Page 20 of The Boss's Revenge

Omer sat across from us, shrewdly observing us, from his daughter’s tension to our cuffed hands. Another knock at thedoor sounded, and he raised an eyebrow as at least ten Luciano bodyguards entered the room, surrounding Vincenzo.

My elder brother and capo of the family strode into the room, and narrowed his eyes at me and Kira, instantly taking stock of the situation.

“I hope I’m not late, I only just found out I was needed,” he said dryly, taking a seat opposite us, beside Omer.

“No, you’re not late. We were just catching up. I called you both here because Kira and I have an announcement.” I took Kira’s cold fingers between mine. “We don’t want to wait for the test results anymore. We’ll just get married.”

It was like a gunshot had exploded across the room, and the resulting silence was deafening.

“You want to marry her,” Vincenzo started, and I recognized the tone of one he used when he was about to try and talk me out of something.

“I will marry her. I called you here as a courtesy, as my capo and brother.”

Omer grinned widely. “Well, this calls for celebration,” he said.

Vincenzo slashed out a hand to still him, and tension in the room rose. “First, I’d like to understand why the change of heart. As you know, marriage in our family isn’t something to be taken lightly. There are a lot of factors that need to be considered,” my brother began. I could feel his instincts warring. The instinct of a brother trying to make sure I wasn’t being strong-armed into something I’d been so against only days before, and the instinct of a boss trying to make sure that his asset wasn’t being stolen from under his nose. There could be no confusion that marrying into Kira’s family wasn’t a business-savvy match.

I didn’t care.

“She’s pregnant. I lied before. She is pregnant, and I’ll take responsibility, as I should,” I said calmly, in a lull, and thesilence returned tenfold. Of course, it wasn’t true, but I knew it would kill any argument that Vincenzo might make right now, and that was what mattered. The cold harsh truth of the matter was that neither Omer nor my brother would be moved by declarations of love. Vincenzo hadn’t loved his wife, Suna, before they were married. In fact, their engagement party had been their very first meeting. But bloodlines, family, and honor were something else. They couldn’t be argued with.

“Rocco-,” Kira muttered beside me, and I squeezed her hand.

“So, if we have your blessing, we’ll see that the wedding happens soon. The sooner the better.” I met my brother’s frank gaze then, and showed him my resolve, without words. He studied me, and I saw the moment he understood everything I wasn’t saying.I love her. I’ll marry her. She’s mine.

Vincenzo nodded and turned to Omer. “So, it looks like we’re to be family after all,” he said.

Omer smiled. “I’m looking forward to working with you, both personally and professionally, Luciano.”

Vincenzo nodded as he stood. “I expect you both for Sunday dinner. You can tell me how all of this came about then.”

I nodded, adrenaline racing through my body.

I’d done it. I’d really fucking done it.

CHAPTER 12

Kira

Imanaged to hold it together until we got into the car. As soon as the door closed, I whirled on Rocco and found my little dagger clenched in my free hand. I hadn’t reached for it willingly, but years of training and mistrust were hard to shake.

“What the hell is going on?” I’d taken Rocco by surprise, and now, I leaned across him, and the little blade rested just beside his jugular.

“We’re getting married, is what’s going on. Didn’t you hear?”

“Why are you doing this? Why did you lie to your brother?”

“Because the thought of you leaving with O’Rourke made me angrier than I’ve ever been. Because the thought of never seeing you again made me sick to my stomach.”

I blinked at him, surprised by the words. Rocco’s eyes traveled over my face, and there was a soft look in them that I’d never seen before. I didn’t think anyone had ever looked at me like Rocco was looking at me right now. Like I was something rare and precious. Something to be protected.

“Meaning?” I nearly whispered. My heart was clanging in my chest and my mouth was dry. I felt on the precipice of a great height.

“Meaning, you’re mine, Kira. Mine to protect, mine to save, mine… and I’m keeping you. You won’t run, you’ll stay here, with me, as my wife… and I didn’t tell you because I don’t plan on giving you a choice in the matter.”

His hand snagged my forgotten knife, and he tossed it away.

“If you’re doing this because you feel sorry for me-,” I started, my mind struggling to catch up with Rocco’s words.

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