had to trust that he wouldn't get rid of her when he was done.

He told her the whole truth. "Yes, Maria, you were always going to be my bait. That was my plan from the beginning. That was why I took you out of Las Vegas and kept you. Even when I first saw you, I understood how much Delgado must have wanted you. It became clearer when I made you part of the negotiations."

Tears of pain filled her eyes and she tried to wrench away from him, but he held her tight. "You said... said you wanted to punish me for the honey trap. But I thought you let that go. I thought we were building a relationship."

She tried to push him away, so he grabbed her wrists and held them. He sounded frustrated when he spoke, as though caught between the harsh world of the mafia, and his feelings for her. "This isn't about you, it never really was. Yes, part of me wanted to punish you at the time and my feelings have since changed. But I also know Delgado wants you. He's put feelers out on your whereabouts and how difficult it might be to get to you. Eventually he will come after you, which gives me the opportunity to take him out."

She stared up at him, a sob escaping her throat. He was supposed to love her enough to let the Vegas thing go, to want to protect her. Was he just keeping her safe all this time so he could use her in a reverse kind of trap for Franco? The thought made her feel queasy. A powerful wave of homesickness hit her. She would give anything to rewind the calendar ten years. To sit at her mama's table one more, chopping vegetables for the evening meal while her mama cooked and chattered about work. Maria longed for the simplicity of her small town and uncomplicated life.

"I hate you." It was the only response she had for him.

He nodded and kissed her forehead gently before releasing her.

Chapter Thirty-Six

Maria's hatred of Nic did not last long. He gave her time to cool down, then came into the bedroom and sat on the bed with her. He leaned back against the headboard and pulled her into his arms, crossing them over her chest and pinning her so she couldn't escape him. He kissed the side of her head and held her stiff body.

"You will listen to me, Maria, and I will explain."

Even as she longed to bite the arm that held her down, she also wanted to laugh at the way he told her she would listen. She suspected he came into the bedroom to diffuse her anger and make her feel better, but he still had to do it in an autocratic controlling way. She heaved a sigh and relaxed against him. She enjoyed his touch even while she hated his devious mind.

He ran his fingers through her hair, as though to soothe a wild animal and rubbed the spot at the back of her neck, just beneath her hairline, squeezing and releasing. Some of her tension began to ease and she closed her eyes, listening to Nic speak, his words deep and measured. He'd clearly thought about what he was going to say to her, and she appreciated the effort.

"When I was a boy, there was much expectation put upon me. My family was a powerful force, and in the world that we lived in, that we still live in, power must be constantly maintained. From a young age I was expected to do my part to help maintain and build this power." He fell silent for a moment, gathering his thoughts, then continued. "I am sure Cassandra has told you about our betrothal and marriage."

At her nod, he continued, "It was all part of the expectation built around my position. As the son of a boss, I had much to prove, to my family, to our allies, and to our enemies. The more I became embroiled in that life the more brutal I became. It was a constant fight to the top, and once I reached it I was still thirsty for more. I pushed my father out of business and took over."

Maria was shocked by this confession. She'd assumed that Nic held a great deal of respect for his father and mafia family, which is how he ended up married at such a young age. Perhaps there was a difference between respect and power. Nic seemed to understand that difference and knew how to exploit it.

"You were sent to America, weren't you?" she asked tentatively, not sure how much she should probe, yet deeply curious about what made Nic the man he was.

"Si," he nodded. "But I would not have gone if I weren't willing. I was hungry for more of a challenge than I was receiving in Italy. I had conquered all of the territory there was to conquer, and the families were getting along well at the time. They saw me as too brutal, too hungry for power. I think they believed I might take steps to disrupt the balance of power. Perhaps take out some of the older families with weaker enforcement and extend my territory."

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