Page 52 of Condemned By Betrayal
I laugh. “You can’t ask me to marry you like you’re asking for a kiss.”
His face remains serious.
“Did you have a nightmare or something?”
He caresses my jaw with his thumb. “I had a nightmare. I lose you.”
I smile, placing my hand on his cheek. “That won’t happen. And yes, I’ll marry you, but not in a rush.” I chuckle. “You still have to meet my family. They’ve only seen your photos. Then, with them, we’ll pick a nice date and venue.”
“We can have the wedding later. Can’t we just sign the papers today?”
My eyes widen again.Today?
I laugh, dropping my head to his chest. “Today is just today, Hunter.”
“Please, baby.”
The raw vulnerability in his voice makes me lift my head, a frown forming on my forehead. I look at his face more closely. His dark circles are more prominent; his eyes look so tired, like he didn’t sleep at all last night.
I rub my thumb under his eye. I don’t like seeing him so troubled. No—I hate it.
“Okay, fine.”
Some of the dullness lifts from the gray.
“You’ll be my wife, then no one will take you from me,” he murmurs, more to himself than to me, before pressing his lips to mine in the most tender kiss.
I kiss him back, rubbing the back of his neck to tell him without words that no one is taking me from him, whether we marry or not. But if a label of wife puts his mind at ease, then why not become the wife? I’ll also get to call him my husband, something I’ve been fantasizing about forever. And today isn’t bad, since Antonio is here.
Oh, shit. Antonio is here.I pull away from the kiss, sitting up abruptly in bed.
“Antonio is downstairs.”
I get out of bed in all my nakedness, and Hunter does an excellent job of making me aware of it by openly staring with that sizzling gaze.
I run to the closet, grab sweatpants and a sweatshirt, throw them on, and head out.
“I’m going downstairs. Come soon, okay?” I call over my shoulder, walking toward the door.
He nods from the bed.
Hunter
Antonio Belluci. The man who raised that bastard.
I didn’t know he’d come here, because if I had, I would’ve killed him before he could reach this place. There’s a chance he’ll realize I’m not Salvario within minutes, and that’s the last thing I want, especially now that I know Salvario is alive.
I delay as long as I can, but eventually I’ll have to face him. So I head downstairs. Her voice and a man’s deeper voice come from the living room.
Once I reach the doorway, they both turn to me. Antonio is sixty-four but doesn’t look a day over fifty. And not just his age, I know everything about him. He’s Salvario’s only living family, and the man managing his business in his absence. Keeping all the information on enemies and their associates reduces uncertainties, and increases your power over them.
He rises from the couch and walks slowly toward me, watching me closely. As he reaches me, his eyes glisten. He pats my cheek.
So he doesn’t recognize me. Good.
I wonder how similar I am to him, that even his guardian doesn’t notice. I’ll find out soon.
“I almost lost hope of seeing you again.” He takes off his glasses and pinches the bridge of his nose, then pulls me into a tight hug, patting my back. “It’s good to see you again, my child.”
