Page 23 of The Don's Proposal

I need to focus. How can I protect my own if I’m dealing with tunnel vision? The power Camellia has over me is unknown to her, but she’ll find out soon enough. I’m fucking putty in the palm of her hand. All she has to do is flutter those ocean eyes at me and I’d stop at nothing to give her what she wants.

That includes keeping my word on letting her roam freely. I won’t lock her up, even if I want to keep her far away from that damn sibling of hers.

Right now, I bet she’s trying to convince my future wife to run away with her.

If she can’t go back home, she’d try to take her anywhere else but here. If only they both understood my home is the safest place for them to be.

All of my problems would dissolve if I just went and killed Rocco Parada. He’s the reason for most of my headaches. The only thing stopping me is the fear eating at my chest. The fear that Camellia won’t forgive me for spilling the blood of one of her family members.

She looked like she wanted to cry when I tried to kick her sister out.

Capping the highlighter, I set it down and sigh into my hands. Everything has suddenly become complicated because I can’t solve things in the only way I know how.

Using my hands to solve all my problems has always been my go-to. What in the hell am I supposed to do now? My hands might as well be tied at my back until I can figure out some kind of work around.

There’s a knock at my door, and I don’t want any company. Not when I feel like I’m spiraling.

Knowing I already ordered not to be disturbed, there’s only one person I know who would happily go against my words without batting an eyelash.

“Now is not the time.” Sighing into my hands, I hear my mother enter. “What could you possibly want?”

She’s not here to find out about my plans for dealing with this attempt at infiltration. No, she’s here to push my buttons. I can already hear her words before she says them.

Luckily for her, I have a soft spot for family. Even if I don’t like their behaviors, I’m not going to dispose of my own blood to save myself a headache.

She settles comfortably on the couch, easing back and looking so smug.

“I don’t know what you’re up to.” Leaning back in my chair, my eyes narrow on her. “I do not enjoy you intervening. You’re trying to push and make things happen. I have everything under control.”

“Word is getting around, Santino. You know how much everyone loves to gossip around here.” Her mouth curves and those matching dark eyes grow a little lighter. “Is it true? Should I start planning a wedding? Will I finally have a daughter-in-law?”

I’m sure she’d love to take on a project, an excuse to keep her hands busy. Yesterday was more than enough proof to see that she plans on involving herself until she gets what she wants.

“I haven’t decided yet,” I lie as I avert my gaze. I may have declared that Camellia is mine, but that is a broad statement.

Mine to play with. Mine to fuck. Mine to use whenever I feed a hunger nothing else can sate.

In truth, she’s mine to love. Mine toneed. However, those are weaknesses. I’m not the first to want to jump up and expose the best spots to inflict damage.

All my mother wants is to see one of her kids successfully submit to the same feelings she experienced with my father before he passed.

My brother, Lazaro, married his wife with hardly much of a warning. Between his desperation to give her our last name, and wanting to keep her from this side of his life, he did everything right under our noses.

My mother is still a little sore she’s yet to meet the woman who took him from us.

My sister, Valeria, slipped away from the family the moment she turned eighteen. Disappeared off the planet. Could be dead for all I know.

Then there’s Urzo. She and I both know he isn’t going ever to give up his job for a woman. He’s too serious for his own good. He’s a good asset, the same as what Lazaro once was.

“You all are made up of sharp edges, you know that?” She scoffs under her breath and huffs. “Your father knew how to keep an image for those who looked his way, but he was the sweetest when he didn’t have any attention his way. Such a softie.”

“I guess we must’ve got our personalities from you then.” Muttering the words, I couldn’t dare imagine myself as soft. Soft is a weakness.

There’s a reason she’s kept at the estate. She’s an important factor to this family. I can think of many names who wouldn’t mind killing her to hurt me. Hell, they’d chop pieces off one at a time and ship bloody parcels straight to my door to send a message once they’ve wrung her dry of information.

Now, I have another person on that list. If word is getting around, then more than just my inner family will know of Camellia. The guests of my party had seen her thrown over my shoulder, showing behaviors I normally don’t exhibit.

“I was stubborn during my youthful years; I’ll give you that.” She sighs and shakes her head. “I even denied my love at first as well, but I recognize it well enough, Santino. Marry her. Anything could happen, you know that as much as I do.”

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