Page 199 of Salvatore

I bridge the space between us as the elevator ascends. “He knows you carry my child. He won’t dare threaten you again.”

“I carry a child that also shares a bloodline with the head of the Baltimore cartel.”

“You’re safe here. I can assure you of that.” I grab her waist, tugging her closer. “But if you want unholy reassurances, accept my proposal. Become my wife. He would never dare to even offend you if we were to be married.”

She sighs and shifts out of my hold, turning to the doors. “Marriage isn’t an option, and you know it. And even if it was I’d only ever do it for the right reasons.”

“And what are those?”

“I don’t know.” She swings around to face me. “But it isn’t for protection.”

“Then don’t do it for that reason. Do it because you want to. Because you’re a queen worthy of the throne I’ll eventually inherit.”

She raises her chin and crosses her arms over her chest. “I won’t do it for that either.”

“Then what will you do it for? Name the price. Tell me your terms.” I fucking need her to be mine.

“I’ve been shortchanged in life so many times, Salvatore. I won’t marry unless I’m loved.”

“You are.” The words spill out before I can stop them, the admission grating against raw nerves and possessive thoughts.

She stiffens. Stills. “You don’t…”

“Don’t what?” I grate, already too far down this hellscape of a rabbit hole. “Don’t love you? Don’t want to spend the rest of my godforsaken life with you? Is that what you think?”

Her eyes scour mine, her head slowly shaking back and forth. “Salvatore…”

“Do you want me to say it? To announce words I’ve never spoken, not even to family? Is that all you need?”

“No.” Her throat works over a heavy swallow. “I don’t want that at all.” She keeps shaking her head. “I just… can’t.”

I. Just. Can’t.

The rejection bites through skin and bone as the elevator doors open behind her.

“I’m sorry.” Her face falls. “But until Gabriel is dead, I won’t risk placing a bigger target on our backs. If he finds out I have feelings for you—if he’s told about our child—he’ll take both of you away from me.”

Not a rejection. A fucking sacrifice.

God, this woman.

“Nobody is taking anything from you. Least of all me.” I close the space between us.

“Don’t.” She places a hand to my chest as she retreats into the hall.

I don’t give her an inch, stalking her until she’s backed into the corridor wall.

“Salvatore…” She blinks up at me, solemn, steadfast.

“You can’t get rid of me that easily.” I rest my hips against hers, pressing her into the plaster. “I’ll prove it to you.” I lean in, my mouth a breath from hers before I hesitate, giving her the opportunity to pull away. “I’ll make you mine and nobody will stop me.”

“Bold words for a man who hasn’t convinced me of his love.”

I smirk, thriving on the returned glimpse of her sass as I snake my hand into her hair. “You won’t just know my love,mi reina—you’ll drown in it. You’ll fight it, resent it, maybe even hate it. But you’ll never escape my obsession. I won’t let you.” I claim her lips with my own, swallowing her protest, stealing any doubt until all that’s left is heat.

She shudders, her fingers fisting in my shirt as if she’s torn between pushing me away and pulling me close.

But the fact I’m still here, my body molded against hers, is enough for me.

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