Page 94 of Cassio (Belles & Mobsters 3)

“You need to remember,” he stated firmly. “Once you remember it all, it will all make sense.”

I had a feeling there was a lot to remember. And truthfully, part of me was scared.

ChapterThirty

CASSIO

Aflicker of fear passed over her expression and the pale blue vein in her neck beat quickly. But then she steeled herself and nodded. She’d deal with it. My little butterfly was strong.

It was her strength that hit me in the chest when we found her eleven years ago. A little bruised girl with haunted ghosts lurking in her eyes still had her strength in her soul. She might have not seen it but I did. And just like a butterfly, she emerged from the young girl into the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. A woman that had my heart and my soul.

Our encounter two years ago sealed the deal. I craved to learn every single inch of her, every freckle on her creamy skin. I longed to run my finger down every curve of her body and mold her into me. The way she fit against me, the sweet scent of her. It had all been tattooed into my flesh and my brain.

This woman was mine. Anyone who threatened her, threatened me. Anyone who touched her, touched me. And I didn’t take kindly to people touching what was mine.

“Okay, no more Dr. Taylor,” she answered. “Though Mom and Jack won’t be happy.”

“I’ll deal with them.”

Her lips curved into a smile. “I bet you’d like that.”

I grinned. I actually liked her mother and Jack. They did what they thought best for Áine, but she’d be my wife in a few days. She was my responsibility now. And this woman was strong. It was time she remembered what happened, so she couldn’t be blindsided.

The hour with Áine passed way too quickly.

She glanced at her watch and squealed in a small voice, jumping up.

“Crap,” she exclaimed. “Look at the time. I have to drop off my drawings across the city. Otherwise, I’m going to lose my job.”

There was no chance in hell she’d ever lose her job. She’d run that company eventually. Unless she wanted to raise our children. Damn it, something about the idea of having children with this woman had me rattled in the best possible way.

I stood up, helping her put on the jacket. “Just give me the address and I’ll take you.”

“That’s not necessary.”

“It is,” I insisted. “I’ll take you.”

Her shoulders tensed and she glared at me. “I said that is not necessary, Cassio. I’m doing this one alone.”

Annoyance burned through me. There weren’t too many people that stood up to me, but somehow it didn’t surprise me that Áine would be one of them. Besides, now that she was within my reach, I didn’t want anything happening that would jeopardize our wedding.

My men were still out there looking for Chad Steward, the fucking weasel disappeared. Just like the rat that he was, he went into hiding.

“Which side of town?”

Our gazes locked and we stared at each other in battle of our wills. Her lips pressed into a thin line and I knew she gave in.

“Brooklyn,” she gritted out. “I’m taking a cab. Alone.”

Stubborn woman.

“I’ll make sure you get into a cab safely.”

She rolled her eyes but didn’t object. If she knew I had men tailing her, she’d be even more pissed off. There was no chance in hell that I’d risk her safety.

We walked out of the restaurant together, strode to my car to get her bag of drawings and then I flagged a cab.

The moment it stopped, she took a step to get into it, but I wrapped my hand around her upper arm.

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