Page 90 of Runaway in the Mafia
He shoved off me. I sat up and pulled him back.
“I’ll get one and—”
“No.”
“What?”
“Next time.”
“It’s important to you.” He glared at me.“Vero?”
I nodded.
“Then I’ll wait.” He pushed up to his feet, and I yanked him down.
“Next time, Vitale. I just need you inside me now.”
“Jesus,” he groaned angrily, running his hand through his hair. “Don’t say things like that. Can’t you see I’m trying to be a better man?”
“Don’t.” He swallowed. Hands fisting on mine. “Be the man you are with me,” I said quietly.
The words hardly scraped my lips before he shoved me back and thrusted in one go. It was so intense it burned. Hurt like hell, but dammit, it felt good too.
He was angry. “You’re going to get yourself killed with me around you.” At himself.
My hand touched his cheek and traced softly along his sharp jawline. His scruff tingled on my skin. He grunted, turned his head, and kissed it softly.
“Thank you.”
His eyes jerked to mine. “What for?” He was angry again.
“For choosing me.”
His gaze crackled. He was all burning energy. Uncontrolled. Hard. Fierce.
“You know I always will.” His tone bit. He hammered right into me, driving me back to the headboard, taking the bed along with him.
He was volatile. Boiling with hot energy. But even as his thrusts were meant to punish me, or worse, him, I couldn’t help but see the softness within him. It sparkled. Hidden behind thick layers of darkness. Like the bright glare of a precious stone in sodden earth. Hidden from view. Visible only to my eyes.
I should have been guilt-ridden that he had killed for me. Not one but two men. But no one had ever chosen me. Not Maa. Not Rajesh. I wasn’t even sure if Papa would have, given the choice of losing his name or his daughter. But this man had.
You know I always willechoed within my chest long after he came inside me.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
VITALE
The library was quiet, like the aftermath of a war. The world was left with dull colours. The gun smoke, a hazy vision clouding the fallout. But at least the screaming had stilled, only an echo of it left to drill through my eardrums.
My nuclear family was upstairs. Safe from any harm. Each in their room, recovering from a day that no doubt would taint their memories in black. The rest of my family slowly filed out the front door, fear and grief pushing them out. I’d earned my respect now for sure. Unfortunately, it came with the heaviness of terror. They said a don had to rule with an iron fist. I guess slicing my uncle’s neck was it, then. I’d achieved something even Carlo hadn’t. And the worst part was that there was nothing I regretted. Nothing. Except for taking a father away from two girls. In front of their innocent eyes.
The whiskey in my tumbler trilled slightly when I set it on the table. I’d sat down with Anna and Mia and promised to take care of their future. Their responsibilities were mine now. But whathad stricken me was not their deep sorrow or harsh sobs. It was Mia’s words.You must love her a lot.
A shaky laugh rumbled in my chest. I hadn’t bothered to tell her this had nothing to do with love. Love didn’t exist for men like me. This was about survival of the fittest. No one got to insult the Don’s choice. No one.
Endrigo had not only crossed that line, he’d crushed it with his filthy, weaponised words. I would have killed him, anyway. Yanked him by the scruff of his neck and taken him out at the back of my house. But when he’d saidhell, we’ll take turns,a firework of rage exploded in my chest. Like she was a common commodity, accessible to all. She was a fucking queen. Gloriously brown. Undeniably her.
The whiskey sparked and burned down my throat. I rolled my head back and closed my eyes. All I wanted was to be left alone in peace.
