Page 25 of Married to the Ruthless Mafia Heir

I nodded, helped him sit up. "He's back."

"Then this is your chance." His eyes sharpened, locked onto my face. "Elena. You're Dante's wife now. You need to give the Moretti family an heir. That's your duty."

Same tone as always. No discussion. Just orders from on high. I took a breath, set his dinner on the bedside table. "I'll try tonight."

Salvador nodded, satisfied. While he ate, I massaged his legs, worked out the stiffness.

"Go. Let Alfredo handle this. You have your own business to take care of."

My hands stilled. I sighed inwardly. "Okay."

Walking back to the master bedroom, I wrung my hands together. Outside, the sky had gone completely dark. The wall sconces cast warm yellow light down the hallway. The room at the end got closer with every step. I could hear Dante on the phone inside.

Too many bad memories in that room. The drugs. What happened between us. Our wedding night when he locked me in the bathroom. My crying. His anger. I couldn't bring myself to open the door.

He sounded like he was handling business. Voice commanding, focused. I bit my lip and pushed the door open.

Dante had already showered. He sat on the couch by the window in a bathrobe, hair still wet, droplets sliding down and soaking dark patches into the fabric. He was on his phone. Glanced at me once. Looked away.

"I'm gonna shower..." I whispered it, barely audible, grabbed my nightgown and slipped into the bathroom.

My heart pounded. Last time I'd tried to kiss him in this room, he'd rejected me. Crushed my pride. Tonight I had to try again. I needed courage.

After my shower, I rubbed scented oil into my skin. The whole room smelled like flowers. I stared at myself in the mirror,tugged the neckline of my nightgown down a little, just enough. Gave myself a pep talk. Then I stepped out.

Dante's eyes stopped on me. Traveled from my head to my feet. Then he turned away, pretended to read a magazine on the nightstand. But I saw it—his fingers never turned a page.

"It's late. Get some rest." That's all he said.

His reaction almost made me smile. I said okay softly, slipped into bed. I only pulled the covers up to my waist. Left the rest exposed. My heart was about to explode out of my chest, but I had to finish what Salvador wanted.

"Dante." I propped myself up and reached for his hand. He let me take it. I bit my lip, guided his hand to my body. "Salvador wants the Moretti family to have an heir soon. So... you..."

Something I said pissed him off. He yanked his hand back, looked at me like I'd insulted him. "No."

He slammed off the bedside lamp. The room went dark. I felt crushed. Pulled the covers over myself, tears threatening to fall. Everything was Salvador's idea, his orders. Why did Dante always take it out on me?

"You obey Salvador too much." Dante's back was to me. His voice came out of nowhere.

I perked up a little, moved closer, and touched his back. "But Mr. Morreti is your father. He cares about you. I don't think he'd hurt you."

"Wouldn't hurt me?" Dante's anger flared. He rolled over to face me. I smelled his cologne—heavy, intoxicating. But his tone was still harsh. "You helped him drug me. He forced us to marry when I don't have feelings for you. That's 'not hurting' to you?"

His words hit every guilty nerve I had. I looked down. "I never meant to hurt you. I'm sorry, Dante."

Dante went quiet. I heard his breathing slow. I reached for him again. This time he didn't push me away. My heart jumped. I sat up in the dark, touched his face. His breathing got heavier.

"Can I?" I asked softly.

Dante looked up at me. Those dark blue eyes could've pulled me under. He didn't say yes. But he didn't say no either.

Like I'd been given permission—or like I was remembering that wild, reckless night we'd had—I didn't hesitate. I leaned down and kissed him.

Dante froze. I started to pull back, afraid I'd gone too far. But then his hand clamped onto the back of my head, and he deepened the kiss.

He kissed me until I couldn't think straight, until my body burned, aching for more.

But when his hand reached my waist, he stopped. Breathing hard, he shoved me back. Like his brain had suddenly switched back on.