Page 117 of Crazed

"Yes. Tomorrow. Your dress will be here later this evening. I'm making you mine, and everyone is going to know. The Abruzzos. My family. Everyone. If Leo or any of his thugs try to come near you, they won't live to see the next day," he confidently states.

I stay quiet, trying to process it all. I can imagine how angry Leo will be when he finds out. A part of me is fearful, but the other is happy—so joyful, I don't ever remember feeling this way.

Massimo strokes my cheek. Disappointment fills his expression. "You don't think I can protect you from him?"

"No! That's not it," I assert.

"Then what is it?"

I decide it's best not to admit a tiny part of me is afraid. I know Massimo will kill for me. There's not a bone in my body that doesn't believe he'd jump in front of a firing squad to protect me. But years of threats and too many nightmares I can't escape aren't easy to forget. Still, I reassure him, getting a bit teary, claiming, "I wish my father were still alive. He would have loved you."

Compassion fills Massimo's face. He gives me a chaste kiss then adds, "I wish my mamma were alive. She always wanted more daughters, but after Arianna, she couldn't have any more children. She would have loved you."

"Really?"

He nods. "Yep. She told me once that I'd know when I found the woman that was meant for me. And you know what?"

"What?"

"She was right. I felt the earth shift when I saw you behind the checkout desk. I actually heard her say in my head, 'she's the one.'"

I blink hard. "You did?"

He holds up his fingers. "Scout's honor."

I laugh. "I still can't believe you were a Boy Scout."

"Cub Scout, dolce. I didn't get promoted, remember?" he replies with pride on his face.

I lace my fingers in his hair. "That's right. You shot everyone with wine."

"You better hope our kids aren't anything like my brothers and me. We were always getting into trouble," he admits, wiggling his eyebrows.

A warm, fuzzy feeling grows in my stomach. I lean closer to his face, admitting, "I hope we have a son and that he's just like you. He'll be brave, full of personality, and all the girls will be after him."

Massimo snorts. "You'll hate that—the part about the girls. Trust me. My mamma couldn't stand most of the ones we dated. And Arianna, well, she sure knew how to pick them at times, too."

My happiness dives in my gut and gets replaced with worry. I fret, "Arianna is going to hate me forever, isn't she?"

His smile falls. "She doesn't hate you."

"Yes, she does," I insist.

He shakes his head. "No. She doesn't know you. Once she gets to know you and what you've been through, she'll realize you didn't have anything to do with her abduction."

I bite on my lip, unsure if I believe him. I want his family to like me. Ever since my father died, all I've craved is to have a family again. But I don't see how any of them will ever be on my side. I blurt out, "I don't want you to be at odds with your family over me."

His face hardens. He asserts, "I won't be."

"How do you know?"

"As I said before, leave it to me." He glances past me then says, "Dekel brought fresh drinks. Want to get out for a while?"

"Sure."

We swim to the dock, climb the ladder, and take a coconut with a straw in it from Dekel's tray. I inquire, "What is this?"

"Our special resort beverage. Alcohol is illegal in the Maldives unless you're at a private resort. This is a special blend of red wine and tea, along with some other secret ingredients," he informs us.

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