Page 36 of Vicious Vows

“You’re beautiful.”

He dropped his gaze to my mouth and lowered his lips to mine. As we moved to the music, his mouth touched mine, and little pulses of electricity shot through me. The kiss was just as exhilarating as the first time. With him, everything was always new and exciting. That was how I knew he was the one.

He drew back. “I love this color on you. It compliments your skin. You can wear a dress, my queen.”

“I have a confession to make.” I ran my palm along his stubble.

“Please tell me you’re not going to ruin this moment by pissing me off with something you did.”

“No.” I giggled. “You’re going to like this confession.”

“In that case, do tell.”

“I wore this dress for you.”

“Finally.” He lifted me off the ground and spun us in a slow circle. “Not that you shouldn’t want to look beautiful for yourself, but I know you try to entice me all the time.”

“Of course I do.” I bit my lip, ready to throw all caution to the wind. “Marchello, I have to tell you something.”

He was my safe space, and I needed him to know how much he meant to me. If he wasn’t ready to reciprocate, I wouldn’t care. Well, maybe I would care a little, but I wanted to tell him how I felt.

“What is it?” He set me down and took my hand. “Wait, let’s go back to our room and you can tell me anything you want. I might have a thing or two to tell you too.”

“Okay.” I hooked my arm in his, eager to blurt out those three big words. The words that would change the course of our relationship. He needed to hear them as much as I needed to say them.

We didn’t make it very far before the unmistakable crack of gunfire flooded the terrace. Marchello pushed me behind him and drew his gun.

Milo was by his side in three seconds. Most of the men had their weapons out as they took cover. Security shielded the few women who were on the terrace and took them through the doors leading back into the hotel.

“Take cover,” Lorenzo shouted from across the terrace.

A spray of smoke and bottles shattering filled the space, and Marchello tugged me toward a large stone pillar a few feet away. I tripped but the grip I had on Marchello’s hand prevented me from falling. My breathing grew quicker . Marchello kept us moving as we made it to safety.

Or so I thought.

We dropped down and leaned against the stone.

“Stay down,” he said.

That isn’t going to be a problem.

“Milo.” He peered around the pillar. “What the fuck is happening?”

The gunfire had stopped, but a sharp pain in my side made me double over.

“Milo,” Marchello said. “What do you see?”

Milo responded, but I couldn’t focus on what he said. Wetness seeped through my dress. I glanced down.

An oozing red blotch spread through the material, staining the light blue dress.

That’s going to be a bitch to get out.

My hand shook as I pressed it against my side. Burning radiated over my skin as I let out a long breath. My body trembled despite the warm Florida air.

“Marchello?”

“It’s okay, sweetheart.” He turned from surveying the situation and gave me a reassuring smile. “We’re okay.”

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