Page 50 of Merciless Oath

Valentina

“Wanna hear a secret?”

“Tell me. I’m a good secret-keeper,” he says firmly, kissing my shoulder. I stretch against his warm body, savoring the joy of a lazy early morning in bed together.

We’ve never once had this. Our entire history is filled with sneaking around, rushed meetings in hidden places, and the fear of being found out.

“I’ve always dreamed of this.”

“Lenny, that’s not a secret,” he lectures me. “It’s all I’ve dreamed about for the last six years, too.”

“No, not us,” I correct him, turning around to see his face.

His eyes, so green and warm, are relaxed and half-lidded. A happy, satisfied smile stretches across his face as my fingers trace hearts across his chest.

“I mean this type of life. The type of life Lux has… the beautiful pink house, the farm, the orange groves, the gardens, the small town. I want all of it.”

“Oh no.” He grimaces, smacking his head. “She got you. Don’t listen to her. She could probably start a cult and lead everyone off the edge of a cliff, and they’d do it with a smile.”

“It’s not her fault.” I laugh, picturing Lux leading a cult.Honestly, I see it.

“So, you just suddenly decided you want to be barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen?” he wonders, snuggling into my neck.

“Yes. Well, no, but yes,” I say, blowing out a frustrated breath. “I mean, I want the quiet kind of life. I… I never wanted this…”

“The mafia life?” he asks, gazing up at me. “Me too.”

“What if we just… ditch it?” I ask, knowing full well we could never do that.

“Ma’am, you’re officially hired for the position of mayor of Delusion City.” He laughs. “You were the only applicant, but we feel strongly that you’re the perfect fit.”

“I know,” I groan, flopping onto my back. “It could never work.”

He props himself on one elbow, gazing down at me. Soft sunlight streams in through the flimsy white curtains on the windows and lights his face. He strokes my cheekbone, running his thumb down over my lips, and I give it a soft kiss.

I love him like I’ve never loved anyone before,I suddenly realize, and it scares the shit out of me. He must feel me tense up because he leans down and places a smoldering kiss on my mouth.

“I promise you,” he whispers, slipping his hand under the blanket and running it along my naked curves, “I’ll give you all this and more one day. You just need to be patient with me.”

“Enzo, no…” I whisper, knowing how hard he worked to get to where he is now.

I didn’t mean he has to give up his lifestyle for me. Although when I imagine my future, it most definitely includes him.

“Promise me?” he begs, kissing his way down my neck and chest. “Iwantto give you the life you deserve, the one youalways dreamed of, not the life you were forced into. Promise me you’ll be patient?”

“I promise,” I say happily, settling into his touch.

I don’t deserve this man, but somehow the universe made a mistake and connected us, so I’ll take it and run with it.

After a sweaty, lust-filled morning where we almost broke the kitchen table, we finally make our way to the main house for breakfast.

Lux is perched at the wooden dining table, cutting up pancakes for Rosie. Matilda is happily shoveling pancakes into her mouth like she hasn’t eaten in weeks.

“Morning, lovebirds!” Lux sings when we troop inside, shaking the snow off our hair.

“Love birds?” Matilda pipes up with a mouth full of pancake.

“Remember we discussed ‘figurative’ and ‘literal’ this morning?” Lux reminds her.

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