Page 141 of When She Tempts (The Fallen)
He throws a punch, and I let him land it on my cheekbone. Hurts like a bitch, but I earned it. Warm blood trickles down my face and drips onto my shirt. De Rossi moves to hit me again, but this time, I block it. “Enough.”
“You won’t be able to tell him anything if you’re dead,” he says, lifting his gun again.
“He won’t give a fuck about the engagement in that case. Not if you’ve killed your best chance at winning this bid.”
De Rossi laughs. “You think you’ve got a handle on everything, Napoletano. I thought maybe the situation with Polo would have humbled you, but it’s clearly going to take more than that.”
A cold sensation slithers down my spine.
“Calisto just called. Sal’s so far gone that he lost it on his consiglieri. Insulted his family. Threatened to kill them all if Calisto doesn’t get him Martina. The kingdom is really imploding now, and Calisto is changing sides. Sal will be dead by the end of this week and it’s going to be me who kills him.”
My heart picks up speed. “The deal—”
“There is no more deal.” He drops the gun but gets in my face. “Do you really think I’d trust you with something so delicate after what I just witnessed? You fucking lied to me. How long has this been going on for?”
“A few weeks.”
He scoffs. “After you told me what you wanted with Sal, I thought I finally understood why you agreed to take Mari so quickly. But it looks like you had more than one motivation.”
“I had no intention of anything happening when I agreed to take her.”
“What the fuck happened then? You fell in love?”
I stare at him. It feels like a million worms are slithering under my skin, tight and uncomfortable. But I sit with the discomfort, and when it passes, something vulnerable appears.
This is what scared me all along. The feeling of wearing my heart on the outside of my chest, where everyone can see how it beats for her.
His eyes widen. “Cazzo.”
“So what if I did?” I ask quietly.
He whirls around, burying one of his hands in his hair. “No. No fucking way. You do not love my sister.”
“She’s not marrying Grassi,” I say to his back.
He’s shaking his head. “Jesus fucking Christ. I can’t believe this.”
“Damiano, wed her to me.”
“Are you insane?”
“I know I’m not the man you envisioned for her. This won’t be the alliance that secures your rule or increases your power. But if you truly love you sister, wed her to me. I will make her happier than anyone else. I promise you that.” It’s a bold statement given she just left in tears, and Damiano appears to have the same thought.
“You don’t know anything about my sister.”
“I know more than you think. We… We work well together.”
“Then why the fuck did she agree to that marriage proposal,stronzo? She didn’t have to think very hard about it either.”
Because I fucked up.
“I pushed her away when I got here,” I confess.
Damiano’s lips curve into a bitter smirk. “Ah, now I see. You knew I’d be furious. You knew the deal you wanted would never happen if I found out. Did you tell Martina what you asked of me?”
“Yes.”
“You chose getting revenge over her.” He shakes his head. “My sister deserves better than that.”
