Page 55 of Merciless Desires

“Both of us working from different angles has to be better than only one of us figuring it out.” If we didn’t come up with a way to stop what my father had already set in motion, the consequences would be steep. “Don’t brood.” I took his hand. “He would have hurt you.”

“I would have managed it.”

“You weren’t going to hit my father. You have too much respect for him to do that.” Gio was in a tough situation, and whether he liked it or not, I was the only one who could get him out of it right now. “I’ll text you later.”

“Cin.” He pulled me to his chest. “I’m not giving up on us.”

“I should hope not.” Not when I was willing to sacrifice so much.

“I’ll find a way out of this, or I’ll kidnap you and we’ll run.”

“I’ll be ready.” I stretched up on my toes and gently kissed his lips. “I’ll go anywhere with you. All you have to do is say the word.”

Romero and Rocco headed up the path toward the porch, indicating that it was time for me to leave.

“I better go.”

When I let go of Gio, he tugged me back to him and took my face in his hands. “There’s something you need to know.”

“What is it?” I whispered, too mesmerized by his gorgeous green eyes to think about walking away from him.

“I love you.”

“Way to make me wait for it, huh?”

“I should have said it sooner, but I…”

“It’s okay.” I caressed his jaw. “My heart already knew.”

“Be safe.” He pressed his lips to mine. Not exactly the searing kiss I had become used to these past few weeks, but that didn’t matter. The connection was more than enough. The memory of this moment would carry me for as long as I needed it to.

“I love you too.” I let go of him, took a deep breath, and hurried down the steps. “Take care of him,” I said to Romero. “I’m coming back to him.”

“I believe that,” Romero said as he and Rocco joined Gio on the porch.

“I like her,” Rocco said.

I didn’t look back, because if I did, I wouldn’t be able to get into the car and do what had to be done. Once the driver opened the door, I got in next to my father.

“You made the right choice,” he said. “For your family.”

“You didn’t give me much of a choice.”

“I like Gio.” He clicked his seatbelt. “He’ll be well taken care of. He and Romero are an asset to me. I understand his sacrifice. He’ll be rewarded.”

“Then why can’t I be with him?”

“Because I have bigger plans for your future.”

“Like arranging a marriage for me with a stranger?”

“I wanted to be the one to tell you what I needed from you, but yes, since you already know, I do plan to have you marry Aldo Calabrese.”

“And if I refuse?” I asked.

“You won’t.”

He was right. I wouldn’t straight-up refuse, but I had plans for myself and they didn’t include Aldo Calabrese.

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