Page 19 of Hunted to the Altar
I watched as he struggled from the loss of his pinky without lifting a hand to help him out. He huffed and puffed trying to grab hold of his men. The blood from his own wound mixing with theirs.
Once he was gone, the silence in the penthouse was deafening.
Nina stood frozen in the middle of the room, her hands covering her mouth as she stared at me with wide, horrified eyes. This wasn’t about protecting her from traffickers or strangers. This was me, in my element, destroying anyone who dared to disrupt my world. And she had seen it all.
“Nina,” I began, but she took a step back, her gaze flicking between me and the blood-streaked floor.
“You… you’re a monster,” she whispered, her voice trembling.
The words stung more than they should have, but I didn’t let it show. Instead, I took a step toward her, keeping my movements slow and deliberate. “I’m whatever I need to be to keep you safe.”
“Safe?” she repeated, her voice rising. “You call this safe? You’re just as dangerous as they are!”
I clenched my jaw, forcing myself to stay calm. “I’m the only reason you’re alive right now. Don’t forget that.”
Her gray eyes burned with defiance, even as tears threatened to spill down her cheeks. “I didn’t ask for this. I didn’t ask for you.”
My chest tightened at her words, but I didn’t let it stop me. Instead, I stepped closer, closing the distance between us until I was mere inches away. “You may not have asked for me, Nina. But you have me. And whether or not you like it, you’re mine.”
She flinched at my words, her breath hitching as she tookanother step back. But I didn’t let her get far. I reached out, grabbing her wrist gently but firmly, pulling her closer.
“This is the only way,” I said, my voice low and intense. “The only way to keep you safe. The Sicilian Mafia won’t stop, Nina. Not until they’ve destroyed everything I care about. And the only way to make them stop is to make sure they know you’re untouchable.”
She frowned, confusion flickering across her face. “What are you talking about?”
“You need to carry my name,” I said, the words coming out before I could stop them as I realized this was the best step forward. “Marry me. Make it official. Let the world know who you belong to.”
Her eyes widened, shock and disbelief warring in her expression. “You’re insane.”
“No,” I said firmly. “I’m strategic. And this is the only strategy that guarantees your survival.”
She shook her head, pulling her wrist free from my grasp. “I’ll never marry you.”
I let her go, my expression hardening. “You don’t have a choice, Nina. Not if you want to live.”
The words hung heavy in the air between us, a challenge neither of us would back down from. But deep down, I knew I would win. Because Nina was mine, and I always protected what was mine—no matter the cost.
The adrenaline didn’t fade even after the penthouse was cleaned. My shoulder ached sharply from the ass whooping I gave. I needed some ice and maybe rest. I wasn’t a young buck anymore.
“You’re hurt.” Nina’s voice broke the silence, laced with something I couldn’t place. Pity? Annoyance? Fear?
I glanced over at her, standing in the doorway to the living room, arms crossed tightly over her chest. “It’s nothing.”
“You need ice.” She stepped closer, her brow furrowing as she took in the dark stain spreading across my side. “Sit down.”
“I don’t need your help.”
“I said, sit down,” she snarled, her tone brooking no argument. Her attitude should have irritated me, but it stirred something far more dangerous.
Reluctantly, I sank into the chair, watching as she disappeared into the kitchen and returned with a bag of peas. She knelt in front of me, her movements brisk and efficient as she unbuttoned my shirt and wrapped it around them. I let her work, watching as she held it between my shoulder blades.
“Why are you doing this?” I asked, my voice low.
She didn’t look up. “Because someone has to. And clearly, you don’t take care of yourself.”
Her words struck a nerve I didn’t expect. Memories I worked hard to bury surfaced unbidden—my father’s cold indifference, my mother’s biting criticisms. Affection had been as rare in my childhood as chaos was in my home now. I’d learned early that the only person I could rely on was myself.
“I don’t need anyone,” I whispered, more to myself than to her.
