Page 20 of The Don's Proposal

When she releases me from her grip, she steps back to make sure I’m not missing a single hair on my head. As her eyes lower, her relieved smile morphs into a scowl at discovering the mark on my neck. She looks at Santino without even a hint of fear. Funny enough, her rage matches his.

“Youmotherfucker. What did you do to my baby sister?” She doesn’t even ask to confirm itwashim, she balls up her hands and swings.

A gasp flies past my lips when she hits him.

There’s a flash of anger that passes his expression when her fist makes contact with his jaw. He’s quick to grab her wrists, stopping her attempt at punching him again. Despite the swell of his chest and the scowl on his face, he does nothing more than hold her in place.

“Little bird, tell your sister to fucking relax before I lose my patience and snap her wrist.” He gives me the warning through grit teeth, growling when she kicks him.

She technically is the reason our moment in the bedroom was interrupted. My body still aches to finish what we started. He literally popped my cherry, and that was as far as we got. He’s been in a foul mood since.

“You didnotgive her a pet name.” She curses at him when he doesn’t release his grip. “What in the hell did you do to her?”

Funny enough, I don’t mind the name. He’s never used it to mock me or my situation, not with malice. If anything, it’s a reminder of what I’d have to go back to if I ever left this place. My home is nothing but a cage. Locked away in my room without permission to leave unless my sister begs my brother to allow me to eat meals at the table with them. The only time I get fresh air is when I’m enjoying the view from my window.

Sure, I don’t want to imagine Santino rescuing me from that life, but he’s not hurting me by keeping me to himself.

I step toward them, reaching out. “Eliza, I’m fine, really. This–” I graze my throat and feel the heat grow on my cheeks. “–is nothing to fret about.”

I mean it. I’m not going to tell her that Ilikeit or anything, but it’s really not as big of a deal as she’s making it. She’s had plenty of secret boyfriends before, she has to have somewhat of an idea of what could be happening.

Or, is the thought of Santino showing attraction toward me that much of a ludicrous idea?

Santino, not on the same page as I am,smilesat her. “That’s the only mark you can see. Just imagine what is beneath those clothes. I’ve made sure she’s marked appropriately.”

He can not ask me to calm her down and then rile her up again. Is he looking for an excuse to fight?

He releases her wrists and shoves Eliza backwards, right into the chest of the guy with the scar across his lip.Urzo. The same man who walked in on us. Hands free, he drifts toward me and wastes no time returning his touch. “If you think you came to take her back, then I’m happy to tell you that it will not happen.”

Goosebumps rise against my skin as he pulls me against his chest. There’s promise behind his words, his eyes glaring with a reassuring look of deadly intent lurking beneath.

“She’s mine.” Announcing it loud enough for Eliza to hear, even a few of the grunts in the room do a double take. He’s not shy when it comes to making the claim, either.

My cheeks warm, and I fight the urge to cover my face. My poor heart is jumping in happiness, but dread fills my stomach. I can’t allow myself to get too comfortable. Not when my sister is trying to send an elbow in Urzo’s stomach to free herself. He’s as much of a wall as Santino is.

“Send her back the way she came.” He gives the order against my hair. “I want her gone.”

Urzo grunts, already tugging her toward the front entrance. He huffs when she stomps the heel of her shoe into his boot.

“Ican’t.” Eliza looks at me, her eyes doubling in size. “Rocco will kill me if he finds out I came here and left empty-handed.”

She means that literally. I can hear it in the waiver of her voice. As much as I didn’t want her to come, I want to watch her leave even less.

Turning to look at Santino, I can see his jaw already flexing, like he can read my mind.

“OneParada is just enough.” He takes in a slow breath. “Two is too many. Especially when one is more dangerous than the other. I won’t have her trying to kill my men while I’m distracted.” He looks down at me, meets my gaze, and curses beneath his breath. “No.”

“She’s my sister, Santino. The only one who has treated me like a person. I don’t want to lose her.” Biting my lip, I can see the argument happening behind those stormy dark eyes. “Please.”

Sighing through his nose, he frowns at Urzo. “Put her somewhere. Find a room with a lock on the outside without windows. Make sure she isn’t a threat. I’ll deal with her later.”

Eliza doesn’t get the chance to argue, not when she’s getting dragged toward the grand set of stairs.

“Don’t make me regret this.” Muttering the words, he looks at the handful of his men lingering about, watching with confusion and curiosity. “Return to your posts. The show is over.”

My stomach clenches as I crave a conversation with Eliza. Happy to have her close, I know this place is a danger to her. Surprised that he wanted to kick her out instead of keeping her for questioning, the weight of my curiosity doubles against my tongue. Before I can ask, Santino is leading me toward the hall I snuck down last night.

“Where are we going?” I picture him taking me to his office to begin his work day, or whatever he does in there. Instead, we stop far too shy of that door.

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