My jaw tightens. “Of course they did.”
“Santo saw her portfolio, asked questions. When he found out what happened, he pulled her in. Put her on our payroll.”
I soften. “He’s such a sucker for strays.”
Angelo smirks. “You’re one to talk. You took Ruby in like she was a lost kitten.”
“Shewasa lost kitten,” I say, mock-defensive. “And don’t act like you don’t like her now. She reorganized your files.”
“She reorganized my kill files,” he mutters. “Alphabetically. Who the hell sorts hits by last name?”
I laugh, then step close, lowering my voice. “Don’t be late to the townhouse tonight. All the women were asking for you. They want more stories about your mom.”
His gaze softens. “I won’t be. But don’t you be late either. You’re the one they adore.”
“I wouldn’t miss it,” I whisper and I mean it with every breath.
Because those nights—those women, the townhomes built for survivors like his mother… that’s where my heart beats the loudest. Where I get to hand over a key and say you’re safe now. Where girls with hollow eyes start to smile again.
It’s where I found purpose.
Just like this firm is a dream I never thought I’d reach.
And all of it—every piece of it,was born from something I thought would destroy me.
I thought I lost everything the day Angelo arranged our marriage. I thought I was a pawn. A name to be traded. A weapon to be used.
But instead… I goteverything.
The love of my life.
The career I was made for.
A home.
A future.
Angelo Amato didn’t wreck me.He rebuilt me.
And I’ve never felt more powerful than I do standing in this office, with his love folded around me like armor.
Chapter 62
Adriana Amato
The air is thick. Too hot. Too close.
My back slams into the wall, the cool bite of it clashing with the heat pouring off him. The scent of him—cologne, smoke, power, fills the cramped closet, leaving no room to breathe, no room to think.
And I don’t want to think.
His hand fists in the layers of ivory satin, shoving them up, sliding my panties to the side, baring me to the cool air. His dark eyes flick up, locking on mine as he sinks to his knees.
“Keep your eyes on me,” he rasps.
His mouth seals over me, tongue hot, relentless, devouring. My head knocks back with a soft thud, but his hands clamp around my thighs, bruising, pinning me in place as he drags his tongue over my clit in slow, devastating circles before flattening it and sucking hard.
“Fuck, Angelo—” My moan echoes, too loud.