Page 60 of Ruthless Boss

“I’m not suggesting we share checking accounts overseas. We have different business ethics, anyway. All I want is to put an end to this bloodbath, and the only way to ensure it is to become family.”

I’m not entirely sure Ross means what he says. Of course, if we join families, he’ll benefit even if we don’t do business directly. A strong connection to our family can undoubtedly elevate the Santinis.

I exchange a sideways glance with Rocco, who picks the picture from the console and studies it.

“Think about it,” Ross insists.

I pinch the bridge of my nose.

“This isn’t about Gia, is it?” Ross asks, tilting his head.

I can imagine that forgiving Gia is a harder pill to swallow for him. She killed two of his family members, losers that they were. His people know the truth—and they may be out for blood.

I swallow. Fuck. Of course, he’d mention her.

“I’ll do it,” Rocco says, leaning so close that another inch and he’ll be on my fucking lap. “I’ll marry your niece.”

A jolt of surprise runs through me. Rocco has always been impulsive and a bit carefree. But marriage?

“What?” I shake my head, unsure I heard him correctly.

Rocco hops from one woman to the next and never offers a steady relationship to any of them. Going from wilding as a single dude to marrying a mobster’s family member is a giant leap.

“Rocco, I get you’re trying to help, bro, but that’s a bad idea. A permanent idea.”

Rocco strokes his beard and shoots me a reassuring look. What the hell is he doing? “Trust me. The last time I had an idea you disagreed with, I brought Gia into your life. And look how well that went for you.”

I pinch the bridge of my nose, aware that Santini is observing us. Sure, that impulsive idea of Rocco’s worked, but to marry as a business arrangement? “Rocco, think about it.”

Rocco lifts his hand to keep me from talking and stares at Santini. I can feel the determination oozing from him, the flick of fire in his eyes. There’s no talking him off the ledge when he's like this.

“I’ll marry her and be a good husband. But that means you bury the past, including what Gia Santini has done. She’s part of our family now,” Rocco says to Santini.

Santini lifts an eyebrow, and his gaze ping pongs between me and Rocco, probably thinking over his options. “Ah. I see.”

Santini will have a lot to explain to his people, but they’ll certainly understand the advantages of this marriage. And having him off Gia and AJ’s back is my priority. While I’d have preferred to kill him to secure their safety, the marriage idea is growing on me.

“Rocco, you don’t have to do this,” I tell him, my voice low.

“I want to,” he says. “It’s not up for discussion.”

A second or two goes by.

“Well then…” Santini smiles, his eyes glimmering. “Let’s do it.”

EPILOGUE

Amonth later…

Gia

“Can you please zip it for me?” I ask Dante, standing behind him as we look at the full-length mirror.

My eyes catch his on the reflection, and I recognize that look. But we can’t fuck—he should have been getting ready with his brothers for Rocco’s wedding ceremony.

I look at the long mahogany dress I wear—it fits me perfectly, the V-neck sensual but nothing too risqué for a church ceremony. Somehow, Dante’s dad makes his sons marry in a proper church as if the legality of the institution were in jeopardy otherwise. Never mind that his dad cheated on his first wife and continued to do the same with the second, which granted him a divorce. Aldo Gallo should be the last person to worry about moral compasses.

My engagement ring shines, the rock gleaming in the mirror. The day after Dante asked me to marry him, he gave me a gorgeous pear-shaped diamond ring. He’s spoiling me, and not just with expensive gifts. “Isn’t it funny that Rocco is marrying before us?”

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