“You’re related to Nico Morrelli,” he remarked pensively.
I lifted my head and rolled my eyes. “I guess through marriage.”
“Nico is part of Cassio’s gang. It might make for weird family reunions if the Syndicate and Cassio are not on the same page.”
I cleared my throat uncomfortably. “It will be weird anyhow because when Sasha found me after your father-” My words faltered and I felt Bas’ body tense underneath me. “Anyhow, he took me to Cassio’s place and his doctor. Cassio was adamant about calling Uncle and I sort of threatened him.”
His chest rumbled with a laugh he was trying to suppress. “What did you say to Cassio?” he said, approval ringing in his voice.
“That I’d blame him if he sent me back to Uncle,” I admitted, slightly ashamed. “I didn’t want uncle Liam to go after you. I didn’t care about your dad getting hurt in the process, but never you.
“My queen,” he murmured softly.
I scoffed but his words made me smile. “The whole thing is kind of weird. Stealing from Nico, threatening Cassio. It won’t make for a good reputation.”
He chuckled and winced the next second. “What is it with you girls stealing money? You know we’re rich, right?”
I grinned. “Really?”
He nodded. “What’s mine is yours,” he said, his dark eyes shining with amusement.
“That’s good to know,” I said. “What’s yours is mine and what’s mine is mine.”
His hand tugged on my hair. “Ours, principessa. Everything is ours. Now tell me why do you need the money?”
“The girls and I want to start a school,” I told him. “When we burned down Garrett’s house, we realized how inept we were at handling crime. We were born in the underworld and didn’t even know how to go about erasing the surveillance after that prick Garrett threatened us.”
“You came to me. That was the right thing to do.”
I shook my head. “No, we want to be able to do it ourselves too. Anyhow, after you erased the surveillance, we kept the money we stole from Uncle and decided we'd start a school. To help sheltered daughters of men like… well, you.” He stared at me like I was crazy. “The school will be for both boys and girls though. We don’t discriminate.”
He stared at me and I started to wonder if he thought he could stop me.
“I fucking love it,” he finally said. “I’ll give you the money for it.”
I raised an eyebrow surprised. “You love it?”
“Yes. It was exactly what Emory needed. Priest, Dante, and I taught her what we knew but it was hard for us to fight the urge to protect her from some things. A school like that… it would have been perfect.”
At this point, I was smiling so wide my cheeks ached. I didn’t care. “And it will be just a few hours from the city. So win-win. I can be your wife, coach, handle school stuff, and we can have kids that will be a big part of it.”
“You want kids?”
“One day,” I whispered. “You?”
Bas’ gaze was full of possessiveness and he pulled my head so my forehead rested against his. Inhaling a breath, he kissed me so softly, it made my heart ache. It was the kiss that could break my heart or make it soar to unimaginable heights.
“Only with you. I want it all but only with you.”
My heartbeats slowed and happiness vibrated beneath my skin. It was the kind of love that was raw, passionate and all-consuming. The kind of love that made it all worth it.
“Bas?” I started in a hesitant voice. His eyes were closed, his jawline covered in stubble. I pressed my lips to his jawline, the skin slightly rough against my mouth. “Is it true what you said?”
“Yes,” he murmured, opening his eyes. God, I loved his eyes. I loved his taste and smell. I fucking loved everything about him. Even his psychotic ways. “But which part are we talking about exactly?”
I kissed a line down his throat. “There hasn’t been anyone for you?” I whispered my question, running my tongue up his throat.
He cupped my face and brought it close to his. I closed the distance and kissed the corner of his mouth. It was easier to kiss him, then drown in his gaze and let him see how scared I was that he’d see how much I loved him. It was the insane kind of love that consumed you and could destroy you. Still, there was no stopping it for me.