Page 12 of Dare You to Catch Me
“Ace.” She whispers into my mouth but I don't stop, and neither does she, her hand slides up my chest, gripping my jacket, pulling me in closer. She acts like she doesn't want this, but she does, I can feel it, so I pull back as my hand slides around cupping her face, making her look me in the eye. “You can have whatever you want with me, Emma. That's not something you're going to get with any other boss, and I'm sure as fuck not letting some other boss come in here and take over what my father and I have built along side your father, so I really don't see another option here. We need to marry.”
Chapter five
EMMA
Waking up in Ace's penthouse this morning and not having enough time to go home and prepare for the meeting, I head to the little boutique two doors down from the hotel to get a change of clothes.
Grabbing a cup of coffee on my way, I slowly sip the hot liquid, each sip waking me up more and more, but with that, comes all the shit that happened last night. My grandfather warned me this would happen, and Ace is right. If it's not him, it will be someone else but I promised I wouldn't marry unless for love, an unheard of thing amongst the mafia except Pop. He loved my grandmother, I was young when she passed, about the same time my mother did, so it's been hard being the only female in this world strangling me and no one to turn to.
Luca is not a man I want to marry or be around. He does scare me, and I don't say that often. He is worse than the Devil, and he doesn't marry brides, he marries slaves. Women he turns into his personal slaves and treated as such. There is no elegant Queen life for them, it's shackles and dirt floors until he requires their service.
A shiver runs down my spine thinking of the cruelty in this man, and it puts everything into reality for me. I really don't think I can run and hide from him; he will catch me. Which leaves me to think about Ace and the marriage arrangement Ryan and my father threwat me yesterday.
Why does life have to be so complicated for women sometimes?
I walk into the boutique, waving to the store attendant, and I proceed to look through their business attire.
I'm a regular here and I prefer to be left alone unless I ask, so the attendant doesn't bother coming over to make a fuss over me.
Grabbing a few outfits from the rack, I head to the changing room.
Changing into each outfit, my mind can't help but slip to the conversation Ace and I had. I see his point, if I marry my husband will have a claim to my empire, which will threaten Ace. The way he cared for me, bringing me back to his place after I passed out, maybe from staring into the eyes of the Heathens driver as he laid dead on the ground in front of me, or maybe from the excruciating pain in my stomach from his kick. Then the kiss, to shut me up of course, I was going a little crazy on him.
Taking a deep breath, I look at myself in the mirror, deciding on the right outfit to tell everyone that I will do this, but I need to talk to Ace first, needing to know one thing. Running my hands down the delicate fabric, glancing at myself again before ripping the tag off, walking to the register.
I lay the tag on the counter and shoot the attendant a wink, and head out the door, she'll put it on my account.
Walking down the hallway to Ace's office, I see Caz walking out of his office before, stopping when he sees me.
“Is he in there?” I ask.
“Yes, but he-” I push past Caz, and let myself into Ace's office. My eyes land on him, noticing he is on the phone, I take a seat, crossing my legs as a smirk plays on his face, watching my every move.
I don't know what is drawing me to him, I don't want these feelings that are erupting inside me. His gentle, but firmness with me, his honesty, at least I hope he has shown me that. It’s all getting to me. I don't want a Mafia marriage, but I know, the only way I'm going to live is if I marry Ace.
He ends his call and that smirk that was playing is now formed on his face as he raises a brow. “New outfit?”
My bottom lip rolls between my teeth as my eyes trail down my body, then snapping back up. “Yes, you like it?”
“I do.” He stands from his chair, rounding his desk before he sits on the corner of it beside me. His long legs stretch out next to mine.
“Why did you barge in here, what's wrong?” He asks with his gentle tone.
“I need to say something.”
“Okay.”
“First, I don't really think I need to say this, you've proven this already. But don't fucking hit me, you do, I will ensure you die a painful death.”
His brow raises as his lips go into a straight line.
“Got it, but Emma, I would never hit you, or hurt you.”
“Somehow, I know that.” I swallow hard, preparing myself to tell him my big dark secret.
“You know the requirement for the marriage to be verified, I assume?”
A deep chuckle rumbles from his chest as he nods, a playful smirk twisting on his lips.
