Page 120 of Dangerous King
Love?
Yeah. Love.
The word hits harder than I expect, a weight behind my ribs that tightens my chest. It knocks the air out of me. Not because I didn't see it coming, but because I didn't want to. But there it is, settled in my gut like truth that's been waiting to be said.
Yeah.
I love her.
I swallow. I want to yell the words out loud—hug her, kiss her, fuck her—but this is not the moment. Instead, I hear myself say, "You know who Antonio DeLuna is?"
She nods. "Yes, Carlos Orsi killed Antonio's father a few months back. He is the new capo of the DeLuna clan."
She's informed, good. "Toni is also my… best friend," I hate using this term. It makes me sound like a frat boy, but I don't know how else to describe our complicated relationship without going into another lengthy explanation. "Edoardo has forbidden Toni from taking revenge on his father's killer. Toni has been at me for months to go against our Don because of that. Carlos has accused Edoardo of ordering the hit, something he was forced to recant later."
Amber eyes regard me thoughtfully, but her lips stay quiet. So I continue, "I haven't supported my best friend," there's that word again; I suppress a cough, "because I didn't want to go against my father. Which, as it turns out, was a mistake. Edoardo has stepped over the line, with Toni, with me, and it will continue with the others, unless we stop him. Whatever happens has nothing to do with you; it has been coming for a while."
Her hand falls lightly to my arm. I rolled my sleeves up earlier, and the contact of her skin on mine is like a jolt of electricity, but also strangely comforting.
"That must be hard. Choosing between your father and your friend," when she says the word, it doesn't sound as bad as when I say it. "I'm sorry, you have to be in that spot."
"My father will see the light," I say with confidence, because he will. It'll take him longer than some of the others, but in the end,he will be on our side, I know it. Loud barking announces the return of the shepherds; this time, it's Cosmo in the lead. He's got the best nose of the whole pack.
Cosmo gallops back, tail high with triumph, the ball gripped tightly in his jaws. The others chase him in a frenzy of competition, nipping and barking, jostling for bragging rights.
I grin and whistle once, sharp and commanding. Instantly, the pack stops. Cosmo trots over and drops the ball into my hand like the proud soldier he is.
Cat watches them with a look that's soft and sad at once. I see it in her eyes, the storm of emotion, the fear that she's pulling me into something she can't fix.
I toss the ball again and let the dogs scatter. Then I turn back to her.
"Look at me," I say quietly.
She does.
"I'm choosing this. You. Every minute. Every complication. Every fight that comes. I'm not a man who stumbles into things, Cat. I see a future with you. And I'll bulldoze whatever stands in our way to protect it."
Her throat moves as she swallows hard. "Even if it's your Don?"
"Especially if it's my Don."
She stares at me, stunned for a second. Then slowly, she exhales and leans into my chest. My arms go around her instinctively, like they know it's where she was always meant to be.
Behind us, Shadow lets out a sleepy little grunt. He's sprawled on the grass like a miniature guard dog, still watching me out of the corner of one suspicious eye.
I snort. "You know, I think he might be warming up to me."
"He hasn't bitten you tonight because he's too tired," she murmurs against my chest.
"Progress." I kiss the top of her head. "Let's go shopping."
She pulls back, blinking up at me. "What, now? It's nine o'clock."
I grin. "Exactly. Which makes it the perfect time for a surprise."
Her brows knit. "What kind of surprise?"
"You'll see." I tap my wrist like I'm checking a watch. "But you've got exactly fifteen minutes to throw on something nice. Or else I'm picking the dress."
